RTE Super Garden contestant backs himself to win despite judge's harsh comment
A young garden designer is confident he will win RTÉ's competition show Super Garden, despite some harsh comments from the judges.
Chris Walsh, from Wicklow, was the fourth budding designer featured on the series on Tuesday night. The 32-year-old transformed Aline and Marcelo's bland and overgrown back garden into a 'culinary canopy' where the Brazilian couple can entertain their family and friends.
A beautiful wooden canopy is the centre of the garden, featuring a BBQ and sage green dining table and chairs. As Marcelo is a chef, a BBQ area was at the top of his request list.
A stoned path connects the house and the canopy area, as gorgeous colourful plants line the perimeters. Judges Brian Burke, representing Woodies, Carol Marks from Bord Bia and former Super Garden winner Monica Alvarez praised Chris for listening to the homeowners wishes.
They said he produced a low-maintenance garden like they asked for, as most plants only need to be touched once a year. However, Brian was disappointed that Chris' garden didn't show off his ecological background better.
The Wicklow man studied wildlife biology in IT Tralee and worked in environmental consultancy before taking the plunge to pursue his dream as a garden designer.
Speaking after inspecting the garden, Brian said: 'The water feature is a pre-packaged item, it doesn't really scream someone with an ecological background. For someone with Chris' background there was an opportunity to do a little bit more.'
This comment didn't dampen Chris' spirits, however, as he believes he still has a chance of winning the show. Out of five contestants, the winner will receive a prize that every garden designer dreams of- having their creation showcased at Bord Bia's Bloom later this year.
Chris said: 'I have brought a stunning garden here, the home owners are blown away by it. It's top notch, that's why I feel I deserve to win it. I think I'm going to bloom, I hope I'm going to bloom."
Judge Monica questioned what the 'wow factor' of the young man's garden was. Feeling proud of his creation, Chris said: 'I feel the wow factor has really come into its own with the planting.
"I have a floating timber shelf that has its own story. It was hit by lightning in a convent in Wexford and is over 200 years old. That ties in with the BBQ and other features are a granite boulder at the water feature that will allow frogs and other animals to come in and use the water feature and be able to leave it again.'
Chris hopes he has done enough to take the crown, as his garden would be seen by over 100,000 visitors at Bloom, Ireland's largest garden showcase. As part of RTÉ's Super Garden series, each designer is given €15,000 and three weeks to complete their masterpiece.
This year, every contestant was paired with a homeowner who recently purchased a house built by Glenveagh Homes in Baker Hall, Navan, Co Meath. They are each given a similar-sized garden to create their designs, working alongside each other in the new housing development.
The fifth and final episode of Super Garden airs on RTÉ One next Tuesday at 7pm.
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