A Modern Apothecary Garden for St John’s Hospice

The St John’s Hospice have asked renowned herb farmer Jekka McVicar to create a unique apothecary garden for the 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The 62 gold medal award winning floral-marquee exhibitor, is looking forward to creating her first show garden at RHS Chelsea.

The charity asked Jekka to create a show garden that was soothing and reflective, but also inspiring and challenging. After the show, the garden will be relocated to the St. John’s Hospice to provide a calming, reflective space for St. John’s Hospice patients and their families. Plants and trees have therefore been carefully chosen based on their healing properties, scent, colour and texture. “I hope that the garden can provide the patients of the St. John’s Hospice and their families comfort through sensory stimulation, and above all a place of quiet reflection.” Jekka McVicar

The inspiration for Jekka’s modern apothecary is based on extensive conversations with GP Dr Michael Dixon and Susan Bacon about ways to improving health within the context of gardens and plants. “In Ayurvedic medicine, when one is poorly, doctors often ask patients to sit in the herb garden. The simple act of sitting within a garden, surrounded by plants, has a calming effect and can lift spirits”, explains Jekka.

Jekka has designed a soothing garden, with ‘Wellness’ at its heart, to highlight the vital relationship between medicine and nature. Grown at Jekka’s Herb Farm, the garden will feature research-based plants known to be beneficial to the health and wellbeing of society.