A theatrical display of unprecedented proportion will grace the 2007 Gardening Scotland extravaganza when RBGE brings a 16m x 17m display of beautiful, bizarre, exotic and endangered plants to the Ingliston showground from June 1 to June 3. But, the Gardening the Earth showpiece will be more than a mere spectacle: behind the sheer beauty and the open support for Scotland's annual celebration of horticulture, the display has been created to flag up the diversity and fragility of the planet's ecosystem.
RBGE Glasshouse Curator David Mitchell, who is coordinating the Garden's exhibit explains: "When we decided last July that we would get involved in this year's event, we agreed that our display should be a showstopper, capable of attracting attention and presenting us with the opportunity to engage with a wider audience than we might otherwise reach. I am quietly confident we will create a theatre of plants that will be enjoyed by all and, more importantly, will raise awareness of why we must Garden the Earth".
As well as this main display, RBGE will be represented through its collaboration with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in the organisation of Botanical Images Scotia, Scotland's only juried botanical painting and illustration exhibition, established in 2005 to promote excellence in this discipline. Among those presenting this year is Nepalese artist Neera Joshi Pradhan, a colleague of RBGE scientists who work in the Himalaya. Neera is taking this opportunity to make a study visit in Scotland to work alongside artists at RBGE to develop her skills in scientific illustration for the international Flora of Nepal project.
Elsewhere at the show, Su Cox, David Muir and Annie Erskine, three students studying on RBGE's new year-long Diploma course in Garden Design are mounting Wildness and Wet, a display which will count towards points in their course work projects to design a show garden.
For more information see http://www.gardeningscotland.com