Michelle Duxbury has been inspired by Shakespeare’s comic tale of love and money in creating this design. The garden’s setting is a Venetian canal enclosed by a boardwalk of weathered pilings.

Michelle Duxbury
The Merchant of Venice – Gold Medal Winner and Best Shakespeare’s Comedies Garden

Three large wooden vessels float like gondolas amidst dark, reflective pools and a swirling sea of grasses. Filled with lush flowers and foliage in shades of gold, silver and lead, the vessels depict the caskets from which Portia’s suitors must choose in order to win her hand.

High above the garden, like washing lines spanning a Venetian canal, three tall striped props support drapes of muslin, each one inscribed with Shakespeare’s words of guidance to all would-be suitors.

The garden was built by National Certificate and National Diploma students from Capel Manor College, Enfield and Gunnersbury Park.

The amazing striped posts were provided by The Linepost Company

To learn more about Horticulture and Garden Design courses at Capel Manor College visit www.capel.ac.uk

To find out more about the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show visit www.rhs.org.uk

Images by: Harris Digital Productions