If you are seeking some green solace in London this summer head over to the Urban Physic Garden, in Southwark.  This project celebrates the medicinal qualities of plants and herbs – everything from traditional tea and tonic cures for ailments to cutting edge pharmaceutical treatments.  Designed and created by Wayward Plants it recognizes Southwarks historic significance in caring for London’s ill.

There is a quirky Cafe in a decommisioned ambulance and you can view the website for details of daily events, talks and film screenings.

The Urban physic garden is just one example of the Major of London’s Capital Growth Spaces, “The campaign to support 2012 new community food-growing spaces for London by the end of 2012″ (1195 spaces so far!)

Open Tues – Sunday until 15th August 2011.
The Urban Physic Garden, 100 Union Street, London SE1 ONL.

Urban Physic Garden

photo credit Mike Massaro

Pop-up community project by Wayward Plants

The annual RHS Hampton Court Flower Show is underway, 5th – 10th July 2011.
Our pick of favourite gardens includes:

The Edible Garden, encouraging visitors to think about using edible flowers, including marigolds, lavender and nasturtium.  The textures of the herb foliage works well in this garden.

‘I am because of who we are’, designed by Caroline Comber with Petra Horackova, has won the Tudor Rose Award for Best Show Garden.  Rusty metal borders provide a sculptural edge to the planting, arranged in overlapping circles.  The subtle colour palette of verdant greens offset with lime green foliage and white and cream flowers is stunning.  The theory behind the garden is that communities and societies work better together, this is reflected in the planting where a lovely selection of plants merge together.

The rather quirky Best Concept garden is called ‘Landscape Obscured,’ designed by Dan Lobb.  It features a fungus landscape below ground, visitors are encouraged to peer down periscopes to view the subterrainean world of mushrooms growing – it’s certainly original!

It’s not too late to visit, pack your sun lotion and brolly and get yourself along!

RHS Hampton Court Flower Show

Hampton Court Flower Show garden inspiration