In less than two months, I’ll be heading back to Dublin to create another show garden at Bord Bia Bloom. This one means a lot.
It’s for Multiple Myeloma Ireland, a charity doing incredibly important work supporting people living with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer.
Why this garden matters
This isn’t just a show garden. It’s a story, in a space that reflects:
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Recovery
- Ongoing resilience
The layout gently guides visitors, but never forces them. There’s choice in how you move through it, with moments to pause, to reflect and to connect. That balance is everything.
What I’m trying to create
The aim is simple: to create something honest. Not overly polished, not over-designed, but something that feels real.
- A corridor that hints at clinical spaces
- A social area that reminds you how important people are
- A woodland space for recovery and calm
- A final journey that reflects resilience and uncertainty
It’s about emotion as much as it is about design.
Follow the journey
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing:
- Design development
- Planting decisions
- Material choices
- Build progress on site in Ireland
The reality behind a show garden, not just the finished photos.
A small ask
If you’re following along, take a moment to look into the work that Multiple Myeloma Ireland do. They provide support, information and community for people facing something incredibly tough. It puts everything into perspective.
You can see how the garden turned out in Gold and People’s Choice at Bloom 2026.
Filed under Project journal on 11 April 2026
