Gavin’s garden proves a swinging success

TELEVISION gardening ace Diarmuid Gavin was pipped to the post in his quest for a prestigious gold medal yesterday at London’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Gavin’s design came second in the judging for the best show garden category, netting him a silver-gilt medal instead.

Called the Westland garden, Gavin’s design incorporated two artists’ studios and was created with a retiring couple in mind.

But the RTÉ star was beaten to the coveted gold medal by a garden called 600 Days With Bradstone, which depicts an astronaut’s trip to Mars and aims to show the psychological effects of a long-term stay in space.

Capturing the wonder of space helped West Cork garden designer Sue Goss to a bronze flora medal in the chic gardens category at the show.

Ms Goss designed Cambridge University’s entry called The Transit of Venus, which depicts the rare occasion when the planet passes between the Sun and the Earth.

“Everyone who sees the garden loves it and says it is really beautiful.

“The garden in unashamedly modernistic so it’s nice to hear that,” said Ms Goss.

Ms Goss took the university’s New Hall college as her inspiration, having been a student at Cambridge.

The annual Chelsea Flower Show is one of Europe’s biggest horticultural events, and this year organisers estimate about 157,000 visitors will see displays from 600 exhibitors.

This year Bord Bia is hoping to emulate the success of Chelsea with its Bloom 2007 spectacular, which is being staged in Dublin’s Phoenix Park over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The biggest names in Irish gardening are expected to be showing off their designs, with names including Elma Fenton, Paul Martin and Peter Donegan taking part.

Organisers estimate 50,000 visitors will visit the festival’s 30 show gardens and floral attractions from June 1 to June 4.

Bord Bia will be showing off the best of Irish food by hosting a large-scale outdoor food market and a speciality food pavilion.