Spring always brings a powerful new impetus to the landscape design and gardening industry. In this field, Great Britain has traditionally been and remains the legislator of world trends. Chelsea show gardens have been the quintessence of the skills of landscape designers and gardeners for over 100 years.
Lyudmila Bilodid, landscape designer, director and founder of Beloded Landscaping bureau
About their role in the formation of the profession, organizational subtleties and new safety rules PRAGMATICS.MEDIA said the founder of the Beloded Landscaping office, a valid member of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and a member of the board of the Guild of Landscape Architects of Ukraine (GLAU) Lyudmila Bilodid.
The most influential show
Queen Elizabeth II loves lilies of the valley, Princess Anne loves the "endless variations" of bellflowers, and Prince Charles, a gardener, loves the "magnificent" delphiniums. It would seem that the Ukrainians are interested in the Windsors? But the fact is that in matters of garden design, Great Britain has not lost the imperial influence in the last century, and thousands of professionals involved in the industry are doing their best to preserve this influence.
Due to the pandemic, the famous garden exhibition Chelsea Flower Show 2020 took place in virtual mode. To look at projects of unrealized gardens through a monitor is, of course, far from impressive, so the organizers of the show made a bet on the production of original content - shooting small spectacular films in which designers talked about their approaches, conducted video tours of their own or author's gardens.
This format allowed the RHS to hone the technology of remote interactive interaction with all landscape and garden design enthusiasts around the world. In addition, as part of the Virtual Chelsea Flower Show, the RHS has launched a new My Chelsea Garden competition aimed at amateur gardeners. Non-professional gardeners sent photos of their works to the jury, claiming victory in four nominations: "Backyard", "Front garden", "Alternative garden: balcony, windowsill, terrace", "Public garden".
The latest nomination recognizes the efforts of volunteers who beautify the streets with flower beds, pocket parks or create green public spaces on the roofs and in the courtyards of condominiums. The British liked the initiative so much that the RHS decided to make My Chelsea Garden a tradition.
It would be fair to call RHS Chelsea a major catalyst for the entire global green industry, stimulating not only designers and landscape architects, but also their associates
The Dubai Majlis Garden by designer Thomas Hoblin, which was awarded a silver-gilt medal at Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Photo: Neil Hepworth / RHS
It would be fair to call RHS Chelsea a major catalyst for the entire global green industry. These exhibitions not only stimulate designers and landscape architects, but also their neighbors - builders, furniture makers, plant growers. I talked about how the RHS interacts with sponsors and patrons who support the show, which has become one of the brightest business cards of modern Great Britain, in the article Nature knows best in the 12th volume of PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA, analyzing in detail the winning exhibition gardens of 2019.
Every year RHS Chelsea selects a 'Plant of the Year' and once every 10 years a 'Plant of the Decade'. The Chelsea Plant of the Year Award was established in 2010 to encourage the work of plant breeders and nurseries to produce improved and exciting new varieties. Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum Kilimanjaro Sunrise, which was bred by the Dutch breeder Jan Willem Weselenburg, was declared the most popular garden plant of the last decade according to the results of an open vote, and streptocarpus (Streptocarpus Harlequin Blue) was chosen by the new RHS president Keith Weed.
Keith Weed, Chelsea Flower Show's new president, said: "For centuries, the UK has led the world in innovation and creating amazing gardens, and now is the time to lead the role of gardeners as guardians of gardens and environmental and social sustainability."
This year, the organizers of the show still count on a live format, and for this reason they made the sensational decision to move the historic May show at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea to September 21-26. Given the high rate of vaccination in Great Britain, everyone expects that most of the restrictions will be lifted by autumn (although, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Ukrainians will be able to freely visit London even in September).
Morgan Stanley Garden, designer Chris Birdshaw, Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Photo source: telegraph.co.uk
The news about the postponement of the main event in the world of garden design to the autumn season did not upset, but on the contrary, brought everyone into joyful excitement. After all, throughout the history of the show, we enjoyed the landscapes in their spring and summer bloom, and now we will see the gardens in the golden season, with new soloists: dahlias, asters, chrysanthemums, sage, cereals.
And I am sure that vegetables and fruits will be included in the floral compositions. Autumn is a special mood, a special atmosphere. Although designers who have already submitted applications for participation in the Chelsea Flower Show 2021 will have to adjust their projects. Someone may even radically reformat.
The pinnacle of skill
Rhetorical question: is it difficult to create a garden in 10 days that will look like it is already 10 years old? But in fact, work on projects begins many months before the opening, it just remains hidden from the eyes of the audience. I will tell you what happens behind the scenes.
Creating display gardens is a team effort. Designers, horticulturists, contractors, show organizers and sponsors all consolidating efforts to delight a fairly experienced, eye-popping audience each year.
Creating exhibition gardens is a team effort. Designers, gardeners, contractors, show organizers and sponsors all consolidate efforts
The RHS recently hosted a webinar on creating display gardens. All lectures in this workshop are freely available and are a clear and detailed guide to preparing for major events such as Chelsea Flower Show Gardens or Hampton Court Garden Festival.
For example, multiple award winner Tequin Evans talks about his own experience of creating expressive landscape design; RHS judge Hayley Skipper explains the criteria the jury uses when evaluating the entries; Anna Platoni, whose position is called Plant Health Officer, which can be translated as "plant health specialist", talks in detail about biosecurity rules.
There you can also find recommendations for designers from contractors: engineers, plant suppliers, gardeners who will directly mount the exhibition. How to submit an application, how to find a sponsor, a contractor and everything about how to properly mount an exhibition garden. The generosity with which the British share their knowledge, their enthusiasm in popularizing an idea always amazes me.
The Silk Road Garden, a collaboration between landscape architect Laurie Chetwood and designer Patrick Collins at Chelsea Flower Show 2017. Photo: Neil Hepworth / RHS
Any garden, in particular an exhibition garden, begins with an impression that the designer expresses in sketches. But then the difficult and rather routine work begins. Such documents as Method statement, Risk Assessments, Construction Phase Plan Insurance, Public and Employee Liability are drawn up. After assessing the risks and drawing up estimates, it is necessary to issue an application for participation in the show. It's not that hard if you use the guide from RHS.
Biosecurity is a mutual responsibility of organizers, participants and suppliers
Holding such a big show is always associated with organizational difficulties. In Great Britain, special attention is paid to security issues, which novice organizers may not even think about. An international exhibition is an event in which many plants from different parts of the world are gathered in one place for several days.
Each such festival carries the potential threat of outbreaks of serious plant diseases, which can spread like wildfire and cause serious damage not only to nurseries, but also to urban spaces, as pests, infections and viruses can destroy plants in city parks. Every year, the task of specialists responsible for preventing phytoepidemics becomes more difficult: the climate changes, pests occupy new territories, and their rapid migration is facilitated by international travel and trade.
At RHS, strict rules are followed to minimize risks and protect plants. For example, if planting material was ordered from local nurseries, it is inspected upon arrival at the exhibition. Even if the plants appear healthy, they are placed in quarantine for several days, as some diseases are hidden. The purity of the water used for irrigation is constantly monitored, and all garden tools, shoes and car wheels are also washed.
The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden by designer Nick Bailey, awarded a silver gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2016. Photo: Dana Thomas
Very often, designers want to add a bit of the exotic to the English garden landscape, and for this they need plants from the tropics or subtropics or simply high-quality material from European nurseries. But much stricter rules apply to imported plants. Today, the main threat to the green sphere is Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterial disease of American origin that has spread throughout the world.
This pathogen affects more than 500 plant species, and many of them are hidden carriers. Material losses from Xylella fastidiosa outbreaks are estimated at millions of euros. Recently, more than a million olive trees died in Italy, and in Spain, the bacterium destroyed almost 900 almond orchards.
There are 9 types of plants that are most often carriers of the disease: coffee, hebe, lavender, oleander, olive, myrtle, cherry family, rosemary, Spanish gorse. These plants are not allowed to be used in RHS show gardens if less than 12 months have passed since they were imported. In addition, after Brexit, new rules for importing plants into Great Britain were introduced.
Andy Sturgeon's M&G Garden won Best in Show at Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Photo: Neil Hepworth / RHS
Also, show participants must declare adult trees in advance: exhibits for the exhibition with a height of 1–5 m must be selected and be under the supervision of arborists for at least 3 months.
And you won't see oaks in the garden compositions of Chelsea Flower Show Gardens and Hampton Court Garden Festival. This is prohibited, because English oaks are often massively affected by oak silkworms, which can provoke acute allergy attacks in people and animals.
Now you understand why design planning should be done at least a year before the exhibition?
Create not a garden, but an atmosphere
Multidimensional, atmospheric, sensory: the design and architecture of the exhibition gardens is a scenography where the main actors are the plants, and the man is assigned the role of the enthusiastic pilgrim. Scenography has always been in demand in landscape architecture. It is enough to mention the outstanding surrealist gardens.
For example, Quinta da Regaleira Park in Sintra, Portugal. Entering this amazing place, created by Luigi Manini, a person feels like he is in the abode of a Masonic lodge, full of secrets and mysteries. Or Laz Pozas — the Mexican tropical Eden of Edward James, a friend of Dalí and Magritte.
If we are talking about participation in the show, then the task is much more complicated. You have to assemble the stage and all the scenery from live material in the shortest possible time in a limited area and in isolation from the context. The context designer must program thousands of details that will create the illusion in the audience that they have moved from the center of London to the Alps, the hot savannah or the rural hinterland.
At the same time, the garden scene, according to modern requirements, must meet the principles of sustainability. It is necessary to prepare live exhibits for hot exhibition days in such a way that they not only successfully withstand the movement and installation of exhibition stands, but also that after the end of the event they safely return to the nursery or are moved together with the entire garden to a permanent place of residence.
Any garden, including an exhibition garden, begins with an impression that the designer expresses in sketches and sketches
For example, Mark Gregory's garden, which collected all the main trophies in Chelsea in 2018 and was awarded the title of the best garden of the decade (Garden of the Decade), moved to Yorkshire - to the environment that inspired the designer. Three years later, it continues to develop successfully. For Gregory, the formula for success on the show is: "When skill and luck come together, something exceptional comes out."
The main thing is not to make mistakes, the designer believes. And not making mistakes when working with live material is high professionalism. Mark Gregory used a rather complex and capricious plant - wisteria in the compositions of the Yorkshire garden, but only because he was 100% sure that he had created all the conditions for the gentle southern beauty and guessed with the timing of flowering.
"If you can keep people's attention for more than 30-40 seconds, that's a success, and if the audience comes back again and again, that's a triumph," says Mark Gregory.
In the project, Gregory captures jewelry precision and perfect work with details, which should form the effect of presence in the audience. Strands of sheep's wool stuck out from the rusted wire fence of the exhibition hall, the wooden gates creaked mercilessly, and cow hooves were artistically and quite believably scattered on the blooming meadow - all to emphasize the rustic character of the garden.
Mark Gregory's Yorkshire garden awarded Garden of the Decade at Virtual Chelsea Flower Show 2020. Photo: Neil Hepworth / RHS
Joe Perkins, founder of Landform Consultants, which creates innovative futuristic exhibition gardens in partnership with Facebook, recommends striving for simplicity and brevity in both the choice of decorative materials (no more than three) and the choice of plants.
Keep it simple, use patterns and repetitions, create level differences or play with the terrain, add water, make the most of vertical surfaces and fences, creating green walls - these are his tips for those who want to show their skill and taste to the world.
If not us, then who?
RHS festivals, SGD level competitions, DNA Paris Design Awards, LICC or those organized by IFLA are not entered for monetary prizes. Most often, no material reward is provided in principle. This is a demonstration of professional skill and reputation work. And reputation is more expensive than money.
In the last few years, Ukrainian architects have broken the boundaries and are winning prizes at such authoritative platforms as the World Architecture Festival. Why do Ukrainian landscape designers not participate in world exhibitions? After all, Chelsea Flower Shop is open to foreigners.
Despite the Conservatives' best efforts to turn the festival into a purely British event, the RHS responds with a stern refusal, saying that "horticulture has no citizenship". Also, Ukrainians very rarely nominate their implemented projects for international competitions. In addition to us (Beloded Lanscaping), as far as I know, literally two or three companies are submitting their applications.
What is the reason for such apathy? I know that she is definitely not lacking in ideas and talents. But so far, Ukrainian landscape designers and architects themselves are not motivated. And it is not always their fault: very often beautiful, successfully implemented projects, which could be a worthy competition for British gardens, forever remain in the status of secret, which will never be presented to the general public. The isolation of our elites from society also plays a role.
What else is the problem? Perhaps in the absence of information, funding? And how can we change this situation? At a minimum, I am ready to inspire by my own example and share all the information and experience of participating in international competitions. And, of course, we should consolidate at the level of the Guild of Landscape Architects of Ukraine. If not professional communities, then who will determine the design standards, professional ethics, etc.? But first we need to "change our conservatory" something.
"Rudyky" is a realized landscape project by Beloded Landscaping, which received an award at the International LICC 2020 (London International Creative Competition). Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
In the USSR, professional communities of specialists in the field of landscape architecture were "sections of urban landscaping" under their older brothers - unions of architects.
Our Guild of landscape designers, following the practice of the Soviet times, combines not only actual designers - architects and designers, but also nurseries, builders, and adjusters of irrigation systems. And also "landscape architects", whose education consists of three-month courses. That is, people who already take orders, but do not dare to announce their authorship, because they do not guarantee anything. They are simply not sure of the quality of their work.
Throughout the world, professional communities are always highly specialized. This is not a club based on interests and not a company of friends whose communication is reduced to greeting each other with a happy birthday. In the same Great Britain, in addition to the RHS, SGD (Society of Garden Designers), APL (Association of Professional Landscape Designers), there is also BALI (British Landscape Industry Association), which unites contractors - contractors, in particular for the maintenance of territories, training organizers.
Specialization is necessary, because only in a professional environment can you pump your skills, raise and improve your level. Even ALAROS — the Association of Landscape Architects of Russia — is an association of high-level professionals. They are focused specifically on issues of landscape architecture: they hold competitions and educational seminars. To interact with their partners, they created a Partners Club. And direct contacts occur during direct work on projects. Pretty logical structure, don't you think?
If not professional communities, then who will determine the design standards and professional ethics?
If we talk about practical everyday work, then every landscape project must pass not only agreement with the customer, but also a number of official examinations, especially if it is a public area. These examinations are rather technical, they concern compliance with norms and standards. All innovative solutions that we brought from abroad must also be certified.
For example, recently the Ministry of Regions allowed and approved the use in Ukraine of modern engineering network protection systems and TreeParker systems, which I described in detail in the article «The mission is to survive. "Recipes of happiness" for urban trees» in volume 8 of PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA.
If we want to increase the design aspect, then the informal but authoritative expertise of the Guild can be a stimulus. "Approved by the Guild of Landscape Architects" can be a kind of mark of quality. But first we must regulate, structure our community. Until that happens, I'll be honest, we're not ready.
If we were to announce a competition now with requirements and conditions for creativity, sustainability, biosecurity, general organization similar to those put forward by the RHS, we simply would not gather participants. And of course, even our domestic Ukrainian horticultural exhibitions are sorely lacking in funding. It is not about looking for sponsors to form a prize fund!
I repeat, participation in exhibitions is a matter of reputation. And funding is necessary for a high-quality organization, for an advertising campaign, for inviting reputable and progressive designers to the jury, who would not just give their verdict, but would help the participants to raise their level. After all, on safety.
"Alpiyka" is a realized landscape project by Beloded Landscaping, which received an award at the DNA Paris Design Awards 2020 International Competition. Photo: Beloded Landscaping
Our field, our industry, can be very influential. In the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy, crop production is a strategic industry. Why do I encourage you to follow the initiatives of influential organizations such as the RHS? They not only set trends in design and culture, but also have a huge influence on the entire industry on a global scale, and indirectly on various industries.
For example, the RHS recently called for a ban on the use of peat in potting soil, as peatlands are the world's largest carbon store and are important to the balance of the ecosystem as a whole. If progressive countries follow the example of Great Britain, and nurseries en masse switch to the use of sphagnum substrates and forestry by-products, it will be a serious blow to the business of peat producers, including Ukrainian ones, but most importantly, it will be a significant contribution to the preservation of nature on the planet.
We need to come out of the shadows. Otherwise, in the eyes of our titled foreign colleagues, we will remain in the role of nameless orphans, and our profession in Ukraine will remain a ghost profession. When we applied for SGD membership, I had to list all of our partners and contractors. There cannot be projects that are implemented by one person, designer or architect.
We and our partners must encourage each other to raise the bar — we need partners like air who are ready to implement and even develop the boldest ideas of a designer, who are ready to act based on the concept and, from their side, offer better, more technological, innovative solutions. And when the time comes to create an exhibition garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.
/The material is published on the pages #30 volumes PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA
