A Bridgerton garden is coming to the Chelsea Flower Show
Bridgerton fans rejoice! Netflix and Shondaland are debuting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May with the Bridgerton Garden.
Designed by first-time Chelsea-designer Holly Johnston, the Bridgerton Garden is described as a 'secretive and secluded space' based on Penelope Featherington, the wallflower-like character that will be at the forefront of the upcoming third season of the period drama.
Much like Penelope's character, the garden will represent a young woman's coming-of-age story, and show how gardens can represent people's innermost emotions, desires and personalities.
The anticipated release of Bridgerton series three (16th May 2024), comes a week before RHS Chelsea (21st - 25th May), so it's the perfect time for fans to experience the beauty of the Bridgerton world in real life, and get some planting and design tips on how to create a secretive and secluded outdoor space that's full of whimsy.
'RHS Chelsea is truly an institution in the UK, with such a hugely passionate fan base. In cementing Bridgerton as a beloved franchise in the UK, Netflix wanted to speak directly to the Chelsea audience and celebrate the beauty and opulent English florals that fill our screens in the Bridgerton world,' says Netflix.
The Bridgerton Garden: key details
Category: Sanctuary Gardens
Designed by: Holly Johnston
Built by: Stewart Landscape Construction
Sponsored by: Netflix
What will the garden look like?
Designed to represent three chapters or 'episodes', he garden will look informal and 'relatively undone', with a natural feel and whimsical planting that reflects feelings of secrecy, growth and desire.
As the garden will mirror Penelope's personal journey (how she grapples with her hidden identity and navigates the expectations of society), there'll be a moongate leading to an ornate water feature, plus a sunken seating area in the heart of the garden.
Down one half will be a shaded space, alluding to themes of mystery, turmoil, and defiance, where layers of groundcover, ferns, and ivy represent a woven network of secrets. In contrast, the other half will feature a bright palette of sophisticated colours. This 'full bloom' effect will be symbolic of Penelope's self development and growing confidence. A curving path towards the back of the garden features an inscribed monolith symbolising change.
Garden designer Holly Johnston explains: 'Standing at the front of the plot, visitors will see a moongate that beautifully frames the entrance to the garden. It leads to the second internal space which is a sunken seating area. Encircling an opulent three-tiered water feature and surrounded by a ring of characterful dwarf elms, this is where I pictured the character of Penelope sitting and sharpening her Lady Whistledown quill to write and share the salacious secrets of ‘the Ton’. The third space is punctuated by a hand carved wall fountain engraved with a phrase that cements Penelope’s growth. Finally, the curved path back through the garden uses planting which evolves from shade on one side to light on the other, providing a visual backdrop for the development in Penelope’s character.'
The moongate
Fun fact: It's been nearly 20 years since a moongate has featured at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the last being Through the moongate, designed by Lesley Bremness in 2007.
The moongate has origins in Chinese architecture, typically built with stone or brick (but metal and wood offers a more contemporary alternative). These circular structures or arches are said to represent harmony and new beginnings.
The moongate will be one of the most iconic parts of the Bridgerton garden, transporting you to a personal sanctuary: a planted haven with hedging and trees for screening, dense planting for interest, and intimate spaces for seating and contemplation.
'The moongate in the garden is symbolic of new beginnings, and is inherently feminine,' says Holly. 'This beautiful space offers privacy and respite and is also a metaphor for women defiantly and courageously finding their voice – a rite of passage many can identify with. The moongate can be seen as a portal into that person’s personal journey – and the ensuing garden shows the remarkable and personal transformative power of growth.'
What plants will be used?
All plants have been chosen to represent themes of confidence, new beginnings and the evolution of new seasons. Key plants include:
Digitalis purpurea ‘Snow Thimble’
Ferns – Blechnum spicant, dryopteris affinis agg, asplenium scolopendrium.
Ulmus minor var. suberosa
Rosa ‘White Pet’
Hedera helix
What happens in Bridgerton season three?
Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She decides it’s time to find a husband who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, and get her far away from her mother and sisters. But, lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts fail spectacularly.
Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look but he's disheartened to realise that Penelope is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope to help her build confidence, and in turn find a husband. But soon, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are purely platonic.
To complicate matters, Penelope's ex-best friend Eloise (Claudia Jessie) has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope's growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.
Bridgerton returns to Netflix for a two-part season on 16th May and 13th June 2024.
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