Blooming success at South West in Bloom 2024!
Plymouth Garden Centre was proud to support Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (BID) this year in the Britain in Bloom competition, earning a Silver-Gilt award.
Planning for the competition started earlier this year when we sat down with the BID team and discussed how we could support their ideas and provide some much-needed 'flower-power' to the areas.
Three boats, one located on Plymouth Hoe and the other two in Milbay Park, was in need of some TLC. They were placed and planted up from last year's 'In Bloom' competition, in which many of the plants had gone over and needed replacing with new, fresh and vibrant plants.
Bike Boat
Planting around a motorbike calls for red hot colours firing out the back, moving into softer pinks and blues, almost like riding off into the sunset!
We aim to have our plant suppliers be as local as possible. Our Non-Stop Begonias come from Mary Mortimer, located in Calstock and grown within the Tamar Valley. A family-run business that we have been working with for over 20 years, and we can confidently say that they offer the best Begonias around!
Creating this boat was a great team effort from the Hoe Volunteers and Plymouth City Council, with Kim (PWP) bringing her own Begonia packs to use. The hot colours included the Non-Stop Begonia, Petunias (including the pre-existing petunias already planted) and Marigolds. We then fade into softer colours including Begonia Waterfall and Fuchsias. The waterfalls were planted inside the helmets hanging off the bike, which will cascade down over time.
We planted in every nook and cranny and made use of all the space provided. Evergreens Delosperma and Armeria will spread out and last for years to come. These Perennials are also supplied by a UK grower.
Firework Boat
Celebrating the very best of British pyrotechnics, this boat, located at Napoleon Commemorative Stone, was designed all around the British Firework Championship.
Our main focus for this boat was picking plants resembling fireworks, either in their name, colour or appearance. We also selected plants that would attract pollinators, providing for our bees and other pollinators and helping address the decline in numbers.
Begonia Bonfires were planted around the edge of the plant, which will cascade down the sides. These bright pops of red mimics the embers from a firework, falling from the sky. The Geranium Fireworks explode up and outwards, giving that iconic firework look and colour.
We planted the taller plants in the middle, including the Osteospermum and Coreopsis, resembling the outward look of a firework exploding. That way the shorter, but just as impactful plants aren’t hidden away. The Coreopsis is from local grower Hatch Green, located in Taunton.
Planted throughout are bright pops of colour such as Marigolds, Calibrachoa and locally grown Non-Stop Begonias. Many of our bedding packs come from Webbers, another family-run business located in North Devon. Bulbs, including Nerines Fireworks and Red Astrantia, were planted for a burst of display later in the display's lifetime.
With planning permission, we would extend that eye-catching display by planting Torbay Dazzler Cordylines, Crocosmia and Agapanthus Fireworks outside the boat. This would tie the whole display together and create a show worthy of being in the Firework Championship!
Sea Boat
Plymouth being an ocean city is such a privilege that we must do everything we can to protect it. Building off the back of the last design, this boat displays the view of a healthy, thriving seascape.
Another collaborative effort between Plymouth City Council and volunteers from Babcock. This project involves physical labour such as repainting the boat, constructing interior walls, filling the boat with bark and compost, and completing the planting and cleanup of sand, pebbles, and chipping.
We picked more of the stunning, locally grown, Non-Stop Begonias in Orange and White that match the colours of the life buoys. The Bacopa, Gypsophila and White Campanula were chosen to beautifully mimic the look of sea foam. Blue Campanula is placed throughout to give that ocean-blue look – mixed with the white Campanula, these perennials will give bursts of life for years to come.
We also picked Festuca Grass, Deschampsia, and Stipa Ponytail, not only to represent seagrasses but to mimic the ocean waves as they sway in the wind. The Astilbe, which comes from UK supplier Allensmore, effortlessly adds depth and definition to the display, looking much like a majestic wave crashing. The Sempervivum was added to represent sea corals and fill in any gaps between the plants. We also repurposed the Vinca from the Bike Boat and replanted it in this boat.
Everything intertwines with the sand, ropes, large white pebbles, and blue slate chippings, creating a beautiful ocean-inspired look.
The South West in Bloom awards event happen in Bath Pavillion on the 8th of October. Chloe from our Marketing & Website department went to represent Plymouth Garden Centre. She was joined by Kim Downer and Jon Walton from PWP to collect the award.
"It was a lovely but wet day in Bath celebrating all those who have worked hard in making their community beautiful, from small villages and large cities. We got to hear inspirational stories from Tom Hart-Dyke and Jim Buttress. Winning Silver Gilt is a fantastic achievement but of course, we are already strongly thinking towards how we can achieve Gold in the 2025 competition!" - Chloe Ward, Marketing & Website, Plymouth Garden Centre
“We are delighted to have helped Plymouth Waterfront Partnership receive this Silver-Gilt award. It was a great honour to work with the teams to create the themed displays and choose many fabulous plants from local growers that made these boats come to life. Plymouth Garden Centre has supported local gardeners and the community for over 60 years and is pleased to support projects and competitions like this. We have already started thinking about how to ‘push the boat out’ in the 2025 competition. We look forward to encouraging more people to get involved in creating wonderful displays within our community for all to enjoy.” Fiona Newton, Managing Director, Plymouth Garden Centre