Octavia Hill Garden Wins People's Choice Award at Chelsea Flower Show Despite Judges' Decision

The Octavia Hill Garden won the people's choice award at the Chelsea Flower Show, even though it didn't get the highest scores from the judges. The garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell, stood out for its colorful plants in a show where most gardens focused on foliage and ferns. Powell believed the garden was popular because of its vibrant colors and the way people could imagine themselves in it. The garden also won the Children's Choice Award but received a silver-gilt from the RHS judges instead of gold. The garden is based on an urban brownfield site and was inspired by Octavia Hill, a founder of the National Trust who advocated for green spaces in the 19th century. Powell mentioned that she has always loved using color and texture in her designs, even if it meant not following the latest trends. She expressed joy in spreading happiness and knowledge through her work. The Chelsea Flower Show is a significant event in the horticultural world, providing inspiration for gardens of all sizes. In recent years, smaller container and balcony gardens have been included to make the show more accessible. These smaller gardens offer practical ideas that can be applied to tiny outdoor spaces, such as using pergolas to create a private area on a balcony or incorporating large planters for more greenery. The trend at the show this year leaned towards lush green foliage rather than bright colors, creating cohesive and relaxing spaces. Gardens like the NGS Garden and the Octavia Hill Garden showcased this shift towards verdant foliage. The beauty of green gardens has been underappreciated for too long, and the show highlighted the elegance and simplicity of using all-green plants in garden designs.