The Komorebi Garden

The Komorebi Garden, named after the evocative Japanese term for the interplay of sunlight filtering through tree leaves appears in the Container Garden category at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

This innovative design concept aims to transport visitors into a serene pocket forest, fostering a deep connection with nature and offering a sanctuary of peace amidst the bustle of everyday life. This year, Garden Club London’s entry has chosen to spotlight the container garden category, demonstrating how small outdoor spaces can be transformed into vibrant, functional environments that prioritise the user experience while maximizing underutilised areas. The Komorebi Garden will smartly illustrate that even the smallest outdoor nooks can be reimagined into personal sanctuaries for reflection and rejuvenation.

Led by Masa Taniguchi, Lead horticulturalist at Garden Club London, this garden encapsulates a wealth of both professional horticultural expertise and personal narrative. Born in Nagoya, Japan, Masa faced challenges within the rigid confines of Japan’s educational system. His passion for horticulture flourished after reading Hiroko Miwa’s transformative book, Midori iro no yasumi jikan (Respite in the Greenery), which inspired him to pursue his studies in garden design and horticulture in the UK at the age of 18. With a commitment to showcasing the beauty of small spaces, this marks Masa’s first official entry at the iconic Chelsea Flower Show, having previously contributed to previous Garden Club London Chelsea Gardens.

The design draws heavily on Masa’s Japanese heritage, incorporating elements such as stepping stones that guide visitors through the garden, wooden platforms that provide elevated viewpoints, and the striking white trunks of birch trees that create a calming canopy. Upon traversing the stepping stones to ascend the platform, visitors are metaphorically taken from the monotony of daily life to a serene space for self-reflection. The sensory experience is further enhanced by the scent of damp forest undergrowth, the soothing sound of trickling water, and the visual dance of light and shadows created by the swaying branches above.

Importantly, the Komorebi Garden aligns with the sustainability efforts championed by Garden Club London and Hamptons. After the show, the garden will not only be dismantled but repurposed, giving it a second life in another location at a secondary school, thus reinforcing the commitment to environmental stewardship while showcasing the potential of gardening and design in urban spaces.

Additionally, the use of charcoal in the garden design serves both aesthetic and ecological purposes. Charcoal, a sustainable alternative to traditional landscaping materials, is known for its excellent drainage properties and ability to retain moisture, making it an ideal choice for urban gardening. Its porous structure also enriches soil health by fostering beneficial microbial life while absorbing excess nutrients, thus contributing to a vibrant ecosystem. The Komorebi Garden exemplifies how thoughtful design can harness traditional elements and sustainable practices to create spaces that not only beautify urban environments but also promote biodiversity and ecological balance.

Komorebi Garden Plant List

Aspidistra elatior cl.

Arisaema nepenthoides

Asarum europaeum

Asplenium scolopendrium

Betula pendula

Betula utilis “Jacquemontii

Blechnum spicant

Blechnum tabulare

Disporum longistylum ‘Green Giant”

Disporum Longistylum “Night Heron”

Epimedium ‘Domino’

Epimedium x youngianum “Nivea”

Farfugium japonicum

Galium odoratum

Hydrangea anomala subsp. Petiolaris

Luzula nivea

Maianthemum bifolium

Maianthemum ssp.kamtschaticum BSWJ4360

Melica altissima “Alba”

Melica uniflora f. albida

Mukdeia rossii “Karasuba”

Ophiopogon bodineri

Ophiopogon nigrescens “Black Dragon”

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Kokuryū’

Polygonatum verticillatum

Rodgersia pinnata

Saxifraga Stolonifera ‘Maroon Beauty’

Thalictrum “Black Stockings”

Thalictrum tuberosam