In just 95 days the ribbon will be cut on what will be the first-ever full size tropical show garden in Chelsea's over 100 year history - and my design partner David Cubero and I are incredibly excited to have won the contract to design and create the ambitious new project- which to be honest is exciting and daunting in equal measure!
"The Tourism Malaysia Garden", designed to give visitors to Chelsea a taste of the spectacular landscapes, bizarre flora and vibrant, modern culture of the Malaysian Archipelago, will cover some 220 square meters and is inspired by lush rainforests and traditional Malaysian village gardens - albeit interpreted through a cool, ultra modern lense. Being part Malaysian and having spent a huge amount of my childhood there, this is a really personal journey for me, and with stiff competition & having set ourselves a rather ambitious brief, it should be a pretty eventful journey.
It will be David and my third RHS show garden and second time at Chelsea, so we have a pretty good idea of the trials and tribulations we will be facing, and as I personally think the most exciting aspect of building show gardens is what goes on behind the scenes, in this blog I thought I would give an insider's guide to all that is involved in creating a garden at what is undoubtedly the world's greatest flower show.
Stay tuned for what happens next and wish us luck!