Contrast and texture at Hampton Court Flower Show 2017

Non-stop preparations since the beginning of the year have seen us furnishing stone for Chelsea Flower Show, the new Chatsworth Flower Show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live and now, the biggest of them all (in size, anyway), Hampton Court Flower Show.

This year, we’re supplying six gardens with strong personalities, in the Show Garden and the brand-new Gardens in a Changing World categories.

Blind Veterans UK “It’s all about community” Garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

Blind Veterans UK “It’s all about community” Garden

A sense of community is at the heart of this garden—the community experienced by the members, volunteers and staff of Blind Veterans UK.

Designers Andrew Fisher Tomlin and Dan Bowyer are using Darleymoor Yorkstone, a paving that’s received enthusiastic praise for the way it sets off planting. Here roses, dahlias and grasses combine with unusual species of fragrant edibles, in a design that includes sculptures and features made by the veterans themselves.

We can’t wait to see how everything is set off by the evenly coloured sandstone and we’re delighted that, after the show, the garden, built by Landform Consultants, will be relocated to the charity’s sites in Llandudno and Brighton.

On the Edge garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

On the Edge

In this Show Garden, built by Benton Landscapes, the design by Frederic Whyte is dedicated to evoking the experiences of people coping with mental health problems.

Frederic Grey Yorkstone in three different finishes — Sawn, Fine Brushed and Premium Honed — to create textural differences with toning shades that help illustrate the different stages of a journey from mental breakdown to self-understanding.

Colour Box Garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

Colour Box

Designed by Charlie Bloom and Simon Webster, Colour Box has co-operation at its heart. We’re part of a team contributing materials and/or time to an unsponsored garden, in a celebration of people helping people, and brought together through the horticultural Twitter community.

As you might expect from the name, bold bright planting is at the heart of this design, and Charlie’s chosen Midnight Black Limestone for the hard landscaping.

“I chose it because it’s simple and sophisticated and will contrast well with the planting,” says Charlie, “intensifying rather than stealing from the plants.”

Journey of Life Garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

Journey of Life

Nothing like a big question to spark a design, and designer Edward Mairis has been inspired by the biggest: “What is the meaning of life?” Built by Xardin Gardens, Journey of Life uses elements of classic Asian garden design, combining minimalism and richness, ancient and high tech.

This is where you’ll see our Volcano Ceniza DesignClad, a lovely grey cladding with a subtle clouded effect, which will no doubt contribute to the yin/yang elements of the design in contrast with the multi-coloured Perspex wall.

The Urban Rain Garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

The Urban Rain Garden

The second garden on this list to be built by Landform Consultants, this gives designer Rhiannon Williams her first RHS appearance, and it’s unusual in creating both a front and a back garden.  The big theme is the need for sustainable rainwater management.

Look out for raised planters and storm-water storage as well as our Flamed Grey Sawn Sandstone, the finish of which gives this popular paving a slightly softer profile.

Perennial Sanctuary Garden. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

The Perennial Sanctuary Garden

Perennial, as many of you know, is an organisation close to our hearts, being one of our charity partners. They work tirelessly to help horticulturalists in trouble.

In this sanctuary garden, designed by Tom Massey and built by Landform Consultants, look out for our stone benches, as well as the Hard Buff Yorkstone paving and setts.

This is an emotional swirl of a design, with very specific planting colours chosen to evoke different states of mind, but it all leads to the green and peaceful centre, where radial Yorkstone setts lead the eye to the central water bowl and the simple benches give the visitor somewhere to rest and relax.

The APL: A Place to Meet Trade Stand. Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

The APL: A Place to Meet Trade Stand

And while the gardens are obviously the magnet of attraction, don’t forget to pop along to the APL Trade Stand, where you’ll see a large expanse of our Desert Sawn Sandstone. The name of the trade stand suggests exactly it is purpose: to meet with their members, non-members and customers. It’s a great opportunity to get together.

Don’t forget to pop by our first Trade Stand at Hampton Court. You can find us at stand number 611. We will have the Natural Stone and Porcelain you love, along with artificial plants from Green Envee (www.greenenvee.co.uk) on display. We promise – you’ll love it!

And that’s all we can tell you for now!  Not long to go before all is revealed. In the meantime, we’re wishing everyone the best of luck with their last few days of preparation and look forward to bringing you our round-up in next week’s report.