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Garden name

The Times Eureka Garden in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Designer

Marcus Barnett

Awards

Silver Flora

Video tour of garden

Description of garden

The structure of this garden is based on the microscopic structures found in plants. The pavilion at the rear is designed to look like the skeleton of a leaf folded into a cube shape and from this leaf 'capillaries' run out into the garden and up the hedges.

Height in the planting comes from Pinus sylvestris and Betula doorenbus which obscures the views and give a sense of depth to the garden. All plants used have been chosen to look good but also because they have a utility to man for example fennel which is of use in the kitchen and Geranium sanguineum which is of use medicinally. Even the trees are of use like the Pinus sylvestris which is used for its timber and also for turpentine.

At night this garden has a second life, the pavilion glows from the inside and reflects in the simple still water features beneath it and up-lighting highlights the planting and hedges around the boundary.

Photo

The Times Eureka Garden

Inspiration / influences

Inspired by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the work it does. Two thousand new plant species are discovered every year, around 10% of which are by Kew botanists many of which are of use to humankind.

List of plants in the garden

Pinus sylvestris - Scots pine

Betula utilis 'Doorenbos'- himalyan birch

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' - ornamental thistle

Foeniculum vulgare - fennel

Geranium phaeum 'Samobor' - geranium

Lysimachia ciliate 'Firecracker' - Loosestrife

Achillea 'Moonshine' - Yarrow 'Moonshine'

Also

Now known for his classic contemporary style, using strong geometric shapes Barnett wasn't always a garden designer. Trained in the military Marcus knew how to read a landscape but only really immersed himself in it when he left to follow his real passion, garden design.

Marcus has won two Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2005 and 2006 and a Silver-Gilt in 2007.

Links

List of 2011 show gardens - Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show photographs

TV schedule - Chelsea Flower Show

List of 2011 show gardens - Chelsea Flower Show

Archive: Meet the 2010 garden designers