Capel Manor graduates Patricia Thirion and Janet Honour are delighted to be exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show for the fourth time with their Herbert Smith garden for WaterAid. Having graduated from the college in 2006, they are three times RHS Chelsea Flower Show medallists, in 2007 for their courtyard gardens Le Jardin de Vincent, which was rebuilt at Capel in 2008, Entente Cordiale in 2009 and Christian Before Dior in 2010.
Their latest garden design is inspired by the work of the charity WaterAid and it illustrates how precious water is as a resource.
Their design is shaped like a single droplet of water, the symbol of WaterAid. At the point where the droplet begins stands a water pump and flowing out from that are areas of increasing vegetation, fanning out and becoming more luxuriant in waves to echo the life-giving effect of water.
Patricia from Paris and Janet from London met at Capel Manor College while studying garden design. Janet and her husband James are delighted that their 14-year-old son Gareth shares a love of gardening at their home in Berkhamsted. Patricia originally came to London as an au pair, but settled here permanently; living in Bushey with her husband Peter.
The pair, who run their own garden design company in Hertfordshire, say: “We are proud and excited to be creating a garden for such a worthwhile cause. Water is life, it’s that simple.”
The Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 22-26. Details: atouchoffrance.co.uk
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