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It's time to announce the winner of the Britains Floral Garden competition! The question we asked our Britains Floral Garden mailing list subscribers was:
| 'Imagine the Britains Floral Garden range has gone back into production for 2009 and you are Head of Product Development. What new items would you add to the catalogue?' |
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| This was a difficult competition to judge because the entries were all very imaginative, so it was decided to award First, Second and Runner-up prizes. |
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FIRST PRIZE: Jenny K. (London UK)
We thought Jenny's entry was the best because it contained a nice mixture of contemporary, traditional and slightly surreal ideas:
- A barbecue is a must, although I do not like them in real life myself!
- An up-to-date compost bin
- Black and green bamboo
- Grass Strimmer for neat edgings
- Squirrels and Foxes
- Decking
- Trampoline
- Saucers of Beer to distract slugs
- Washing Line with drying clothes
- Lavender Bushes
- Toy Train set to run round the garden
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JOINT SECOND PRIZE: Gunner T. (Copenhagen, Denmark)
As I am a gardener myself, I have missed some things in the Floral Garden range.
First the trees : Typical for Britain and the rest of Northern Europe- at least until the Dutch Elm disease came - we have to have an elm in the range, and of course in the same size as the oak and cedar. Maybe even taller than these, as they can reach 30- 40 metres. And again the copper beech, not the little sorry one, but the same size as the others. And why not a plane tree? I was in London recently, and they were everywhere, with their typical trunks and enormous sizes.
About the vegetables, it is strange, that there are no potatoes, onions and carrots. The three most common vegetables.
In the flower range, my personal favourite is the primrose in all its variants. A mix of those under a large elm, would be very nice!
A bunch of croquet players could be fun in the garden, and some different hard working gardeners of course. Maybe one of them climbing a tree with a small saw.
In the greenhouse we must have some vine plants and tomatoes.
And last, I miss a little country house/cottage to all that garden. |
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JOINT SECOND PRIZE: Maxine B. (Banbury, UK)
I would have a bar-b-q with glowing coals of course. Coals and grill would be detachable and need putting together. It would come with attachments e.g. tongs etc. These would of course get lost and become collectors' items. Also with the b-b-q would come food to go on it e.g. miniature plates and sausages, kebabs etc. These would tie in well with the striped garden set and could go on the table with the tray with jug and cups. Again being very small they would get lost and be worth a fortune. To go in with the BBQ set I would have a new person, male in Bermuda shorts, flip flops and striped apron to do the cooking and of course he would be able to hold the tongs.
The BBQ could go on the lawn or crazy paving and would compliment all modern gardens.
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JOINT RUNNER-UP: Ken N. (Crofton, Canada)
I would like to see a gazebo, an old couple to sit in it with table and tea cups etc., and a beautiful red Japanese Maple tree. |
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JOINT RUNNER-UP: Maggie R. (Leek, UK)- More fruit trees/bushes - apples, pears, gooseberries, strawberries...
- New range of people and animals to inhabit the garden (the originals are extremely difficult to get and can be quite expensive.)
- Replace paper canopy for swing seat with something more durable.
- Re-design planting tool so that metal point doesn't pierce fragile plant holes/make plant holes tougher.
- Last but not least, A HOUSE to accompany the garden. Which comes first, the house or the garden ?????
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JOINT RUNNER-UP: Bryan W. (Helston, UK)
My idea for a new item in the Floral Garden would be Decking; it's advantage to the manufacturer would be that it could be extended by the collector and sold in different size packs with additions such as stairs, newel posts, supports etc.
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JOINT RUNNER-UP: Kathryn R. (Enfield, UK)
If I were adding new products to Britain's Floral Garden today, I'd love to see some elements for a Japanese garden. Ornamental grasses, wind flowers, Japanese maples, maybe a little bridge over a stream and a few picturesque "contemplation rocks" surrounded by gravel.
Of course, I'd also need a gardener to rake the gravel into patterns in the Zen fashion.
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Thank you to everyone for taking part!
Didn't hear about the competition?
Then you're either not on the mailing list or we don't have your correct email address. Register your details here to make sure you receive all the latest news. |
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