In an extraordinary debut, Jewlsy Mathews, alongside her husband Mike McMahon, clinched a gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Their garden, among just three selected for an inspection by King Charles, stood out for its unique ‘Junglette’ design, inspired by Jewlsy’s ancestral Kerala home and showcasing the potential of compact outdoor spaces.
Jewlsy Mathews’ balcony and container garden, which recreates the lush woods of her parents’ home in Kerala was a tribute to her mother, Lucy, who passed away in September last year.
Their garden was pre-selected for inspection by King Charles and Queen Camilla, a notable recognition among the many entries at Chelsea. “The King was lovely,” Jewlsy recalled.
Born in the UK, Jewlsy’s parents hail from Kerala. Her mother, Lucy Mathews Payyanat, was from Kanjirappally, and her father, Jose Mathews Payyanat, is from Champakulam, near Alleppey (Alappuzha). The garden’s acceptance into the Chelsea Flower Show brought some solace to Jewlsy’s mother before her passing. “One of the loveliest things is we found out that we were getting Chelsea (before she died), so she was there for the start of the process,” Jewlsy shared. “It was very emotional for all of us. She was very proud.”
Jewlsy and her Irish husband, Mike, visit Kerala regularly. The couple set up an architecture studio, Mike McMahon Studio, a year and a half ago. The idea to create a garden for Chelsea came six months into their venture. So we put together a proposal and the planting choices for a ‘junglette,’ a small jungle.”
Image credit: rhs.org.uk
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Jewlsy Matthews and Mike McMahon with Alan Titchmarsh who visited their jungle-themed garden at the Chelsea Flower Show this week.
https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2024/05/24/navan-mans-garden-wins-gold-medal-at-chelsea-flower-show/
