A Message in Bloom - 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-message-in-bloom) [ 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-message-in-bloom) - [ 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/media/075e0a95-2dce-489a-9263-b023a593c9d6/conversions/PXL_20260617_180411475-gallery.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ BBC Gardeners' World Live 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/bbc-gardeners-world-live-2026) Beautiful Borders ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award A Message in Bloom ==================== Designed by Sarah Elsley At a glance Show BBC Gardeners' World Live Year 2026 Category Beautiful Borders Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- The garden design is inspired by the journey of my teenage daughter toward love and self-acceptance through a period of adversity, a journey familiar to many young people her age. The aim of the design is to create an uplifting garden which holds hidden meaning, through the selection of plants from Floriography (the Victorian secret language of flowers) many of which also have healing properties. A path of thyme symbolising a journey of courage and strength passes through a scheme of plants symbolising love. The destination is a seating area surrounded by the love and protection of the garden. The swallows sculpture represents hope, renewal, good luck, freedom and protection. I am proud to be supporting local youth charity Banbury Young Homeless Project, who will be rehoming the garden in their community garden space after the show, tended by local charity Harvest at Home. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-silver-merit/icon.webp) Silver Merit Award BBC Gardeners World Live The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ SE Sarah Elsley Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/sarah-elsley) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/075e0a95-2dce-489a-9263-b023a593c9d6/conversions/PXL_20260617_180411475-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1e7d678d-55a7-4acb-9daa-1e42fbd445cb/conversions/PXL_20260617_180404855-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a50b058b-c630-4a62-afd7-cfb670c90388/conversions/PXL_20260617_180409780-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cff6c324-2c15-495d-9c5e-c03b71e213d4/conversions/PXL_20260617_180413971-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a1663b4c-9eb9-4dc6-94a2-08777d688750/conversions/PXL_20260617_180418873-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/a3ec1fdb-aa85-428c-bcb0-c984dcb4adcf/conversions/PXL_20260617_180421238-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/3034f020-1dbf-4381-a8e0-86fd337cc98c/conversions/PXL_20260617_180422593-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1cf4c872-4299-4e69-b574-ba55c488bd53/conversions/PXL_20260617_180405592-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/4528bff8-9653-40a4-a7fd-dc946961726f/conversions/image-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: ![](/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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