Contemporary Art Gardening

It's very rare that I see a garden design that makes me stop in my tracks and examine it in detail. Most garden designers nowadays are just making some sort of composite of existing themes, styles and techniques.

When we went to Lisbon back in October last year, and were enjoying a long, leisurely, and food filled walk between the Praca do Comercio and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, my eye was drawn to what appeared at first glance to be a rather neglected building, with a tired and hastily laid out patch of grass in front. It turned out to be a rather exclusive hotel, and the garden was unique, and really quite clever in it's design. In the picture I am standing at the pointed 'bow' of the ship, with the windowed structure at the far end becoming the bridge. The area laid to grass had been painstakingly prepared to form a choppy sea effect before the grass was put in place, and the edges curved upwards to give the effect of the sea splashing up onto the the sides of the vessel. Quite remarkable, and absolutely appropriate for it's location. If you click on the picture to expand it, the detail becomes clearer. THIS should feature at Chelsea, but is I fear just another case of a garden designer with a remarkable talent getting to use his/her skills on yet another commercial development. Personally, I doff my cap to you sir/,madam, it made for yet another conversation between us.