John Cullen, founder of Celtic Gardens in Dexter, poses with his family in front of his winning exhibit at the 2010 Singapore Garden Festival. From left to right: Aidan, Ronan, Moira, Katherine, John and Deirdre Cullen.

Photo courtesy of John Cullen

An artistic rendering of Hortus Inclusus (The Interior Garden), the People's Choice Award winning entry by John Cullen in the 2010 Singapore Garden Festival.

Courtesy of John Cullen

After the 2008 Singapore show, Cullen and his family decided to focus their efforts in Michigan, where he, his wife Moira, and four young children enjoy a quality of life that compares to no place else, Cullen said.

Then Cullen was invited to represent the United States in Singapore once more.

They opted to make the 2010 festival a family affair, including their “road-schooled” (a twist on “home-schooled”) children in the planning and execution. They saw it as a great learning opportunity for the whole family, as well as a chance to serve as ambassadors for Michigan in an international arena. Cullen’s 7-year-old son took responsibility for watering 12 espaliered pear trees in the months leading up to the festival.

Cullen credits his success to the ability to evoke an emotional response. He attempts to draw people in, invite them to interact with the design, and enjoy a personal experience in his gardens.

The Singapore exhibit, titled Hortus Inclusus (The Interior Garden), was inspired by a cloister garden within the Basilica St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy. In ancient monasteries, Cullen explained, monks would visit the cloisters (or “enclosures”) to meditate on their beauty for divine inspiration. With this design, according to the garden description, the hope was that “upon entering, the viewer would move beyond spectator and enter into the very depths of his heart and soul, and there to meet Ultimate Beauty, ever ancient, ever new.”

The central water feature of the Singapore Garden exhibit is created from antique fieldstones from an 18th century Pennsylvania wall.

Photo courtesy of John Cullen

Espaliered pear trees, shaped and trained in the specialized French technique in the foothills of Tennessee, provided another layer of interest surrounding the center space. The primary focal point was a spherical water feature created with antique fieldstone from an 18th century Pennsylvania wall.

Mike Cullen, John Cullen's nephew, designed and created the mosaic rose vines climbing the timbers from a Michigan centennial barn.

Photo courtesy of John Cullen

Transporting the materials to Singapore was “an enormous undertaking,” noted Cullen. The 12 espaliered trees required special clearance from the USDA and were air freighted overseas. The wood beams, field stones and other materials were fumigated and shipped separately. The Singapore government, striving to become leaders in the world garden industry, made the international transport possible, Cullen explained. Upon arrival in Singapore, the small Celtic Gardens team worked closely with guest workers of Prince’s Landscape, from Bangladesh, China, India and Singapore to construct the final exhibit.

Cullen expressed appreciation for the cooperation between Eastern and Western cultures through this international show. He felt honored to represent Michigan, and the United States, in this endeavor, and took pleasure in educating visitors about the agriculture and landscape design programs at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

The Singapore show has opened more doors for Cullen and Celtic Gardens in the East and abroad. This October he will compete in The Gardening World Cup in Nagasaki, Japan.

Cullen wants to be sure the family business doesn’t lose focus on its Michigan roots, however. His desire is to grow “not bigger, just better,” and he is always learning more along the way.

According to the Celtic Gardens’ guiding philosophy, “God makes; man shapes; nature retakes.” Cullen explained that the media of gardening - soil, stone, plant, or water - is always changing. “My job,” he said, “is to nurture it into something new, and then let nature and creation take its course.”

Pam Stout coordinates Home & Garden and Faith coverage for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at pamstout@annarbor.com.