The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, was founded in London in the 17th century as "a home for worthy old soldiers broken in the wars." It continues as the home of the Chelsea pensioners, war veterans with army records giving their characters as no less than "very good." For more than 140 years, the Chelsea Flower Show has been held annually, in May, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital. It is one of the biggest and best known horticultural events in the world. A medal from the show is said to be equivalent to a medal won in the Olympic Games.
Last year Kay Yamada of Tokyo won a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for a show garden she designed. The design was a re-creation of her own Barakura English Garden, which she opened in 1990 in Tateshina Heights, Nagano Prefecture. She called her entry "Reflections on a Tateshina Meadow." This year at Chelsea she exhibited again, a design predominantly of white flowers accented with strong colors. This atmospheric "Lace and Tapestry Garden" won a silver flora award. "To create a garden is to create a better world," Kay said.
She is known as a designer of women's wear as well as a horticulturist and garden designer. More than 50 years ago her father, a manufacturer and wholesaler, founded the company Kowa Creative Arts. To prepare herself for her role in the company, Kay studied design. She studied flower design too, a move that would stand her in good stead.