Boutique in Bloom 2026: A Celebration of the Wonderful and Wild
We’re delighted to announce that Boutique in Bloom will return in June 2026, with this year’s theme set to be something truly special: “Wonderful and Wild.”
Our much-loved annual competition is a cherished opportunity for each Boutique Care Home to showcase the unique character of its garden, not only as a beautiful, welcoming space, but as one that celebrates the richness of nature and the joy of outdoor living.
Embracing the Best of Both Worlds
This year’s theme invites our homes to bring together the best of both worlds: thoughtful landscaping and natural creativity. From elegant flowerbeds to flourishing wild corners, we’ll be celebrating gardens that are as inspiring as they are enriching.
Think wildflower borders, bird boxes, low-mow zones, and bug hotels, all helping to create spaces where nature and design work hand in hand. Our goal is to make each homes garden not only a joy to look at, but a thriving, purposeful environment for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrating the Journey Through the Seasons
While judging will take place in June 2026 (with exact dates to be confirmed nearer the time), Boutique in Bloom is about much more than a single moment. Over the next eight months, we’ll be celebrating each home’s garden as a living, evolving story, growing and changing through the seasons.
That’s why the Garden Journal will play such an important role this year. Each home is encouraged to keep an active record of its progress, showcasing the home’s journey from early ideas to summer blooms and beyond. The home’s journal could include photos, seed packets, sketches, resident poems, drawings, or notes from community collaborations, all helping to tell the full story of your garden’s transformation and the people behind it.
This Year’s Focus
Boutique in Bloom 2026 will celebrate homes that shine across four key areas:
- Beauty – Well-maintained, thoughtfully designed gardens that bring joy and calm to residents, families, and visitors.
- Biodiversity – Simple, sustainable touches that support local wildlife and ecosystems, such as bee-friendly planting, native species, water butts, and creative educational signage explaining how these choices make a difference.
- Connection – Genuine involvement from residents, team members, and the wider community. Whether it’s planning, planting, or simply enjoying the view, every contribution matters.
- Garden Journal – A visual and written record of your garden’s journey over the next eight months, showcasing how the space evolves and how the home’s team, residents, and local community have played a part in bringing it to life.
Bringing Judging to Life
To make the 2026 judging experience even more meaningful, and to give the homes a fuller picture of how the gardens are being enjoyed. We’ll be encouraging a few simple but special additions this year:
- Resident Stories: Alongside the home’s photos and journal entries, we’d love for each home to share a short anecdote or quote from a resident about what their garden means to them. These personal reflections will help bring the judging to life and highlight the emotional connection our residents have with their outdoor spaces.
- Resident Mini Garden Tours: Where possible, the homes should encourage a short walkaround led by a resident could offer wonderful insight into the intention behind the garden and how it’s enjoyed day-to-day. It’s a great way to showcase both creativity and community spirit, after all, these gardens are their homes.
- Before & After Highlights: If the home has photos showing how the garden has evolved, particularly where residents have played a part — please include them. These moments of progress and transformation help celebrate the journey.
- Resident-made Décor: Keep an eye out for handmade touches that bring personality and warmth. For example, painted pots, upcycled garden art, or hand-lettered signs. These creative details say so much about the heart behind each garden.
Celebrating Every Stage
We know every Boutique Care Home is at a different stage in its gardening journey. For our newer homes, such as Keymer Hall, this is a wonderful opportunity to share early ideas and first steps. For our more established homes, it’s a chance to build on existing strengths and continue creating spaces that delight and inspire.
A Shared Story of Growth
At its heart, Boutique in Bloom 2026 is about pride, purpose, and participation. Every flower planted, sign painted, or seed donated adds to the collective story of each home’s garden. It’s a reflection of the care, creativity, and community spirit that define Boutique Care Homes.
Further details, including judging criteria and ideas for getting started, will be shared in the coming months.
For now, we invite all Boutique homes to begin dreaming, designing, and planning how they will bring this year’s Wonderful and Wild theme to life. Together, let’s make 2026 our most vibrant, nature-filled celebration yet.
