‘Reflection’: From Donegal to Essex

Every year, the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair highlights the very best that horticulture has to offer. There is always something special there for every gardener, from hands-on workshops and expert planting advice to dazzling garden displays that have their own individual stories to tell.

Held at Audley End House & Gardens in Essex, the 2026 Autumn Fair ran from Friday 11th September through to Sunday 13th September.

But for our very own Edward Doherty, this was a particularly special occasion. Making his show garden debut, Edward created ‘Reflection’ - a personal interpretation of the overarching theme ‘Once upon a time’, centred on his early memories of life in Donegal. ‘Reflection’ went on to receive a platinum medal during the event. In addition to this, it was awarded Best Beautiful Border and Best Magazine Subscriber Beautiful Border.

A personal ‘Reflection’

Inspired by Edward’s childhood, ‘Reflection’ was born from a nostalgic idea - one all about reconnecting with nature and family in fun and engaging ways. From playful mishaps in the family border to blackberry picking on sunny autumn days, the garden captured an enduring sense of family and identity rooted in a bygone era.

Edward talks about some of his motivations behind the garden:
“The football represents my first run-ins with flowers; kicking a ball into granny’s border. As for the blackberries, they represent something purer and less destructive. We would often walk as a large family group through the countryside down broken paths for some fresh blackberry picking.”

Together, always

Colourful and abundant, the cottage-style planting was intentionally intimate, almost wrapping its arms around anyone walking down the path. It also quietly reflected favourite plant choices from three generations of family gardeners.

“When I started coming up with the concept of this garden and choosing the plants, I quickly realised that my colour schemes and plant choices were very similar to those of my mother and, in turn, her mother. It feels like without knowing it, those early experiences subconsciously shape our planting styles. Dahlias, Verbenas, and Salvias, for example, have been consistent go-tos for all three generations.”

Standing tall to one side of the garden, five oak pillars of various heights reflected the enduring closeness of five siblings who remain very much grounded in their Donegal upbringing, despite now living in different parts of the world.

“One of my fondest memories with my siblings was of us climbing, and often falling out of, a giant oak tree in our garden - making oak an obvious addition to this garden. Engraved into every piece of oak are the GPS coordinates of where each of us now lives. This means that when I sit and relax in this garden, I have that sense of comfort that they are with me. Not only that, but the oak bench itself is also engraved with the GPS coordinates of the family home in 1980s Donegal.”

A timeless space for everyone

‘Reflection’ also created a habitat for insects to thrive, echoing the Irish countryside. In one corner, a country-style wooden fence added to the garden’s rustic character, deliberately weathered and slightly rotten in places. Sandstone chippings set within wooden paving formed the gravel path, reflecting materials popular in Donegal in the 1980s. An apple tree added another playful touch, recalling the simple pleasure of picking fruit straight from the tree.

At the heart of the garden, the oak bench provided a place to sit, relax and reflect. It featured a reference to Seamus Heaney’s writing on blackberry picking, alongside a bottle of Football Special, the Donegal soft drink popular in the 1980s. These small details helped make ‘Reflection’ feel like more than just a garden inspired by Edward’s past; it became a space where visitors could pause, reflect and perhaps find something of their own story within it.

The planting was central to the character of ‘Reflection’, combining bold structure, late-season colour and plenty of nectar-rich flowers. Here are some of the standout plants Edward chose for the garden.

Edward’s top impact plants within the garden

Top designer plants

Carex ‘Evergold’ - Bright, variegated foliage brings colour and texture to the border, with its arching form helping to soften the edges of planting.

Miscanthus ‘Ferner Osten’ - Upright growth and feathery flowerheads bring height, movement and strong late-season interest to the garden.

Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ - Large, silvery leaves provide a striking contrast to greener foliage and colourful flowering plants.

Chosen pollinator plants

Agastache ‘Blackadder’ - Upright spikes of violet-blue flowers bring colour from midsummer into autumn, while making this a valuable choice for pollinators.

Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’ - Violet-blue flowers rise above silvery-grey foliage in August and September, adding colour and a light, airy quality to late-season planting.

Scabiosa ochroleuca - Soft yellow pincushion flowers bring a gentle splash of colour to the planting while providing a valuable source of food for pollinating insects.

Late summer/early autumn flowering favourites

Verbena bonariensis - Tall, slender stems carry clusters of purple flowers above the surrounding planting, adding height while maintaining an airy feel.

Gaura ‘Whirling Butterflies’ - Delicate white flowers dance above slender stems, bringing movement and an ethereal quality to late-summer borders.

Imperata ‘Red Baron’ - Its green foliage develops striking crimson-red colouring, providing a strong contrast and a vivid accent within the planting.

Reflecting on a rewarding journey

Coming away from this year’s show with not only a platinum medal, but titles of Best Beautiful Border and Best Magazine Subscriber Beautiful Border, ‘Reflection’ has proven to be a massive hit with visitors, peers and judges alike. And yet, for Edward, it’s been all about the people and the connections, not just those that helped forge the foundations of this garden, but also those that made the 2026 BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, a special occasion.

“I am so pleased to hear the reaction to my childhood garden. Being part of a show like this is amazing, with so many amazing gardens from designers who inject so much passion and personal experiences into them. It was a real joy to be around and I hope that the garden encourages others to reflect on their own early experiences and how they have shaped their own gardening adventures.”

Inspired by Edward’s ‘Reflection’? Explore our range of plants and create your own garden filled with colour, wildlife and memories.