Winning Low Allergy Garden Design at Ellerslie

News Release
17 October 2005

Winning Low Allergy Garden Design to be Constructed at Ellerslie Flower Show

Flixonase and the Ellerslie Flower Show announced today the winner and top 10 of the Flixonase Low Allergy Garden Competition, presented by the Ellerslie Flower Show.

Year 10 student, Lucy Lee of Epsom Girls Grammar in Auckland was selected as the grand prizewinner among 60 entries from more than 400 secondary students across the country.

Lucy will have her winning low allergy garden design constructed and featured at this year’s Ellerslie Flower Show in Auckland, a grand prize valued at $20,000.

Xanthe White, designer of this year’s Ellerslie Flower Show feature garden, as well as last year’s multi-award winning Flixonase Low Allergy Garden was the judge of the competition.

White was also the author of the design brief for the students, which challenged them to create a 6m x 6m garden that would appeal to a young, urban couple, featuring an entertaining area, two focal points and seating - all built with low allergy plants.

“Lucy definitely has a future in this field if she chooses to pursue it. And, having her design featured at Ellerslie is a pretty good way to kick off a career!” said White.

“Lucy’s garden has a fantastic hot contemporary Mediterranean feel with a strong use of colour and dry materials reinforced in all aspects of the design. More than anything the garden has the wow factor with refreshingly original use of plant material that reinforced the hot look and, though it broke all the rules, it worked.

“Lucy gave a very sophisticated response to the brief with bold use of the Flixonase colours in the walls picked up in the planting.”

Lucy says she’s looking forward to seeing her garden design brought to life.

“I was really surprised to win the competition. It hasn’t really sunk in yet that 70,000 people are going to see my garden at the biggest garden show in the country,” explains Lucy.

“I thought the low allergy design brief was a fun challenge. I had no idea you could control allergies through plant choice. It was really interesting
to work on because it brought design and creativity together with solving a problem.”

White’s complete Top 10 list includes:
Lucy Lee, Winner Epsom Girls Grammar
Cameron Hawke, Runner Up (tie) Rangiora High School
Hoa Yang, Runner Up (tie) Epsom Girls Grammar
Mount Maunganui College (Group) Mount Maunganui College
Jessie Linn Epsom Girls Grammar
Courtenay Whitford Epsom Girls Grammar
Yeunjin Jeong Epsom Girls Grammar
Freya Copeland Epsom Girls Grammar
Rebecca Anderson Epsom Girls Grammar
Deborah Chan Epsom Girls Grammar

“The top ten designs are outstanding and all would stand up in their own right if they were to be built at the show,” says White.

“The gardens showed a clear understanding of allergy free principals and a flair for design. Each design was unique and the top ten gardens represent a range of garden looks and styles, proving despite allergies, you are only limited by your imagination.”

Thirty per cent of New Zealanders suffer from allergies, often as a result of airborne pollens. Many have no idea that low allergy gardening is an option.

Erla Rapsch, Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline explains, “The Flixonase Low Allergy Garden Design Competition aims to let the thousands of New Zealand allergy sufferers know that it is possible for them to enjoy stylish gardens – and gardening - that are easy on their allergies.”

Lucy’s winning design will be built by a professional landscape company and will be featured in the Sunday magazine Exhibition Gardens at the Ellerslie Flower Show, which is open to the public between 16th and 20th November 2005. Visit www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz for more information about the Flixonase Low Allergy Garden and other exhibitions.

Flixonase 24-Hour is a nasal spray offering relief from all the major symptoms of airborne allergies, including hay fever.

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Flixonase CMI:
Pharmacy medicine. Flixonase contains 50mcg of fluticasone Propionate per spray. Always read the label and use strictly as directed. Do not exceed the stated dose or treatment duration (6 months). Seek medical advice prior to use if you have an infection in the nose. If symptoms persist or you have side effects see your health professional. For adults and children 12 years of age and over. Dosage: 2 sprays into each nostril once a day. Do not use if you have hypersensitivity to fluticasone propionate or any of the ingredients listed on the leaflet. Do not use if pregnant or breast feeding unless under medical supervision. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Auckland, New Zealand. Flixonase is a registered trade mark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

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