Rethinking Carpet Bedding with Kernock Park Plants
In 2003 I designed a show garden for the Hampton Court Palace Flower show and this carpet bedding scheme was a huge influence on one piece of the design. At the time, I had recently seen this garden which was created at Waddesdon Manor for fashion designer Oscar De La Renta by Kernock Park Plants.
The carpet bedding scheme is unlike any I have seen before (or since). It is artistic and beautiful and the way in which it is created (using a pixelated computer generated image to precisely map plants for color to a grid that is then laid out on the ground and planted in numbered trays) is fascinating, simple and in my mind, totally under appreciated and used by designers.
When I contacted Kernock Park about images for this post, I was shocked to hear that this garden didn’t inspire others like it. They tend to use the technology mostly to create logos and municipal displays for towns.
Fascinatingly this display (which is actually two beds – 16.20 x 4.36 m and 15.60 x 4.26 m) uses nealy 50,000 plants. Here is a list of the plants used:
Festuca Elijah Blue
Ajuga Burgandy Glow
Alternanthera E
Arenaria
Alternanthera H
Arabis Old Gold
Alternanthera J
Iresene Brilliantissima
Pyrethrum Golden Moss
Sagina
Echeveria elegans
Senecio serpens
Ajuga Chocolate Chip
Alternanthera Rosea
Aptenia
Helichrysum Korma
Echeveria glauca
Sedum Cape Blanco
Tradescantia Purple Sabre
Festuca Golden Toupee
Ophiopogon
Sedum Pachyclodos
Deschampsia Tatra Gold
Sedum Purpureum
Sedum Ogon
Alternanthera G
Alternanthera K
Alternanthera O
Cerastium
Echeveria secunda
Festuca Elijah Blue
Ruby Mantle
Sempervivum tec. Rubin
Total plants 48802!
When I did my little project (which was only about 10 trays), I was re-creating the look of running water with plants (very conceptual – and not really the focal point of the garden). I sent Chris Harnett the InstaPlant Manager at Kernock Park Plants a picture of water that I liked and he did the rest. Simple and not really very expensive considering the service.
More recently Kernock has created a couple of arty installations, like this horse image. Now the same technology can be applied to green walls as in this Gold winning chelsea garden (below) by Sarah Eberle. With the level of detail that they can create I think it is only a matter of time before an inspired designer creates living wallpaper!
Sprout said,
October 6, 2009 @ 9:40 am
Where’s a picture of your running water plants?!
Layanee said,
October 6, 2009 @ 7:35 pm
I will re-think bedding schemes. These look like abstract watercolors. Beautiful.
janet said,
October 7, 2009 @ 12:21 am
wow! I love that garden!
dana said,
October 7, 2009 @ 3:48 am
Bellissimo …come un quadro astratto!
“action gardening”
grazie dana
Susan aka Miss R said,
October 8, 2009 @ 8:20 am
This is an excellent example of why no idea should ever be ruled out. Garden styles go in and out of fashion just like hemlines and bedding plants in ornate patterns are out of fashion. These show how they can be modern and timely and redefine ornate and accuracy in planting.
ryan said,
October 8, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
There was an green wall/painting of an apple, made with succulents, at the SF Flower and Garden show this past spring. Rebecca Cole’s demo garden. It was pretty effective.
Steve said,
March 1, 2011 @ 8:16 pm
That is an absolutely terrific look. Good Lord – it’s plain art is what it is.