by Holly Chapman | 18 Mar 26 | Garden Design, International, News, Sustainability
Peter Chmiel and Chin Chen from Grant Associates have unveiled the design of their upcoming Master Garden at the 2026 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Flower Show in Shenzhen, China.
The Rainbow Garden – The Messenger’s Path is a 170m2 garden which draws inspiration from the mythology of Iris – the rainbow goddess and messenger between realms.
Using the iris flower, the garden intends to create a spatial and cultural journey between water and woodland, craft and ecology in Britain and China.
Chmiel and Chen have achieved a Gold Medal and Best Show Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2021.
Chmiel says “this garden is about connection – between cultures, between ecological systems and between craft and nature,” adding:
“The iris gave us a powerful narrative device, but also a genuinely resilient planting strategy. We wanted to create something immersive and poetic, but also grounded in ecological performance. For us, the rainbow is not just colour — it’s transition, adaptability and shared meaning.”
Held at the Shenzhen Garden and Flower Expo Park, the GBA Flower Show runs from 27 March until 6 April inviting international designers for experimental planting and a focus on sustainable innovation.
Since opening, the garden has been awarded Gold and the Design Excellence Award.
by Holly Chapman | 12 Mar 26 | Garden Design, News
RHS-award winning garden designer Nilufer Danis is travelling to China to take part in Suzhou Flower Show 2026.
Her garden, Ripples of Tranquility, draws inspiration from water gardens of Suzhou, China, celebrating calm, rhythm and reflection.
Centring around water tables of varying heights, an earth wall anchors the garden which references traditional Suzhou architecture, featuring a bamboo pergola while using locally sourced materials throughout.
Danis says: “Ripples of Tranquillity offers visitors a calm, immersive retreat—a place to slow down, listen, and reconnect with nature.
“By reinterpreting Suzhou’s historic garden language through a modern Western sustainable approach, the garden creates a serene and memorable experience that resonates emotionally and showcases regional culture and craftsmanship.”
Naturalistic planting surrounds the garden, providing seasonal impact in March and April. It also hosts permeable self-binding gravel which will be used for pathways and supporting sustainable drainage.
Suzhou Flower Show 2026 will be open to the public during the first week of April and will run until the end of May.
by Holly Chapman | 01 May 25 | International, News
LOLA Landscape Architects announces the opening of phase II of the Haitang River eco-Park in Sanya, China.
The project transforms 10km of riverfront, from an industrial trail into a tropical ecological corridor connecting people with nature.
The original invasive mangroves were removed and a mix of native species are reintroduced along the Haitang River
Photo: LOLA
In collaboration with ecologists, the project has restored mangroves, wetlands and native forests. Former farmlands have also been turned into land art plateaus, surrounding the river.
Designed for CR Land, the park also features shaded walking trails, interactive environmental installations and sensory gardens. The river can be accessed on a boat ride, offering food and drink.
“Haitang River Eco-Park is more than a green space, it’s an example of how nature and urban life can thrive together,” says LOLA.
