An interview with Tiggy Salt

Posted by CAF on April 17th, 2007

Tiggy Salt is the designer behind the ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ show garden, set to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. We caught up with her to ask her about her background, the garden, and her hopes and dreams for Chelsea this year.

How did you come to decide to build a Chelsea show garden?

I had been designing gardens in and around central London for about four years, increasingly for young families. I realised there was huge potential for a book specifically for children and gardening as ore and more of my clients began to ask me to teach them and their children about plants and plantsmanship.

I began my research by re-reading all my old favourites to try to ascertain what made a really great children’s book. Where the Wild Tings Are was at the top of the list, and it occurred to me that, as such a well-loved and well-known book, and with such strong plant imagery, it would make an ideal theme for a children’s garden at Chelsea.

I got my design in on the closing date for applications, and the Gods were obviously smiling that day!

Have you been involved with a Chelsea garden before?

Yes - for the last two years, I’ve helped to plant a large show garden.

What sort of projects have you been involved with before this garden?

Garden design and implementation in London, and garden restoration at Villa La Pietra, Florence - a huge project masterminded by the genius landscape architect Kim Wilkie.

Why did you choose Where the Wild Things Are as the theme?

Where shall I begin! The book has achieved global cult status; its imagery of both flora and fauna is playful, menacing, exebuerant, humorous and dark, all at the same time; and the title also works well in the context!

How long have you been working on it?

I began thinking about it in July 2006, but only started work in earnest in October, after I’d run the idea by a few friends in the gardening world. Their responses were all incredibly positive and encouraging, so it became impossible not to take up the challenge! Working on a garden at Chelsea is unlike any other aspect of my working life - it’s an opportunity to turn fantasy into reality and suspend everyone’s disbelief, just for one week.

What’s been the biggest challenge to date?

The bed - ironically, it’s been giving me sleepless nights!

What’s your favourite part of the garden?

The bed. If the chamomile quilt looks convincing enough, I think it will be a triump - but I have to say that the Moon Boat by Fletcher and Myburgh is a work of staggering genius that will stand the test of time.

What’s your favourite plant from the garden?

That’s a tough one - banana, rhubarb? It’s going to have to be the banana!

Are you on track?

It’s all I ever think about, so I really hope so!

Do you think you’ll win a medal?

If I don’t, I’ll feel incredibly bad for failing to do justice to such a fantastic book and to CAF who have made this golden opportunity possible!

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