TWIG WINS GOLD AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOWER SHOW

THE KIPLING GARDEN AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE

TWIG AND DESIGNER HEATHER APPLETON ARE THRILLED TO HAVE WON A GOLD AWARD AT THEIR FIRST EVER SHOW AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE. THEIR KIPLING GARDEN IN THE NEW ENGLISH POET'S GARDEN CATEGORY TAKES AS ITS INSPIRATION THE POEM, "MY BOY JACK," WRITTEN BY RUDYARD KIPLING IN 1916.

THE 8M X 6M KIPLING GARDEN, WITH OVERHEAD SAILS, WAVES OF GRASSES AND SOARING, SCULPTED BIRDS, NARRATES A MOTHER AND FATHER'S SEARCH FOR NEWS OF THEIR 18-YEAR-OLD SON JACK, LOST IN ACTION DURING WORLD WAR 1 IN FRANCE. THE FATHER, RUDYARD KIPLING, TRACKS DOWN SOLDIERS, ASKING: "HAVE YOU SEEN MY BOY JACK?"

THE GARDEN INCORPORATES A BOARDWALK OF RAILWAY SLEEPERS TO REPRESENT HIS LONG SEARCH; BAY LAUREL BLOCKS RISE LIKE TOMBSTONES AMID THE GRASSES THAT SYMBOLISE THE SEA, WHILE NATIVE FASTIGIATE HORNBEAMS (CARPINUS BETULUS FASTIGIATA) STAND AS SENTRIES ALONG YOUR PATH THROUGH THIS GARDEN OF QUIET CONTEMPLATION. THERE ARE ALSO ROCKS FOR RESTING UPON, WHILE RED, WHITE AND BLUE FLOWERS PROVIDE PATRIOTIC SPLASHES.

HEATHER APPLETON SAID SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH THE GOLD MEDAL.

"WINNING GOLD AT OUR FIRST TIME AT HAMPTON COURT GOES DEEPER THAN JUST BEING AN ACCOLADE FOR ME AND THE TEAM," SHE SAYS. "THE STORY OF RUDYARD KIPLING SEARCHING FOR HIS TEENAGE SON IS SO POIGNANT – AND MOVED ME TO CREATE THIS GARDEN OF QUIET CONTEMPLATION, OF REMEMBRANCE AND OF PEACE. WINNING GOLD IS A TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE BRAVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY. "

© TWIG 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.