The garden aims to symbolize the progression of Woman through her lifespan.
The garden is entered via the Future Woman, the child. It is predominantly green; green for growth and vitality. Spots of colour hint at the promise of what is to come. The gravelly, pebbly path is loose and shifting because it can be difficult growing up.
The Present Woman is a woman in her prime child-bearing years. The garden is a watery oasis; cool, deep, fertile. Planting is exotic and colourful. Four stepping stones traverse this body of water. They are rough hewn, shaped and hard - one for each decade of adulthood.
The Past Woman is woman in her later years. The garden is kind timber underfoot. There are no flowers as the time of flowering has passed. A single tree stands proud, its bark the colour of bleached bone. No attempt has been made to remove dead wood - this is the age of acceptance and letting live.
The Regent's Park Flower Show
June 2000
[Credits]
The designer [Grace Yong] wishes to dedicate the garden to a woman called Catherine Gisborne Berry (1953-1999), garden designer and friend who lost the battle against ovarian cancer but won all our hearts and admiration. This is for you, Catherine!
The gold-medal garden is by Serviceteam. They are Royal Park's contractors and Regent's Park Flower Show is a Royal Parks show, not Royal Horticultural. Last year the Royal Parks won, too.
To the left, the Contractor's lorry at the Regent's Park Flower Show
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Last modified May 19, 2005