Writtle University College alumna Miki Sato is preparing to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May this year.
The 40-year-old from Hokkaido, Japan, is using the prestigious show as a platform to show off the garden that celebrates the route to health and happiness through plants.
Miki founded her garden business in Japan, and works on both domestic and public garden projects. She received the news from the RHS panel that she would be exhibiting at Chelsea just after the detrimental earthquake that hit Southern Hokkaido, Japan in September 2018, where Miki originates from. While receiving over 300 sponsorships, including sponsorship from Kampo no Niha 300, Miki is ecstatic to be attending the world famous show in London.
Miki, who finished her studies at Writtle in 2010, said: “I visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show back in 2007 and fell in love with the garden which was designed by Adam Frost, and decided that I wanted to be a garden designer.”
She also spoke about her time at Writtle: “I had a really great time at Writtle University College, my Horticulture Lecturers Ben Wincott, Charlotte Power and Simon Watkins were extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and enhanced my Horticultural knowledge, which I am thankful for.”
Miki also spoke about her hopes for the future: “My ultimate aim is to be a garden designer who knows ‘the right place for the right plant’. I want to show people that plants have a wonderful power to make them happy and relaxed and this should be an important feature of their own gardens”.
Miki explains how each plant used in the design has been carefully selected for its health-giving, beneficial qualities, many of which are easily recognisable as common garden plants. Including using plants that promote helping to cure a fever, relieve aches and keep the body warm.
Currently back in the UK, Miki is getting the planning sorted for the Chelsea Flower show which starts on 21 May, where she is meeting with the contractors, material suppliers, and visiting nursery’s to find the plants she will be using for the show.
Miki was also lucky enough to visit Jekka McVicar while being over in the UK, who is a world renowned herb grower and nursery lady, well known for having the largest collection of culinary herbs in the UK. Miki said: “we are planning to use Kampo medical plants and Jekka has been so helpful and has offered to grow half of the plants – we are super lucky!”
We are very proud of Miki’s achievements since studying with us here at Writtle, and look forward to hearing all about the Chelsea Flower show later on in the year.