South Africa’s floral exhibit that won three of the most prestigious awards at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show will be on display at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in Stanford from Saturday 21 September to Sunday 6 October.
The very eye-catching display of the nation’s stunning proteas achieved a Gold Medal at the international show in London in May, along with the awards for Best in the Pavilion and Best New Design. The stand was designed by Leon Kluge and, with the help of a hardworking team and private donations, showcased the spectacular Cape fynbos in a unique layout, breathtaking for its creativity, array of flowers and heady fynbos scent, which filled the pavilion.
The Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, one of the sponsors of the South African display at Chelsea, and Kluge decided to bring the glorious floral design home so everyone can experience its uniqueness and beauty. Kluge and his team will build an exact replica of the winning design for Chelsea Flowers in Stanford, of which Overstand mayor Dr Annelie Rabie is the patron.
The 100 m² floral display will open to the public in the village close to the nature reserve, along with 120 illustrations and vignettes from the Grootbos Florilegium, a private collection of fynbos botanical artworks.
Following South Africa’s win at Chelsea, local Grootbos Florilegium artist Daleen Roodt won a Gold Medal for Best Botanical Artwork and the People’s Choice Award at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Botanical Art and Photography Show held in the Saatchi Gallery in June. The winning artworks will also be a part of the display in Stanford.
The venue will be open from 10:00 to 18:00 daily. Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets at R175 each or at the door at R200 per person; children under 12 enter at no cost.
- For more information, contact chelsea@grootbos.co.za or 028 384 8070 during office hours.
