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Southport Flower Show 17-19th August 2000 
The Display Gardens |
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| This superb show garden covers an area of approximately 15 metres by 8 metres and includes one of the most delightful sunken gardens I've ever seen, with a dramatic and compelling water fountain. All the materials have been reclaimed from the Victorian Southport Pier, which is currently being dismantled. |
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A stone bird bath dominates the centre of this 3.6metre diameter circle, which is divided into 4 quadrants by short paths of stable pavers leading to the steps, built from stone setts and victorian path tiles in a diamond pattern. The box-hedged raised planters are also built from reclaimed stone setts with a peg-tile sill detail. I LOVE this garden. Fantastic use of materials, wonderful attention to detail, a real joy to the eye. :~) |
| A rubble yorkstone path sweeps around the sunken garden and heads uo towrads the waterscape. fantastic detailing, with salavaged terracotta brick motifs inlaid into the rubble paving, which is edged with granite setts. The raised planters are built from reclaimed street cobbles, with a barley twist peg edging included as a sill detail - wonderful! |
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In the centre of the shallow pool lies this massive circular millstone, rescued from the now-demolished Ainsdale Mill. A 10 metre high fountain of water erupts into the sky before falling back into the pool, which has been filled with 'donations' from the appreciative public, who can't resist the challenge of trying to land a coin on the millstone itself. Salvaged weather-worn decking edges the pool on two sides with simple but effective planting and a neatly trimmed lawn completing the area. |
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A rusting anchor nestles at the edge of the water, linking the three elements of hard-landscape, water and planting. Of all the gardens I've seen this year, this is, without a doubt, the most enchanting, the most amazingly-detailed, the most desirable garden of them all. |
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Contractor John T. Murphy of Southport has made a garden to be proud of, not just for himself, but for the whole of the town. The irreplacable Victorian heritage that defines Southport has been lovingly preserved in the most attractive and appealling way imaginable. |
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