I created a Bridgerton garden fit for Penelope at Chelsea Flower Show

Designer Holly Johnston shares the story of the Regency-themed outdoor space inspired by the hit Netflix show 

Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) is the new series of Bridgerton. Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix/PA.

You don’t see too many stories told in gardens. But Holly Johnston, who designed Netflix and Shondaland’s first-ever RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, inspired by the award-winning television drama Bridgerton, wanted to tell one about the evolution of Penelope Featherington.

In Season 3: Part 1 — which is available to watch now and based on the fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, in Julia Quinn’s bestselling book series — the wallflower-like character, who is also Lady Whistledown and played by Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, finally embraces her true self and “steps into the light”, as her relationship with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) takes centre stage.