The Chelsea Flower Show Awards 2009 - The greatest venue for garden design goes to prove it again.

Updated: 30 Jun 2009

Daily Telegraph Garden by Ulf Nordfell-147.jpg

Chelsea Flower Show 2009: SHOW GARDEN AWARDS

Best Show Garden: The Daily Telegraph

Most Creative Award: Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins

Despite the comments that I receive very often from certain members of the gardening fraternity that "nobody is interested in water gardens anymore", if the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2009 is anything to go by, nothing could be further from the case. The point is that although there is an added emphasis now on 'growing your own veg', getting kids interested in the garden and wildlife, there is not a style of gardening that has ever been where water is not a focal point within that style, if not an integral part of that style. That is why there is so much emphasis on style in this magazine, because the question is not whether we should have water in our garden (of whatever style) but where and how should water be in the garden. If you take the golden buttons to press at the moment as far as the RHS are concerned, vegetable gardening, getting kids interested in the garden and wildlife - they return of the conduiting of water around the garden for watering crops as in the early Middle Eastern gardens returns in " Future Nature"; also where there is water, the will always be wildlife and kids will be interested. Say no more.

So see for yourself how water features in practicallly every garden. If it does not then there is a focal point that is so big and impressive it takes over from the 'tree of life' that was originally the symbol of the very staff of life, sustaining water. Even James May's plasticine garden, "Paradise in Plasticene", although it has a plasticene apple tree that could represent that "Paradise Tree of Life" it Paradise in Plasticine - James May and his excellent team created this garden with about two and half tons of the material.: Complete with Koi, statues and plants all made from the material. They were the only garden team to be thankful for the cool weather.also features Koi carp made of plasticine swimming in a shallow stream.

Show Gardens Awarded Gold Medal

Champagne Laurent-Perrier by Luciano Giubbilei
Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins - The Perfume Garden
The Daily Telegraph by Ulf Nordfell and Best in Show

Part of the Laurent Perrier Garden by Luciano Giubbilei: Water was significant but understated flow onto flat stones and....

Laurent Perrier again.: ..flowing over the edge of the stones and disappearing.

Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins creation - The Perfume Garden: The combination of hi-tec/green technology combined with the symbolism of the landscaping and planting was lost on most passing punters, although it provided a spectacular focal point and hub to the show.

Part of the Daily Telegraph Garden by Ulf Nordfell - the man of the moment.

Silver-Gilt Flora

Ark Design Management Ltd - Future Nature
Cancer Research UK Show Garden by Robert Myers
HESCO Bastion and Leeds City Council Show Garden
Marshalls plc Show Garden - a street of small gardens by the 'in-house' garden designer, Ian Dexter.

Ark Design Management Ltd - Future Nature -Adrian Hallam Chris Arrowsmith, Nigel Dunnett.: Practical solutions for a drought resistant urban garden. Water and reed bed featured strongly and with more purpose than for just good looks or a focal point.	Ark Design Management Ltd - Future Nature again: ..showing the harvesting of rainwater and the recycling of grey water for use in the garden.	The Cancer Research UK Garden by Robert Myers -: The working title was "Impact" with reference to the effect of the work done by Cancer Research UK. The 'rock' or 'meteor' represented this has crashed into earth from space.	Robert Myers following in the footsteps of Andy Sturgeon with another iconic design for Cancer Research	The 'meteor' sculpturein the Cancer Research Garden is in fact part of a very understated water feature.
The Hesco Garden by Hesco Bastion and Leeds City Council: A pure and simple natural looking water garden demonstrating the art of planting plants in the right place for their individual requirements.	The Hesco Garden by Hesco Bastion and Leeds City Council -another view	The Marshalls Living Street -Marshalls plc Show Garden - a street of small gardens by the 'in-house' garden designer, Ian Dexter: Despite being treated to an entertaining performance of 'life in the street' and the excellent craftsmanship in the construction,the design did not have the impact we have come take for granted at Chelsea.

Silver Flora

Canary Islands Tourist Board by David Cubero and James Wong, TV gardener and plant expert.
Eden Project in partnership with Homes & Communities Agency Show Garden - The Key designed by Paul Stone.
Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust Show Garden by Thomas Hoblyn
Quilted Velvet Show Garden by Tony Smith
QVC Show Garden by Adam Frost

The Canary Island Spa Garden by David Cubero and James Wong.: A modern courtyard garden designed to be set within the crater of an extinct island volcano with naturally heated thermal spas.	David Cubero and James Wong	The Key by Paul Stone for the Eden Project and Homes and Communities Agency.: Plants were grown by prisoners and homeless people.	The Foreign and Colonial Investments Garden by Thomas Hoblyn: The wave of wood is symbolic of the environmental and economic instability	Watching over the world is a female sculpture.
The plants are rare plants of both North Carolina and East Anglia: They highlight the ability to adapt but also vulnerability in the world of plants.	The Quilted Velvet Garden by Tony Smith	PR and the photo opportunity becomes more essential than the creation of the garden.	The QVC garden by Adam Frost	The QVC garden by Adam Frost again.: Joanna Lumley liked it so it must be good. Lots of water inviting quiet contemplation.

Bronze Flora

Echoes of Japan in an English Garden by Kay Yamada for Barakura: Echoes of the washing-up forgotten.Barakura English Garden Show Garden by Kay Yamada - Echoes of Japan in an English Garden

Chelsea Flower Show 2009: COURTYARD GARDEN AWARDS

Best Courtyard Garden: Giles Landscapes Ltd