Chelsea Flower Show 2016 Winners & Highlights

As we all know, the Chelsea Flower Show is the place to see new plants fluttered in abundance amongst the horticultural industry's most awe-inspiring, innovative and beautiful garden designs. This year the flower show did not disappoint. Garden designers, such as Andy Sturgeon, had us mesmerised by pre-historic themes that truly embodied the word 'monumental'. Whereas, washes of colour from floral displays such as the likes of Ashwood Nurseries stunning display of hepaticas, who were awarded the RHS Diamond Jubilee Award for best exhibit, have given us aspirations for years to come. Let's take a look at those all important Chelsea Flower Show 2016 Winners:

Best Show Garden

The Telegraph Garden - designed by Andy Sturgeon

This year's most prestigious award was given to Andy Sturgeon's Telegraph Garden, an incredible, Jurassic themed garden inspired by the world itself. The bold, sharp edginess of the piece is reflective of the earth's tectonic plates, and the dramatic bronze stegosaurus plates say it all. As well as the stones that centre piece the garden, the plants that nestle amongst them are the real show stoppers. Andy has sourced a rich and diverse collection of exotic plants that had even the most experienced of botanists running for their encyclopaedia. They include fiery, red spires of Echium russicum and delicate Bulbine frutescens.This is a design that unlike the dinosaurs who inspired it, is surely going to stand the test of time.  

Best Fresh Garden 

The Marble and Granite Centre - Antithesis of Sarcophagi

A daring design concept that explores a garden being set on the inside of a giant stone, cube. Designed by Martin Cook and Gary Breeze, the Antithesis of Sarcophagi represents a world of opposites. A garden on the inside of a sculpture; nature encapsulated by modernism. The intriguing woodland can only be viewed from cracks on the exterior of the massive block.

Best Artisan Garden

Viking Cruises Mekong Garden - Designed by Sarah Eberle

Inspired by regions in Cambodia and the Mekong River, This year's best artisan garden boasted a 23 x 16.5 ft pool of water, with a small deck leading to a floating lounger. The floating beds feature a mixture of fruit and vegetables such as spinach, kale and okra, along with flowers for cutting. The concept of the submerged, bliss will surely bring a tide of long-awaited water gardens to the UK.

Best Construction Award

The M&G Garden Built by Swatton Landscape, Designed by Cleve West 

As a reflection of memories of an ancient woodland from the designers youth in Exmoor National Park, this garden takes us on a journey through woodland edging. Following the stone and gravel path, you soon realise that the overriding oak theme is a metaphor for the sponsor's values:strength, growth and longevity.

The President's Award

Senri-Sentei - Garage Garden Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara

A garden built for antique car enthusiasts everywhere. This two-tier structure of a car garage and winding stair case engulfed by plants, offers an interesting, new concept that hasn't been seen before at the Chelsea Flower Show. One of the interesting factors with this piece is that it still offers practicality, amongst its great aesthetics. 

The Great Pavillion

Build your own Chelsea Garden

Feeling inspired? Aching to get out in the garden and create your own masterpiece? So how can you get the look of a Chelsea show garden for less? Build your own stunning floral archways or stock up on royal plants. Find what you're looking for with the Garden Centre Guide.