Simply grow - Gardening Scotland inspiration...

I thought this was the best garden design at Gardening Scotland 2010. It was very dynamic, used mostly recycled materials, was planted with appropriate species and I'd not seen anything like it before. It was cleverly entitled 'Reinforcing Nature' and in a fairly standard space (maybe 12 x 12 mtrs) managed to create a kind of sophisticated adventure playground. The great woven shape which swoops confidently through the space is made of metal reinforcing rods (the kind that are used in concrete construction) - it makes a nice reference to traditional woven willow and the naturalistic planting gives it integrity and keeps it from being too 'clever clever' if you know what I mean....

It was designed and made by Water Gems and the planting design was by Secret Gardens, and it won a gold medal.

I did have another favourite. Colin McBeath of Quercus Garden Plants has made a garden which contrasts a formal checkerboard of cubes of sandstone and cubes of box (buxus sempervirens) with a subtle naturalisitic planting of fine grasses and thalictrum, astrantia, aquilegia, geranium phaeum, ferns and hostas and a few iris sibirica.....all of which move delightfully in the slightest wind. Exquisitely done, a little sombre perhaps in its indoor setting, but I found myself going back several times for another look, and it has given me an idea at last, for my back garden!