I love that the British public supports projects such as Future Gardens and the now defunct Westonbirt Festival of Gardens enough to make them at least viable for a few years.   Both shows were based in the idea that designers who are constrained by budget, sponsorships and established notions of what show gardens should be are not able to be truly creative and explore the boundaries of design and move thinking forward into new frontiers.   Westonbirt was the first, and was an interesting show, in that it required that gardens remained intact for a series of months so that the displays could change with the seasons as well as show a more real side of design.  The side that show gardens often miss…while beautiful, they are often not realistic or entirely practical in the real world.  Additionally, the fixed construction budget (provided to designers by the organizers) was enforced. I have not visited Future Gardens but through reading blogs and viewing the designers pictures I have pulled together some of my favorites for you.

First up is a garden titled ‘Nest’ by Jane Hudson and Erik DeMaeijer .

Image from Hallenga and Bugg landscape Design.

Image from Baklava Shed Coalition

I am once again taken with the willow structures and mixing it with the wooden eggs and the oak plank decking is simply stunning.

Next up is Narratives of Nature by Hallenga and Bugg.

Image from Baklava Shed Coalition

I am so enamored with log walls — I am in the process of building some at my own home with some of our tree debris from the ice storm. Making lemonade from lemons….but notice that mulch….it is walnut shells. Beautiful.

And finally, From Tony Heywood and Conceptual Gardens, the imaginative and colorful Anthroscape 3.

Image from Hallenga and Bugg landscape Design.

image from We’re going to Need a Bigger Pot.

Oh– and as We’re going to need a Bigger Pot points out, that rubble is anthracite which is a more metamorphosed coal – another not so common but interesting garden material.

I am feeling particularly inspired by these, are you?