A show garden created by Irish designer Paul Martin won a silver-gilt award at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in London yesterday.
The 15-by-12-metre garden, titled "Falling Waters", features a large reflective pool and a glass waterfall. It is ringed with herbaceous plants in soft blues, greys and whites, with the odd splash of shocking pink.
All the perennials were grown by Orla and Paul Woods of Kilmurry Nursery in Gorey, which won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. The larger specimen plants, such as bamboos, olives and birches, were supplied by Scalpwood Nurseries in Kilternan.
Martin, from Dundalk, Co Louth, said he was happy with the garden. "It looks sharp and is believable. We have sold it already to Profile Properties in Dublin who are going to put it into a new business and retail park near Baldonnel."
This is the Dundalk man's third Royal Horticultural Society award. In previous years his gardens have won a bronze at the Tatton Park Flower Show and a silver at Chelsea Flower Show.
He returns to Ireland next week to continue work on projects including a series of show gardens for the newly refurbished Orchard Home and Garden Centre in Celbridge, and the ongoing redesign of the gardens at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan.
The six-day show, which finishes on July 9th, is the largest flower show in the world
There are more than 700 horticultural exhibitors at Hampton Court this week, including nurseries and purveyors of garden sundries and an entire marquee devoted to roses.
The 50 display gardens are a considerable draw for the public, and will be seen by 180,000 visitors. Special attention will be paid to the 18 large "show" gardens. In the latter category, three gold medals were awarded and six silver-gilts, including that won by the Irish designer.
More information on Hampton Court Palace Flower Show may be found on the RHS website (www.rhs.org.uk).