Ellerslie Gold On A Par With Chelsea

Ellerslie Gold On A Par With Chelsea

For the first time, Ellerslie is officially an International Flower Show and continues to be the largest Flower Show in the Southern Hemisphere, setting new standards of excellence far exceeding judges’ expectations.

“Winning a gold at Ellerslie is now on a par with winning a gold at Chelsea,” says Bob Sweet, Convenor of Judges for Ellerslie, as well as Head of Shows Development at the Royal Horticultural Society, where he has special responsibility for the Chelsea Flower Show. “This year the quality of the show is just so compelling. The standards achieved in exhibition gardens and floral art in particular are head and shoulders above last year,” he explains.

This year there are also more gardens, more floral exhibits, more garden-related displays and four times more nurseries than ever before.

“The presentation and feel of the show has improved considerably,” says Sweet. “Many displays are far more visitor-friendly and there’s also a better use of existing water features and open spaces to create more natural views for the public. Accessibility to displays is also better.”

“The quality of floral design presentation this year is to be particularly commended and is reflected in the choice of Carol Laloli Floral Design winning the overall Judges’ Supreme Award,” says Sweet. “It is so intricately produced and delicately thought through that the result is extremely moving and will be a memorable display for onlookers,” says Sweet. Carol Laloli’s winning design features in the Twinings Floral Art Marquee where all the exhibits are a tribute to the Year of the Veteran on the theme of ‘Remembrance”.

One of the Show’s new features - the Visique Avenue of Gold – that exhibits gardens from previous Ellerslie winners has struck gold again for two gardens at either end of the attraction. The Garden of Native Plant Ideas by the Auckland Botanic Gardens and the Contemporary Kiwi Garden by Ben Hoyle of Blue Gecko Garden Design are both gold medal winners. “Both gardens showed great restraint in choice of plants and both have a distinctly New Zealand feel, with special and unique water features. Also evident in The Garden of Native Plant Ideas was a rustic, corten steel look in their water feature sculpture and wheelbarrow-seat; this is a great example of this design trend,” enthuses Sweet.

Ellerslie Flower Show Judges’ Supreme Award

Exhibitor: Carol Laloli Floral Design

Designer: Carol Laloli

Ellerslie Flower Show Supreme Award for Horticultural Excellence in partnership with the NGIA (Nursery and Garden Industry Association)

Exhibitor: Blooms of Bressingham

Designer: Trina Tully, Trina Tully Landscape Design

Ellerslie Flower Show Supreme Award for Design Excellence

Exhibitor: The Incredible Edible Garden

Designer: Sue Peachey & Hannah Williamson, Landscape Design Company Ltd

Best in Show Award: Sedum ‘Ogon’

Grower: Valerie Glen

Landscape Industries Association of New Zealand (LIANZ) Award

Exhibitor: Pavlova Paradise

Designer: Lydia Reusser, Margaret Chapman, Kelvin Chua

Ellerslie Flower Show Charitable Trust Tertiary Competition

Institution: Unitech

Designer: Kevin Chua

Manukau Beautification Trust Scarecrow Competition

School: Everglade Primary

Yet to be announced are the highly anticipated Young Designer of the Year and Peoples Choice Awards which will be revealed later this week.

Flower Show enthusiasts are being urged to buy their tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, with Saturday November 18 tipped to become the busiest day in the Show’s history.

Alongside the thousands of Kiwis visiting the Show, there are a number of international gardening experts present and media from all corners of the world including the BBC.

The Ellerslie International Flower Show 2006 is A Sight to Behold, with innovation, inspiration and floral delights. The Show opens to the public tomorrow and continues to bloom until the 19 November at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketek outlet, by contacting 09 307 5000 (or your local Ticketek number), via the website www.ticketek.co.nz or at the gate.

ENDS

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