Hampton Court Flower Show 2002

Designer: Elizabeth Stoner
Sponsors: Microbio, Langstone Hotel, Emsworth Food Festival, Havant Horticultural Society, Days Buildbase, Hilliers, Highdown Nursery
Contractor: Nicholas Butler (NEB Waterscapes)

In their small garden Emsworth Horticultural Society demonstrate the importance of growing herbs for medicinal and culinary purposes. The Society's designer, Elizabeth Stoner, also highlights the importance of establishing an ecosystem by installing a beehive as a reminder that bees and other insects are an essential part of our gardens.
Emsworth is a thriving small town on the south coast between Chichester and Portsmouth with a tidal harbour, famous for its oysters as well as being a haven for small boat sailing (as represented in our garden at Chelsea in 2001). This year we have focused on the herbs that are so important to our internationally-known restaurants and local herbalist. This reflects the move over the last decade to the revival of natural products.
The garden is a sea of herbs surrounding a central angular path and featuring a beehive, wooden bench and plants supported by locally-made wigwams.

Inspired by Warblington Castle in Hampshire, a historical landmark near Stoner's home, this garden represents a Gothic-style courtyard. It has a wall that runs diagonally through it, giving the feeling of space. Behind this wall a raised area is edged with bright planting that flows on to an area of slate chipping. In the far corner under a metal arch is a stainless steel water feature, which has three stainless steel tubes of varying heights. The stainless steel acts as a mirror, reflecting the vibrant colours in the garden.

There are lots of bright and bold combinations of red, orange and yellow flowers, combined with foliage plants. Climbers such as Humulus lupulus, hedera and Solanum laxum 'Album' soften a series of metal hoops at the edge of the garden and add height.
 

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