Demelza
Designed by Jo Thompson
"Having spent a great deal of time in Italy (my father is Italian), I have been inspired since childhood by the great villas of Tuscany and Rome; their strong shapes and sense of theatre play an important part in my style.
It was the water organ in the garden of the Villa d'Este that started the thought process that led me to include musical sounds in my design.
The inspiration for the grouping of multi-stemmed Betula pendula comes from the beautiful copse of silver birch at Merriments Gardens in East Sussex.
It's comforting in its familiarity to us and contrasts with the cool blues and greens of the under-planting which gradually become interspersed and then overwhelmed by bright oranges, yellows and acid greens: the inspiration for this explosion of colour comes from the preferences of the children of Demelza House itself, drawn to the hopeful and cheerful colours."
I loved this garden. The depth and colour of planting was breathtaking. I think it should have been the best courtyard garden.
Such a beautiful garden - I love the idea of children being able to explore and create their own musical ideas and sounds whilst enjoying the benefits of being outdoors. Discovering the joy and empowerment of music making in the sunshine - what a wonderful idea!
We thought this was the best courtyard in the show! Planting goes through a wonderful colour pallete from cool to hot, lines are gorgeous, the sound elements fit in very well and you can really see it as a tranquil space for children and their carers. Many congratulations Jo.
Beautiful! I can definately imagine myself sitting there with a book and a cup of tea or with friends just enjoying the garden! Thank you.
You have done a great job Jo. This little garden area looks gorgeous. I just want to go right in there to sit and soak up the perfume.
The garden is designed for children who stay at Demelza house, although they may be sick most children paint and colour with the brightest shades in their paintboxes and the garden reflects this in its theme. It's very vibrant and cheerful.
See viewers' comments on this garden at the foot of the page.
This garden shone like a jewel in the relatively dark area of the showground where it was sited. I loved the use of colour and goodness, didn't you cram a lot into such a small space without at any point making the space cluttered? A truly sensory garden.
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