Desco al fresco is inspired by Renaissance imagery of Last suppers and by the Villa Lante di Bagnaia’s Cardinal’s table: a room outdoors, enclosed by living arches of greenery, centred on a table at which to dine with friends. The tablecloth an example of green roof planting, with plants in shallow growing medium, and run through with a water rill. The arches along two sides, and the tall ‘hedge on stilts’ at one end are made of hornbeam, their green offset by colourful shrubs with little known edible berries. On the table, salads and herbs fill terracotta bowls with a modern sgraffiato pattern, encouraging visitors to grow their food – and play with it! The art-historical precedent inspired me to show a contemporary use of formally trained plants and traditional terracotta pots, and to promote sustainable solutions such as green roofs. I won Honorable mention at Orticolario 2013, but my real prize was the children’s involvement with the garden.