A visit to the Garden Press Event (20th February, Business Design Centre, London) was a colourful affair as the joint stand from Dutch flower experts, JUB Holland, Keukenhof and Rijnbeek Perennials (H141/142) showcased many of its stunning early flowering varieties through a mini ‘perennial meadow’ display. And in an exciting move, it has been confirmed that post-event this garden will be donated to the Greenfingers Charity, where it will be replanted at one of its children’s hospice gardens.
Featuring over 120 plants, including Crocus 'Aqua', Helleborus orientalis, Muscari 'Baby's Breath', Primula vulgaris, Viola odorata 'Königin Charlotte' and Centaurea montana 'Tini's Pink'®, the ‘garden’ will be vast, bulging with flowering bulbs and perennials and is the blueprint of the border that the companies have planted together at Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands. A key focus for visiting media at the event, this garden will bring even more joy to those patients and staff that are on the receiving end of this generosity.
The recipient hospice is confirmed as Demelza Hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent. With its second Greenfingers garden poised to officially open soon, it is the original garden – created 25 years ago – that will burst into technicolour joy with the arrival of the JUB Holland/ Keukenhof/ Rijnbeek Perennials ‘garden’ this coming Wednesday (21st February).
Overseeing the planting will be Tammy Woodhouse, Greenfingers Trustee and Managing Director of Millbrook Garden Centres. With its centres located just half an hour from the hospice, Tammy will pull together a crack team of willing gardeners to ensure these bulbs and plants are safely relocated to the heart of the hospice, where they can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at the Greenfingers Charity, said: “Thank you so much to the team at JUB Holland, Keukenhof and Rijnbeek Perennials for their incredibly generous donation. As leaders in the world of bulbs and perennials, I know that the quality of plants will be of the highest standard and will be a welcome addition to the existing garden at Demelza Hospice. Even on the darkest days, these flowers will play an important role, often being adopted as flowers of remembrance for those to whom we’ve said goodbye. Their presence will mean so much and for that we will be forever grateful.”
