“If heaven were a garden, this felt like a brief visit to paradise” …
If you have been following The Greatest Gardens with Diarmuid Gavin and Carol Klein on BBC One Northern Ireland, you’ll know that five gardens made it through to the final, which was held at Greenmount Walled Garden in Co Antrim.
The finalists were judged on three criteria: planting, design and good gardening practice. The winner was Ivydene Garden spread across three acres in Comber in Co Down, owned by Robert Russell and Michael Connolly, which impressed the judges with its design variety and creative planting.
Robert and Michael created three distinct and contrasting spaces – a formal garden, secret garden and wildflower meadow. “What I love about this garden is that it’s never about a single plant, it’s always about combinations,” explained Carol Klein. “The garden is full of roses everywhere, of every description. The whole garden is planted for succession as well. It’s beautifully thought out.”
What stood out for Diarmuid was Ivydene’s drama. “It has an extraordinary sense of arrival. Lupins stood like gentle sentries along the entrance floral border, guiding us to the front door and setting the tone for what lies beyond.
“It unfolds as a relaxed floral paradise, a series of meandering grass pathways leading us through a series of delightfully informal garden rooms. The icing on the cake: a wistful, meadow, melting seamlessly into the billowing fields beyond, showing a real sensitivity and understanding of place.
“It’s beautifully gardened, full of care and quiet confidence. Robert and Michael have created something special with Ivydene … it lifted our hearts. If heaven were a garden, this felt like a brief visit to paradise.”
After the award, Michael commented: “It was a joy taking part in the series. My hope is that it will inspire people to take another look at their outdoor space, be it six feet or six acres. It’s great to get outside!”
The full series of Greatest Gardens With Diarmuid Gavin And Carol Klein is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
