Threads of Life - 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%2Fthreads-of-life) [ 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%2Fthreads-of-life) - [ 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/5ff14b4d-7ecd-4e43-a65d-e500f00b0826/conversions/PXL_20260617_161933175.MP-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-platinum-award/icon.webp) Platinum Award Threads of Life ================= Designed by Jan O'Brien At a glance Show BBC Gardeners' World Live Year 2026 Category Beautiful Borders Border Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- 'Threads of Life celebrates five decades of lived experience, where planting, path and sculpture form chapters that are still being written. Inspired by a lifelong love of sewing and creativity, textiles provide both language and structure. Colour, texture and form are stitched through prairie drifts, needles, mirrors and fractured elements, echoing growth, loss, illness, repair, reflection, grief, survival and hope. The garden speaks of fragility, mending and resilience. This year, the project raises awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease Association, honouring a close friend whose thread is woven into this narrative. In addition, books inspired by themes that have shaped and impacted my life will be donated to local libraries and community groups, extending the garden's message beyond its boundaries, each bearing a Threads of Life and MND legacy bookplate ' Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/bbc-gardeners-world-live-platinum-award/icon.webp) Platinum Award BBC Gardeners World Live The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ JO Jan O'Brien Designer ](https://gardensdb.com/people/jan-obrien) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5ff14b4d-7ecd-4e43-a65d-e500f00b0826/conversions/PXL_20260617_161933175.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/08dfbf6c-58ca-4a19-b9ad-c877ab951360/conversions/PXL_20260617_161941496-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/27bd57ee-6dc9-4d91-8d3b-4c5c68b0183c/conversions/PXL_20260617_161937363-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/2115d3cd-6ae5-4616-905f-6764c8e77965/conversions/PXL_20260617_161945379-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/cd3ddaf7-0f85-46ed-b59c-cf0da47a6339/conversions/PXL_20260617_161948511-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/53baf28f-6095-46d3-9c73-fa2241c1e1de/conversions/PXL_20260617_161951782-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/229cc617-21c3-4659-b0be-5c2a03b78b78/conversions/PXL_20260617_161956327.MP-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/67198212-43de-4dd2-95a2-658dba6d9afa/conversions/PXL_20260617_161959244-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/36bdebcb-d319-40bf-9cd7-a470fd1b7b77/conversions/PXL_20260617_162003092-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/355c01f9-5f86-4312-a3c7-fc4f0e2d0edc/conversions/PXL_20260617_161924556-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5772b98d-7133-4f69-9c99-e80ed7a09e4c/conversions/image-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ![](/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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