‘It was an honour and delight’ to get Chelsea sponsorship

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess has sponsored “The Bermuda Double Fantasy Garden” at the Chelsea Flower Show taking place in May 2014 in London. 

Dominique (Nicky) Gurret, a previous Chelsea Flower Show exhibitor and medal-winner, has designed the garden following a naturalist theme. It has been inspired by John Lennon’s visit to the island in 1980 after which he created his last album with wife Yoko Ono called “Double Fantasy.” 

His album title, Double Fantasy, reflected the freesia John Lennon and his son learned about as they walked through the Bermuda Botanical Gardens. 

George Terpilowski, General Manager at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, said: “To bring a small piece of the wonder that is Bermuda to the more than 160,000 visitors from around the world who attend the show each year will be a great opportunity to showcase the island and raise its profile. 

“In addition, sponsoring the exhibit is a wonderful way to highlight the iconic Fairmont Hamilton Princess as we look forward to celebrating our 130th year in Bermuda in 2015.”

The exhibit created by Gurret will combine various aspects of the island with a garden setting alongside a beach overlooking imaginary clear water. 

There will be a bench made of driftwood sitting beneath an elevated arbor which will be shaded by plants and will overlook the garden and imagined ocean. 

A path of Bermuda pink sand will lead from the arbor to the beach. 

There will be tropical vegetation, an easel where an artist has left his or her painting of the ocean, and a sailboat representing the boat on which John Lennon sailed to Bermuda. It will also feature a sculpture signifying John Lennon and his love for Yoko and their son. Below the statue in the grass will be a double freesia emulating the same freesia that inspired Double Fantasy.

Other plants in the exhibit will be those typically found in Bermuda along a beach or an inland setting. The coastline plants include ox-eye daisy, baygrape, seaside goldenrod, sea lavender and palms. Further to the rear of the garden will be banana plants, bird of paradise, ficus and philodendrons with a colourful bougainvillia over the arbor. 

“It was an honour and a delight to have designed this exhibit for the Chelsea Flower Show,” said Gurret. 

“The connection of John Lennon and his family to Bermuda is special to everyone on the island. I’m so grateful to The Fairmont Hamilton Princess for giving me this opportunity to represent John Lennon’s magical island journey through this fitting garden platform and to share it at such a prestigious venue.”

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show 2014 will take place between May 20 and 24 at the Royal Hospital in London. World-famous for its amazing show gardens, floral exhibits, awards and superb shopping, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the most famous flower show in the United Kingdom, and perhaps in the world.