A Bra Hammock and a Pink Bench are the stand out features of a thought-provoking garden on show at Bord Bia's Bloom this weekend.
‘Out the Other Side: A Garden of Hope’, created By the Marie Keating Foundation supported by Roche, is designed to offer hope to people affected by breast cancer.
This garden is inspired by the ‘Out the Other Side: Stories of Breast Cancer Survival’ photographic exhibition, which was on display to the public in St. Stephen’s Green in October of last year.
Speaking about her design, previous Bloom medallist Tünde Szentesi said:
“Instead of using images and words, the garden’s colour scheme symbolises the emotions often experienced by women at various stages of their breast cancer journey. The beginning of the path is lined with dark purple and red foliage, plants and flowers, representing the feelings women may experience when they are first diagnosed or when they face difficulties during treatment. Towards the end of the path, the plants gradually lighten with lots of white appearing at the end as a colour that reflects new beginnings, protection and encouragement. In this way, we hope people leave the garden with a sense of peace, calm, and hope, helping alleviate emotional upsets”.
The Pink Bench and Ribbon Weave represent the journey from diagnosis to recovery, while the Bra Hammock, designed and created by The National College of Art and Design and The Rediscovery Centre, has been repurposed from bras donated by women all over Ireland as part of the Marie Keating Foundation and Roche’s ‘Give Your Bra for Breast Cancer’ campaign.
There are currently close to 30,000 women in Ireland who have survived breast cancer.
Ireland's biggest annual gardening, food and family festival, Bloom hits the Phoenix Park this June bank holiday weekend. The five-day event, which is organised by Bord Bia, showcases gardens from Ireland's top landscape gardeners and designers.
There will be a whole host of exhibits on show including show gardens, sculptures, botanical art, craft displays as well as open farmyards available to the public.
Bloom takes place from today until Monday 6th June at The Phoenix Park. Tickets are available here.
