Pressed in Time: Nature’s Memory

About the Garden

Pressed in Time: Nature’s Memory is a contemplative, calm Show Garden takes the visitor on a journey showcasing the beauty of flowers in both their living and preserved state, inspired by the art of flowering pressing. A gently winding gravel path guides visitors through soft, textured planting, echoing the layered beauty found in pressed botanical art. At its heart sits a giant flower‑press structure made from reclaimed materials, celebrating the act of preserving blooms and the emotional meaning they hold. Beyond it, a quiet reflective space showcases an installation of hand‑pressed flowers, inviting visitors to slow down, reconnect with nature, and appreciate the fleeting beauty of seasonal plants.  

Design Inspiration and Purpose

The design is inspired directly by the tradition of flower pressing and the way plants capture personal memories, stories, and moments in time. Both the designer and sponsor share a deep interest in how nature can hold emotional meaning. This garden translates that idea into a sensory landscape where visitors can experience flowers in their living state before encountering them preserved as art. The narrative encourages mindfulness, calm, and connection with the natural world, reminding us that every bloom has value and that beauty is worth noticing and protecting.  

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of Pressed in Time. The giant flower‑press structure is built from reclaimed materials, and no concrete is used anywhere in the garden. Decorative pressed‑flower elements are handcrafted using 100% biodegradable resin and reclaimed glass, reflecting low‑impact making and a commitment to environmentally responsible craft. The garden is heavily plant‑led with minimal hard landscaping, and all materials are sourced from UK‑based suppliers. After the show, the garden will be relocated to a community site in Worthing, either a primary school or a public green space, ensuring long‑term benefit, biodiversity support, and educational value. The planting scheme prioritises drought‑tolerant species, resilient structure, and permeable surfaces to promote sustainable water management.  

Planting

The planting is light, airy, and textured, designed to create a sense of calm movement and gentle immersion. Grasses and perennials form layered compositions that celebrate the vibrancy of late‑spring blooms. Key plants include: 

• Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
• Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’
• Geranium ‘Sabani Blue’ (‘Bremigo’, PBR)
• Papaver (Oriental Group) ‘Beauty of Livermere’
• Lunaria annua

Unsung plant heroes such as Anthriscus sylvestris, Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’, Erigeron karvinskianus, Silene dioica, and Tiarella ‘Sugar and Spice’ provide subtle structure and enhance biodiversity. The planting also includes edible and culinary species that bring additional heritage and sensory interest. Plants are supplied by Garden Sage, a family‑run nursery in West Sussex known for its robust, sustainable, peat‑free growing practices. 

About the Designer

Lora Peneva is a garden designer, gardener, and founder of Urban Greenery, based near the coast in West Sussex. She holds a Garden Design Diploma from KLC School of Design, along with extensive training in horticulture and practical gardening. Her approach blends sensory‑led, nature‑inspired design with a professional background in project management, bringing clarity, structure, and care to every project. Lora’s work centres on wellbeing, planting design, and the belief that gardens should be spaces that nurture both people and the environment.  

What are the advantages of designing a garden at the Festival?

For Lora, designing a show garden offers creative freedom and the chance to share meaningful ideas on a public stage. It provides an opportunity to express her passion for nature, sustainability, and emotional connection through plants, while raising awareness of topics close to her heart. After dedicating the past five years to raising her two young daughters while actively building her knowledge and skills, she feels ready to fully embrace her garden design career and hopes to inspire them, and others, to follow their passions. Show gardens also offer a platform to innovate, experiment, and connect with the wider horticultural community. 

Sponsor

Studio Wald is a Leeds‑based design studio creating an evolving range of botanically inspired products, including greeting cards, stationery, plant hangers and their best‑selling flower presses. The studio was founded by Jakob and Freya, a husband‑and‑wife team who met while studying 3D design, and has since grown to include a small team of makers focused on quality and care.