When the team from South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI-Kirstenbosch) at the Chelsea Flower Show heard the judges’ decision, they knew that they had beaten all the odds.
This year, the exhibit was awarded a Silver Gilt for its 40th exhibit at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show (CFS) to the delight of designers David Davidson and Ray Hudson and the team of SANBI staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to achieve the desired result.
There were some tense moments when it looked as if the stand might not be completed in the allotted time. On Sunday morning, with hours to go before the cut off time, only part of the consignment had been released from customs, and then not the feature plants.
Spirit of generosity
But it was a story of camaraderie once it became clear that the whole consignment was not going to get there. Volunteer Jenny Badenhorst (landscaper from Johannesburg) and Jo Lankester walked the show to see who had the appropriate plants and with warmth and generosity other exhibitors rallied around offering whatever was required to fill the gaps.
While still calling the exhibit “a celebration of 40 years” and despite not being able to showcase the feature plants, the generosity of the other exhibitors made up for some of the disappointment.
Plants were donated from Kientzler in Germany, and other contributions came from, amongst others, Prince Harry’s Lesotho garden which donated kniphofias and aloes; Australia donated proteas, aloes, polygala… and the use of their forklift to assist. France donated juncea and grasses.
More than 550 stands at show
“It was a race against time” said David Davidson, designer, “we advised the judges of our predicament and these factors were taken into account when judging.”
When Monday morning dawns, the judges make their way around the more than 550 stands that make up the show. It’s an onerous task selecting and debating the awards and there is no hint as to what the various exhibitors have achieved. Then it is celebrity time as London’s rich and famous wander the show stopping here and there for a word and a photograph. Finally it is time for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her entourage to tour the show before this preview day comes to an end and exhibitors are left to wait anxiously for results.
But it is not until Tuesday morning (May 19) – opening day – that the awards are revealed and it is a mad dash to get in to see whether (or not) dreams have come true.
http://www.sanbi.org.za/news/south-africa-bloom-notches-silver-gilt-rhs-chelsea-flower-show