Veteran Chelsea Flower Show designer ‘honoured' to win garden of the year award
Kazuyuki Ishihara designed Cha no Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden – for the annual horticultural event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea celebrating all things gardening.
He appeared jubilant at winning the newly named RHS Chelsea garden of the year prize – which is his 13th gold medal from the show – as he posed for photographs with his hands in the air and a beaming smile on his face.
Kazuyuki Ishihara (Yui Mok/PA)
After winning on Tuesday, Mr Ishihara said: 'I'm very honoured to receive this wonderful award – I never thought I'd have such a gift.
'I really still cannot believe it after working here for 20 years. It's such an honour to have it, thank you so much.'
Mr Ishihara's garden was created to give visitors a place for reflection, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), and the judging panel called it a 'masterclass'.
Chairwoman Hayley Skipper said: 'It is exquisitely detailed and delivers immersive, beautifully composed planting. Every viewpoint delivers exquisite compositions.
'The beautiful foliage throughout demonstrates the power of green. Perfect in scale, the trees are excellently proportioned.
Cha no Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden (Yui Mok/PA)
'The garden illustrates how designers do not have to use huge specimens, powerfully exemplifying an appreciation of beauty in detail. It is an immaculate delight.'
Mr Ishihara's design last year – Moroto no IE Garden, which featured vibrant acers and a tumbling waterfall – was visited by the King at the 2024 flower show.
Designers Tom Massey and Je Ahn won the best construction for a show garden award for The Avanade Intelligent Garden, which featured a fungal wall constructed from ash timber from diseased trees.
Joe and Laura Carey took home both the RHS Chelsea small garden of the year and RHS Chelsea best construction for a small garden awards for The Addleshaw Goddard: Freedom to Flourish Garden.
The Avanade Intelligent Garden (Yui Mok/PA)
The RHS environmental innovation award was given to Allon Hoskin and Robert Beaudin with Modular for The Pathway Garden, which used reclaimed materials in its design.
Ryan McMahon won the best all about plants garden award for his Seawilding.
The RHS Chelsea plant of the year was awarded to Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink ('P1'), bred by Alan Postill, which was lauded for its unusual pink colour for a species that is usually white.
The show opened to members of the public on Tuesday, but celebrities were afforded a sneak preview the day before.
Cate Blanchett, Dame Joanna Lumley and David Tennant were among those who attended the world famous event on Monday, along with Sir David Suchet and Zoe Ball, before the King and Queen were given a tour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Duchess Sophie stuns in suede at the Royal Cornwall Show - shop her exact skirt or discover the best budget alternatives
The boho-chic revival that began last year is still going strong - but this time, suede skirts are getting an elevated makeover. Much like their bag and jacket counterparts, today's suede skirts are moving beyond their Glastonbury roots. Gone are the retro tassels and fringe; in their place are sleek, refined designs in rich, tones like chocolate, caramel, burgundy and olive. A royal fan of the trend? The Duchess of Edinburgh, who stepped out at the Royal Cornwall Show in a timeless tan suede skirt by Paige. Featuring a flattering high waist, A-line cut and button details, she styled it with a tweed jacket and knee-high boots - the perfect countryside chic ensemble. Luckily, Sophie's exact skirt is still available to purchase. Or, if you're after something more affordable, we've rounded up the best high street alternatives below. EXACT MATCH: Paige Terrassa Button-Front Panelled Suede Midi Skirt £840 Shop High street alternatives
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Prince William's two-word comment was 'first sign of tension'
Prince William and Prince Harry were already at loggerheads just a month after the Duke of Sussex married Meghan Markle, with the 'fab four' meeting to clear the air Just one month on from the wedding of Prince Harry and American actor Meghan Markle, cracks in the bond between the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William were already becoming evident. In what seemed a move to resolve their differences, June 2018 saw the brothers and their spouses meet at Kensington Palace. Yet, looming over this urgent summit was Prince William's sharp two-word remark that, with hindsight, showed the growing rift within royal r elations. Royal expert Camilla Tominey points out that Meghan's appointment as the fourth patron of the Royal Foundation led to conflict, revealing "how much tension there was between them". The dynamics are explored in the upcoming Channel 5 dramatisation, 'Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy', where Talk TV's Royal Editor Sarah Hewson recounts: "It was a late afternoon in June 2018, Harry and Meghan were heading over to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace for 'clear the air' talks with William and Kate." Once viewed as the modern face of the monarchy, the unity of the once-dubbed "fab four" was shattered by the outcomes of this pivotal discussion, reports Cambridgeshire Live. Whispers had emerged that Meghan's off-camera conduct had rankled a member of the Kensington Palace team, with Kate reportedly taking issue with the former TV star's attitude towards the palace staff. Royal biographer Andrew Morton has suggested that Catherine may have felt "threatened" by Meghan's presence. With a successful acting career spanning over 15 years, Meghan brought a level of confidence and outspokenness rarely seen among Royal wives. Tensions were also brewing between the two brothers. In February 2018, during a public announcement that Meghan would become the fourth patron of the Royal Foundation, the four royals were asked if working so closely as a family led to disagreements. William responded with a resounding: "Oh, yes!" Harry agreed, adding: "They come so thick and fast. Working as family does have its challenges, of course it does. But we're stuck together for the rest of our lives." However, their professional collaboration wouldn't last much longer. Sarah Hewson suggests that royal journalists should have picked up on the tension between them: "Clearly things were not right between these two couples." In Tina Brown's book 'The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor-the Truth and the Turmoil', she highlights that public appearance as a significant turning point. She notes how Meghan "fluently" spoke in the interview, passionately advocating for causes that, while commendable, didn't align with the Royal Foundation's message. Tina described it as "a fashionable cause anointed by Hollywood and sure to make headlines," adding: "It was an awkward dynamic. It was later decided the Fab Four would not play onstage together as a band again." She observed that Kate seemed to be eclipsed by Meghan's presence: "When it was Kate's moment to speak, she was strikingly less articulate, as well as brief." Following this, the two couples would only make joint public appearances during larger Royal events, such as the Commonwealth Day services or the Trooping the Colour ceremony. It wasn't until nearly two years later that Harry and Meghan would publicly declare their intention to "step back as 'senior' members" of the Royal Family, planning to divide their time between the UK and the US, and pursue financial independence. Yet, it was William's succinct remark that seemed to signal the onset of a shift within the monarchy as it was known at the time.
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in brutal TalkTV putdown of video clip
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Meghan Markle faced ridicule on TalkTV after revealing a video of her attempting a spot of twerking in a hospital suite during labour with her daughter Lilibet. Meghan's antics were met with a parody treatment as presenter Kevin O'Sullivan donned a dark wig and makeshift bump to mimic the Duchess in labour, dancing along to the tune of 'Baby Mama'. Sporting the getup, O'Sullivan also had a go at imitating Prince Harry with a ginger wig. In a mockingly captioned clip, TalkTV quipped: "Inspired by Meghan Markle's hospital twerking video, Kevin O'Sullivan gives it a go. But is his baby bump REAL?" poking fun at the conspiracy theories that questioned the authenticity of Meghan's pregnancies. The spoof, complete with a digitally rendered hospital backdrop, sent viewers into fits of laughter, leading them to lavish praise on the presenter for his comical gyrations. One viewer exclaimed, "Kevin got the moves! Looking good there," while another playfully commented, "Ffs these just keep getting better and better! !". A third lauded, "Spitting image of them two," with a fourth echoing the sentiment, "Oh Kevin.. I really wanted to see you twerk.. lol,"reports the Express. Despite the comedy, one person pointed out, "This is hilarious, but tbf, any woman who has given birth will know she'll have that big strap around her belly where they attach the heart monitor devices etc." Another defended Meghan, saying, "I can't stand the woman but her bump was real." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced criticism for sharing a video amidst their quest for a more private life outside the Royal family. However, since rejoining Instagram earlier this year, Meghan has been giving fans a glimpse into their family life. Marking her daughter's fourth birthday, Meghan shared a post saying: "Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates... so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!" She added laughing emojis to the post. She also posted a heartwarming photo of Prince Harry holding Lilibet as a newborn and another of him holding her hand as a child, writing: "The sweetest bond to watch unfold. Daddy's little girl and favorite adventurer. Happy birthday Lili!".
