A Letter from a Million Years Past - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fa-letter-from-a-million-years-past) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fa-letter-from-a-million-years-past) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/a-letter-from-a-million-years-past/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2023) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal A Letter from a Million Years Past ==================================== Designed by Jihae Hwang At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2023 Category Show Garden Large Show Garden Photo: Royal Horticultural Society About this garden The story ----------- The garden represents the medicinal herbal colony located in the eastern part of Jirisan, known as ‘the mother mountain of Korea’. It is the last primeval forest of Jirisan where Korean native medicinal herbs, speciality plants and rare endangered alpine plants grow. In the garden, rocks form a recreation of the mountain. They weigh more than 200 tonnes in total and are layered along small streams. The large rocks protect the small plants and provide the base of a complex ecosystem, also providing humidity in the dry season. The planting in the garden is based on native Korean species such as the endangered Filipendula formosa Nakai whose pink flowers provide a focal point, while the surrounding trees, edibles and herbs are selected for their healing and medicinal properties. Situated at the base of the mountain is the medicine herb drying tower used to dry herbs and plants for natural medicines. The garden uses Korean traditional techniques to craft the building, with wall structures formed from rock and soil. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Jihae Hwang](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/jihae-hwang/profile_photo.webp) Jihae Hwang Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/jihae-hwang) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/83fd8e14-e5a4-47a8-a66f-710e74e213ad/conversions/image_1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/40929342-54db-4515-ac19-4add8bb4efef/conversions/image_2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/dc903e30-b3c0-4cc0-9439-69c11d02d75c/conversions/image_3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/8874586e-42e8-4dcf-9d83-e8885f8441f7/conversions/image_4-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Plant Provider 1 - [ ![Hortus Loci](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci/logo.webp) Hortus Loci ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci) ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![Hoban Cultural Foundation](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/charities/hoban-cultural-foundation/logo.webp) Hoban Cultural Foundation ](https://gardensdb.com/charities/hoban-cultural-foundation) Further reading Links ------- - [ ![](https://t0.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&size=64&url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2024/10/135_351724.html) Garden inspired by Mount Jiri wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show ](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2024/10/135_351724.html) - [ ![](https://t0.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&size=64&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/business/in-pictures-kate-attends-chelsea-flower-show-as-history-is-made-b2343502.html) Kate attends Chelsea Flower Show as history is made ](https://www.independent.co.uk/business/in-pictures-kate-attends-chelsea-flower-show-as-history-is-made-b2343502.html) - [ ![](https://t0.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&size=64&url=https://www.ft.com/content/58360f3b-14a4-4434-9a0c-6f3f80eaca95) My personal Chelsea Flower Show gold ](https://www.ft.com/content/58360f3b-14a4-4434-9a0c-6f3f80eaca95) ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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