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.
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.
'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 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 Record
12 hours ago
- Daily Record
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's furious row that 'ripped the monarchy to pieces'
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton were said to have had a furious row during a clear-the-air meeting in 2018 A Royal expert has described a crucial meeting between Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate and Meghan as an event that "ripped the monarchy to pieces". The explosive encounter reportedly took place in June 2018 when the Prince and Princess of Wales sat down with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex amid rising tensions after Harry and Meghan's wedding. The situation escalated post-ceremony, as recounted in Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare', who cited early turbulence involving his wife and his sister-in-law. He detailed a dispute concerning bridesmaid dresses prior to his wedding which purportedly left Meghan in tears, mentioning that Kate "grimaced" when Meghan used her lip gloss. In an effort to resolve matters, both couples convened for a candid discussion after the Sussexes returned from their honeymoon. The atmosphere during the chat reportedly grew so fraught that it caused physical signs of distress in the Princess of Wales. According to Harry's depiction in 'Spare', the intense air-clearing session at Kensington Palace saw Kate demand an apology from Meghan while clenching a leather sofa, which saw her "fingers turn white". Harry detailed in 'Spare' that Kate's request stemmed from a comment Meghan made about her pregnancy hormones, referring to it as "baby brain". Meghan apparently offered her apologies, justifying the contentious remark as commonplace amongst her circle of friends, reports the Mirror. The situation escalated when Harry alleged that William "pointed a finger at Meg", and reportedly admonished: "Well, it's rude, Meghan. These things are not done here." Harry claims Meghan retorted: "If you don't mind, keep your finger out of my face." In the new Channel 5 documentary 'Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy', Royal commentators suggest this encounter was pivotal for the Sussexes, setting in motion their eventual departure from Royal duties. Richard Kay of the Daily Mail posited that this was the moment "the seed of Megxit was sewn", while his colleague Sarah Hewson reflected: "Had that meeting been a success, had they been able to put their differences aside, things would have been very different indeed." Newsweek's chief Royal correspondent Jack Royston commented: "If only they'd listened. If Meghan had listened to what was being said to her, she could have changed way back in 2018. "And even if they had still quit the monarchy, they could have saved themselves so much pain and so much conflict." He went on: "What happened in that room back in June 2018 was the defining element of the relationship between the two couples that ripped the monarchy to pieces." Valentine Low, a noted Royal author, also remarked: "They had pathetic little differences that should have been sorted out in two minutes. But it helped fuel the flames." Harry's candid reflections in his memoir 'Spare' come as Meghan shared her experiences with the royals on their Netflix series. Recounting their earliest encounters, she expressed surprise at the private formality of the Royal family members. In the second instalment of their six-part Netflix documentary, 'Harry and Meghan', the Duchess discussed her first impressions of her brother-in-law and wife Kate. "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot," Meghan explained. "I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits." The mother-of-two elaborated further on the Royal customs saying: "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. "There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go 'You can relax now', but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
POLL: What do you think to Prince Harry's strange plan for his kids?
Prince Harry and Meghan may have stepped back from royal life - but they're not shutting the palace gates for their kids just yet. The couple reportedly want Archie and Lilibet to keep their titles, sparking debate over whether it's about choice … or mixed messages. Despite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping away from their royal duties and all the palace drama a while ago, it seems they're keeping the door open for their kids to walk a different path. They reportedly want Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to hang onto their royal titles - just in case they decide they do want to be working royals one day. Apparently, Harry and Meghan see it as giving their kids the option when they're older. But here's where it gets a bit sticky, as the 'plan' comes after the source claimed the Sussexes feared passports for their children were being held up due to the use of their royal titles. It has all raised a few eyebrows., with former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond asking why the Sussexes are holding so tightly to the titles when they've been so outspoken about wanting out of the royal system in the first place. So, what do you think? Is Harry being thoughtful about giving his kids future choices — or is it a bit contradictory after everything he and Meghan have said about the monarchy? What do you think to Harry's plan? Take our poll below. If you can't see it, click here Jennie Bond told the Mirror: "I really don't understand why, having extricated themselves from a life they did not enjoy and in which Harry has publicly spoken of 'feeling trapped', they want to give their children the option of re-joining. It makes no sense. "Who knows what's going to happen in the future? But it's very hard to see how two children who are clearly now more American than British would want to change their whole way of life and become working members of the royal family." Archie and Lilibet got prince and princess titles when their grandfather King Charles became monarch in 2022. The first time their titles were formally announced was after Lilibet's christening in March 2023. Due to the reported hold-up in their British passports, it is said that Harry started to explore the possibility of changing his family surname to Spencer in a nod to his late mother, Princess Diana. And Jennie added: "I think Harry has always been more Spencer than Windsor, so if he was ever going to change his name, it would be to Spencer. "But this would be a final nail in the coffin of his relationship with his father and his brother. It would amount to a public declaration that he no longer saw himself as part of the royal family." There has been continued controversy over the Sussexes' HRH titles since the pair quit their royal roles five years ago. As part of their Megxit negotiations with the Palace, Meghan and the Duke of Sussex agreed to stop using 'Her Royal Highness' and 'His Royal Highness' at the end of March 2020. They still retain the styles, with Harry having had his since birth, but they are essentially held in abeyance. However, earlier this year, it emerged Meghan had used her HRH style on a gift basket sent to make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima last year, with a monogrammed card reading: 'With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. Kern Lima showed an image of the present in footage of her podcast interview with Meghan. It contained a jar of Meghan's jam which she has started selling as part of her As Ever lifestyle business brand. A source described the basket as a 'personal gift'. The duchess's representatives denied that the couple used them, but a source later said that the Sussexes did not use HRH publicly but retained the style, and did not use it for commercial purposes.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry's 'nonsense' plan for kids amid 'nail in coffin' decision
Royal expert Jennie Bond has questioned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's reported plan they've hatched for the future for their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may no longer be working royals or carry out duties for the King. But the couple reportedly don't want to rule out their children opting to support the monarchy, despite their bombshell move to quit their royal roles. Insiders close to the Sussexes have said they want Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to retain their titles and HRH styles so they can choose to become working royals if they so wish when they are adults. It came after the source spoke out and claimed the Sussexes feared passports for their children were being held up due to the use of their royal titles. The couple are said to have been left exasperated as they waited months for British passports to arrive and reportedly believed it was due to the fact they included their children's royal titles on the application. But former BBC royal expert Jennie Bond has questioned why Harry and Meghan appear so keen to cling onto titles for their children - even though they have previously railed against the institution of monarchy. She told the Mirror: "I really don't understand why, having extricated themselves from a life they did not enjoy and in which Harry has publicly spoken of 'feeling trapped', they want to give their children the option of re-joining. It makes no sense. "Who knows what's going to happen in the future? But it's very hard to see how two children who are clearly now more American than British would want to change their whole way of life and become working members of the royal family." Archie and Lilibet got prince and princess titles when their grandfather King Charles became monarch in 2022. The first time their titles were formally announced was after Lilibet's christening in March 2023. Due to the reported hold-up in their British passports, it is said that Harry started to explore the possibility of changing his family surname to Spencer in a nod to his late mother, Princess Diana. And Jennie added: "I think Harry has always been more Spencer than Windsor, so if he was ever going to change his name, it would be to Spencer. "But this would be a final nail in the coffin of his relationship with his father and his brother. It would amount to a public declaration that he no longer saw himself as part of the royal family." There has been continued controversy over the Sussexes' HRH titles since the pair quit their royal roles five years ago. As part of their Megxit negotiations with the Palace, Meghan and the Duke of Sussex agreed to stop using 'Her Royal Highness' and 'His Royal Highness' at the end of March 2020. They still retain the styles, with Harry having had his since birth, but they are essentially held in abeyance. However, earlier this year, it emerged Meghan had used her HRH style on a gift basket sent to make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima last year, with a monogrammed card reading: 'With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. Kern Lima showed an image of the present in footage of her podcast interview with Meghan. It contained a jar of Meghan's jam which she has started selling as part of her As Ever lifestyle business brand. A source described the basket as a 'personal gift'. The duchess's representatives denied that the couple used them, but a source later said that the Sussexes did not use HRH publicly but retained the style, and did not use it for commercial purposes.
