Dori on song with RHS garden design

May 27 2010 by Jo Henwood, Flintshire Chronicle

Dori on song with RHS garden design

Life is in full bloom for amateur gardener Dori Miller, whose first-ever garden design has been accepted by the Royal Horicultural Society, for its prestigious show at Tatton Park in July.

Dori, who taught at Tilston Primary School and now organises Family Learning in Flintshire, got the inspiration for her design from the Chester choir A Handbag of Harmonies, with which she sings.

“In 2008, we were taking part in the BBC talent show Last Choir Standing and travelled back and forth to London,” she said.

“I went to the Chelsea Flower Show and thought ‘If the choir were a garden we could be here!’”

Dori and her fellow singers were the only women’s choir to reach the top 15 of the BBC competition.

“In 2009 I went to the Tatton Show and thought ‘I can do this’.”

The choir celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, so Dori approached fellow singers with her idea and they gave it the thumbs up. Since then, help has come from all quarters of the 70-strong singing group.

Dori, whose father Bill was a nurseryman and market gardener, first called on Chester landscape architect and illustrator Clive McWilliam, to help with the initial design. Clive’s wife, Jayne, sings in the choir.

“We submitted our plan to the show manager, Kris Hulewicz, who was very positive.”

Since then, the garden has taken over Dori’s life, as well as her family’s, as preparations get under way for the July event.

“Every door I have knocked on has been opened,” she said. “We have had such a positive response. It’s a mixture of people liking the idea, liking the choir and wanting to be part of such a prestigious show.”

Dori’s original idea to express the choir as a garden has held true.

“I saw the singers as perennials in pink and white with feathery grasses representing the feather boas. There is a black background to echo our outfits and tiered staging. The feeling I wanted to create was one of high summer, in full bloom. There is a magical atmosphere, full of the sparkle of the choir.”

Dori first approached Kate Gooderham of Wrought in the Port, an Ellesmere Port wrought iron company, who loved the idea and agreed to make her designs. Kate’s sister Angie, who works for Andy’s Aquatics in New Ferry, followed suit and offered water features.

Ian Jones, of Out of Space Design, is the partner of another of Dori’s fellow singers.

Dori added: “Ian was very generous with his professional contacts and Greenwood Nursery in Willaston offered to supply all the plants.”

Other sponsors include Marshalls, URENCO and Understanding Your Eating.

Dori has enlisted the help of husband Tom, daughter Liz and sons Howard and Hugh throughout the process. Hugh, who has an MA in architecture and has recently started his own bespoke carpentry business, H M Handmade, has been appointed co-designer.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am about it,” said Dori.