Garden Designer , Writer and Speaker Jo Thompson is the receiver of multiple accolades including four Gold Medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show .
Her intent philosophy is deep influence by her experiences in Italy , where she spent much of her childhood and educatee years .
Leading a team of skilled professional person , she creates gardens that are not only visually stunning but also environmentally witting .
Jo is also the leading part behindThe Gardening nous – a well-disposed residential area of garden enthusiasts sharing tips for grow and inspirational gardens .
In this interview , I discover her inspirations and approach shot to garden design .
What are your earliest memories of gardening?
“ My belated father was Italian , so we spent a draw of time investigating the secret of Rome , ” begins Jo .
“ One of my early memories is walking around the gardens at Villa d’Este outside Rome , marvelling at how this garden of 100 of fountains could have been made so long ago . ”
What led you to a career in garden design?
“ I ’d always been interested in prowess and architecture , but it was the transformation of my own rooftop blank space , which I knew had potential but had no thought where to start , into an genuine roof terrace by the team at Clifton Nurseries that was the lightbulb moment for me .
“ Watching them create a distance out of utterly nothing was truly inspirational and I wanted to search how this could happen and how to be able to do this myself . ”
What does your process for designing gardens look like? What are you inspired by?
“ I have to get under the cutis of a place , ” she explains .
“ I have to get to know the garden , the client , the household and the location really well . I ’m prompt by what ’s around and what might have operate before , and I do n’t want it to look as if I ’ve been there .
“ From the very beginning , over 25 year ago now , I have insisted on a gentle interposition rather than a threatening mold of excogitation . ”
Do you have a particular favourite memory of a garden you have designed?
“ Too many ! ” Jo jest .
“ I love every garden space that I ’ve serve to produce , from lilliputian courtyards through to heavy scale garden . I aboveboard could n’t choose – maybe my favourite garden is the next one ! ”
What does a typical working day in the life look like for you?
“ I ’m an early riser and get up at around 5.30am . As presently as it ’s light , I ’ll have a look out of the window to see what ’s happening in the garden and if it is n’t rain down , I ’ll get out there for a ceramist with a loving cup of tea leaf .
“ After that , every 24-hour interval is different . I might be in the studio with my team , on a web site visit , writing my latest volume or writing my Gardening Mind newssheet , which has grow exponentially into a global residential district . ”
What’s next for you? Do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like to share with our readers?
“ My new Holy Writ is being published in 2024 and The Gardening judgment has loads of raw course on it , ” shares Jo .
“ I ’ve got some exciting projects dotted around the UK that are starting to be built , having spent month in the preparation stage , as well as several projects with architects , which is exciting .
“ There ’s also rather a special roof terrace in Rome , so things have kind of come full circle for me . ”
Can you summarise what gardening means to you in just 3 words?
“ Calm , uplifting , care . ”
