IT WAS bloomin’ marvellous as Irish garden designer Paul Martin bowled over the judges at Britain’s famous Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Paul was delighted as he scooped a silver-gilt award at the prestigious show in London — the largest of its kind in the world.

Paul’s winning design was a 15-by-12-metre garden Falling Waters and featuring a large reflective pool and a glass waterfall.

It was ringed with herbaceous plants in soft blues, greys and whites, with the odd splash of shocking pink.

The garden was completed with the help of Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winners Orla and Paul Woods of Kilmurry Nursery in Gorey.

And Paul — who hails from Dundalk in Co. Louth — said he was overwhelmed with the success of his creation.

He said: “It looks sharp and is believable. We have sold it already to Profile Properties in Dublin who are going to put it into a new business and retail park near Baldonnel.”

This is Paul’s third Royal Horticultural Society award.

In previous years his gardens have won a bronze at the Tatton Park Flower Show in Cheshire and a silver at the Chelsea Flower Show.

He returns to Ireland this week to continue work on projects including a series of show gardens for the newlyrefurbished Orchard Home and Garden Centre in Celbridge and the ongoing redesign of the gardens at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan.

The six-day Hampton Court Flower Show attracted more than 700 horticultural exhibitors — including nurseries and purveyors of garden sundries and an entire marquee devoted to roses.

The 50 display gardens were a considerable draw for the public, and were be seen by 180,000 visitors.

Also 20 brand new varieties of rose with names such as Thumbs Up and Golden Smiles were launched at this year’s Hampton Court Flower Show.

Paul’s award was testament to his creative flair — with its various elements and use of water winning high praise from the judges. And with his track record so far don’t bet against more honours coming his way.

© Irish Post, 2006.