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Ruby Necklace: a garden from July 2006 - July 2007 “Ruby Necklace, the winning design layout for the Botanic Garden’s Innovative Garden competition ... proved a great success with its emphasis on red coprosma “rubies” set in circles of variegated agapanthus against a background of bright green foliage dripping with tiny white diamonds,” reported Bethney McLennan, gardening features writer for The Dominion Post and a judge of the garden design competition. The annual competition showcases creative designs and uses of plants, and the winning design is planted up and on display for a year at the main gates to the gardens. This year, the garden theme had to support the World of Wearable Arts festival; and Ruby Necklace used plants with beautiful colours, strong form, and contrasting foliage to create a living necklace. "The idea of a necklace came from the shape & slope of the site - with the garden necklace sitting on the neck and shoulders of the existing 'grande dame' Norfolk Pine," said designer Rach Matthews. "And I knew the idea of a jewelled necklace would appeal at least to half the population!" Ruby Necklace incorporates two innovative ideas – a two toned hedge clipped to the same level, and frame topiary using climbers and hedging plants. "Any plant defying shape can be created using a frame - and both climbers and hedging plants are trained around and under the domes" explains Rachael. "The climbers were twisted around and over the frames; and the hedging plants were clipped using the frame’s shape as a cutting guide." A garden usually takes a several years to develop, but the requirements of the competition were stringent: a tight budget, with the garden to be photogenic within 6 weeks of planting, and to be looking its best within 6 months - you be the judge! |
