A garden modelled on a Pictish dwelling, tucked beneath the windswept summit of Tillymorgan Hill in Aberdeenshire, has been named as Best Show Garden at Gardening Scotland 2008.
“Grassy Hollow”, which features a sunken stone circle, surrounded by banks of long grasses and set against a backdrop of glass and canvas panels, fought off tough competition from a record 14 entrants, to win top prize at the annual flower and gardening show.
Designer Karen Laing, who lives in Aberdeen, said she was: “thrilled and astonished” to win the award.
“This is not a traditional garden with flowers and borders, instead it is inspired by the idea of shelter in the wild landscape,” said Karen who was an artist before training as a garden designer.
Gardening Scotland Chairman Jim McColl said: “All the gardens this year have been outstanding, but Karen’s is quite simply exceptional.
“It may not be what most people think of when they imagine a garden, but the quality of the stonework and the planting is superb and Karen’s artistic background is clearly in evidence.”
Other winners at the Show included Kevock Plants from Lasswade who were named as ‘Best Floral Exhibitor’ for the third year in a row.