Green oasis a hit at Chelsea
A nostalgic container garden designed to be a love letter to New Zealand has proved to be a hit at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London.
‘‘Feels like Home’’, created by New Zealand-born and raised designer Rosemary Coldstream, not only earned a gold medal but also won best balcony and container garden as well as a coveted people’s choice award.
‘‘It has long been an ambition to have a New Zealand-themed garden at the Chelsea Flower Show,’’ Coldstream said.
‘‘My own UK garden is full of New Zealand plants, so I wanted to share the fun you can have with creating a home-away-from-home garden.’’
The green oasis features the national colours of black, white, silver and red, with each element informed by the landscapes and botany of New Zealand.
Handmade black clay pots house a collection of native plants, paired with non-native varieties reminiscent in their texture and habit of New Zealand plants.
A bespoke water feature is inspired by the silver fern and a pīwakawaka sculpture by artist Virginia King.
The charred timber cladding is inspired by New Zealand’s modern architecture and is sustainable Pinus radiata, while the timber seat is made from a single piece of 3000-year-old reclaimed kauri (Agathis australis).
Through the use of these plants, colours and materials, the courtyard was designed to bring back memories of her childhood.
Born in Christchurch, Coldstream moved to Auckland when she was 12. She started a career in fashion design, but after moving to the UK and settling there with her English husband, she changed to garden design and set up her practice in 2006.