Series 8, episode 3 – Rachel Gerrard
Tuesday the 10th of May broadcasting 8.30pm on RTÉ One
Tyrellstown Show
In episode three of series eight, Rachel Gerrard, a recently qualified horticulturalist who studied at the National Botanic Gardens and IT Blanchardstown, is given the Laura and Tony’s family home in Tyrellstown County Dublin.
The couple want a family friendly space to entertain friends and to share happy family moments.
Rachel’s show is the third to be broadcast.
The garden makeovers are courtesy of the show sponsors; Woodie’s and Cuprinol (Paint Brand – part of Dulux Brand) and are brought to you by RTÉ.
Rachel Gerrard – the budding garden designer
Rachel Gerrard is a recently qualified horticulturalist and studied at the National Botanic Gardens and IT Blanchardstown. Rachel is from Dublin and before returning to college she had been a Legal Executive with various legal firms in Dublin. Now 45, Rachel feels that she is following her true passion, which is Horticulture.
“I have always had an interest in gardening and good design. A good design makes the most of what is available. That’s what really interests me” Rachel says.
A garden entitled “Culinary Chic”
Rachel’s design concept is a cottage style garden in a suburban setting. Classic but also contemporary, using some edible but all non-toxic planting.
Rachel designed a garden for a young family, as an extension of their home; it is an attractive functioning space. No hard or sharp edges, non-toxic, thorn-less plants.
The cottage style planting includes fruit trees, soft fruit bushes, aromatic scented culinary herbs, shrubs, perennials and specimen trees which will provide colour and year round interest. The strong lines of the patio, lawn and beds give structure, softened by the planting and lifted with colour.
Rachel believes that the garden will be a welcoming, functional and aesthetically pleasing place. It will fulfill the family’s needs and exceed their expectations; most importantly, Rachel feels it will be a winner, a Super Garden, worthy of Bloom!
The Homeowner
Laura Omer & Tony Byrne
Laura and Tony along with their newborn little girl Sophia set up home in Tyrellstown, Dublin 15. They have tried many times to create spaces in their garden, flower beds, trees, and a patch to grow some vegetables, however Laura says that everything seems to die and that they obviously have not got that magic touch. They would love a space where they can enjoy the long summer evenings, and somewhere they can watch their family grow, along with their new designed garden.
Overview:
SUPER GARDEN returns for a brand new series, featuring five up and coming garden designers who are competing to showcase their garden design talent at this year’s 2016 Bloom Festival.
Each garden designer works on a garden and to the homeowner’s brief. Mindful of their budget, the designer must design a garden with the homeowners’ in mind and to a level befitting the Bloom Festival. All five designers have different location and homeowner challenges to over come on their road to Bloom.
The series follows each designer from the initial concept and design stage, through the reality of the construction process and then the completion of their Super Garden. With just five weeks to design and build a show garden, and a budget of just €5000, the challenges that will face these promising designers unfold throughout the series.
This year the series has a new face and a new role. Previous Super Garden winner, Bloom Gold Medalist and Series Mentor for two years, Leonie Cornelius is taking up the position of Woodie’s Garden Design Ambassador.
‘This year as Judge I would love to find a garden that takes a bit of a risk in terms of design. I’m interested in seeing a garden that has a strong and unique concept and is then carried out to a high standard. I feel the he winning garden has to be one that takes its brief from the homeowners and the site and delivers for them but also uses that brief to create something totally new, exciting and show garden worthy. No easy task!’ – Leonie Cornelius
Leonie’s departure as Series Mentor has created a vacancy for a new Series Mentor and we are delighted to announce, Lecturer and Garden Designer, Monica Alvarez is the new Series Mentor.
The series is sponsored by Woodie’s and Cuprinol.
The Series will visit, Westport, Mullingar, Tyrellstown, Rush and Glasnevin.