Chelsea Flower Show 2024 Awards South Africa
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- čas přidán 20. 05. 2024
- SOUTH AFRICA WINS GOLD AND BEST ON SHOW AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
date: 21st May 2024,
London, UK.
South Africa stole the show at this year's RHS Chelsea flower show when it not only won a Gold medal with perfect scores from the RHS judges but was awarded "Best exhibit in the Pavilion" as well as the "Best New Design" award. This is unprecedented for South Africa at the Chelsea Flower show. RHS president Keith Weed CBE presented the awards to Leon and his team on the opening day of the London show.
Described as one of the most outstanding exhibits in the history within the Great Pavillion, this year's design was inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains. Head designer Leon Kluge and artist Tristan Woudberg led a group of volunteers to create this year's multi-award display which included large clay sculptures which formed the backdrop for an eye-watering display of fynbos cut flowers. This is Leon Kluge's third Gold medal at the Chelsea Flower show after having won the top prize in 2018 and 2019 for South Africa. It is South Africa's 38th Gold medal in its illustrious history at the Chelsea Flower dating back to 1976. It's the first time in history South Africa has won "Best New Design" and "Best in the Great Pavillion".
A multitude of species was presented in the display, from the high-altitude fynbos to the strandveld brimming with bulbs which hug the coastlines. The display celebrates the beauty and significance of one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
An unprecedented 22 000 stems were used in the display to create a proudly South African explosion of fynbos.
This year special effort was made to include rarely seen hybrids such as the fan favorite, Protea "Snow Leopard" as well as featuring seldom seen species such as the pendulous Protea sulphurea and the delicate blushing brides (Serruria florida) .
Using natural clay to form the sculpture, artist Tristan Woudberg explains;
"large panels weave through the display creating an earthy backdrop for our vibrant flora to take centre stage. The sculptures take on the role of mountain ranges, dividing and isolating the different biomes of the Cape which have given rise to our unique flora over time. The natural cracking effect provided by the clay is a reminder of the contrasting wet and dry seasons of the fynbos biome as well as the fragility of these ecosystems. The negative spaces in these sheets of rock act as windows, creating new vistas to explore as one moves around the exhibit."
After a four year hiatus and the sponsor of three decades (1989 - 2019) withdrawing their support, a private sector-led team stepped forward to ensure South Africa's flora was once again represented at the world's premier flower show. The team which is spearheaded by Leon Kluge, an acclaimed plantsman and landscape designer with numerous international floral exposition awards to his name, along with Keith Kirsten, conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and Marinda Nel came together to realise South Africa's return. A transformative contribution from the Rupert Nature Foundation as well as Grootbos Private nature reserve along with numerous contributions from the private sector provided the financial support needed to create the display in London.
Contributions from Michael Lutzeyer and Grootbos Nature Reserve are centred on conservation and community upliftment, while Keith Kirsten brings his wealth of international experience and expertise to the project, not to mention his involvement in the South African exhibit for many decades at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The team also spotlights the Grootbos Florilegium, a collection of botanical illustrations depicting rare plants in the Grootbos Nature Reserve. Marinda Nel, with a background in business development, plays a pivotal role in managing the return of South Africa’s flora to Chelsea.
Cape Flora SA, a non-profit established in 2005, offers their support this year and remains steadfast in its commitment to the sustainable harvesting and growth of the fynbos industry. The display promotes the demand for high-quality fynbos cut flowers in international markets, providing livelihoods for stakeholders and communities within the South African fynbos industry.
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Congratulations South Africa for your excellent work and beauty!
My hart wil bars van trots! Baie dankie vir julle opoffering en harde werk! Julle lig 'n hele land se gemoed! Só dankbaar!
Well done all of you! We are so proud of you. Thank you for giving us reasons to still be proud South Africans. With love from Di in Johannesburg
WOW! For a change, I'm proudly SA!
Absolutely beautiful. Well done and well deserved. South Africa 🇿🇦
Fantastic achievement, it looks amazing and obviously the judges were equally impressed. Another gold medal!!! Well done the team.
Super proud South African. Well done for flying our creative talents high! ❤
Amazing what we have to show the rest of the world!!!!!
Congrats from South Africa 🎉🎉🇿🇦🇿🇦
Geluk Leon en span!!
Suid Afrika is trots op julle!!🇿🇦
What a wonderful achievement! Great work designers and flower producers!
Congratulations, Leon and Team South Africa! The display is Awesome
Such a distinguished and unique presentation........and, of course, a Sterling Achievement for everyone involved. Proudly South African!
Congratulations Team South Africa! Well done. The proteas is absolutely gorgeous. Having grown up in Paarl, it really made me very happy to see so many different varieties of proteas on one spot. Hope to see you again next year.
Bravo...
Brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat...
Our beautiful country...
Thank you...
Congratulations to all of those who worked so incredibly hard to earn such prestigious awards...
🇿🇦
Congratulations folks & well done. Your country salutes you!
well done leon and the team.. hello from Alkmaar south africa
Hi Leon, Congratulations on your amazing display and well deserved awards.
I'm an amateur gardener growing Proteas and Strelitzia's in my small greenhouse in Cornwall and have now gifted some of my spare plants to a National Trust Garden at Glendurgan, Cornwall, where they are creating a South Africa Section.
Massive congratulations for your Chelsea 2024 exhibit.
That is just such great and encouraging news for South Africa. Wish I could be there.What a privilege for those attending to be able to view this beauty.I love fynbos proteas much.Reason I'm trying to grow my own in my Hogsback garden South Africa. I salute this team on their amazing achievement.
Well done to South Africa. So proud of u guys. 🎉❤👏👏👌
Well Done. It is gorgeous. I feel proud as a South African and a Capetonian.
Asemrowend moooooi! Baie dankie vir Al julle harde werk, julle maak ons almal trots hier in Suid Afrika. Dankie Leon en jou hele span.
We cannot ever, feel more proud, than we are now. Deon and Tess South Africa
Gorgeous display! Well deserved! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
Congratulations. Well done. You made us proud.
Just glorious. I am so proud of you and your passion and your talent. Congratulations🎉
Well well well done Leon and TEAM!!! I must say, this is THE best exhibition I have ever seen. The whole collage is alive with energy, colour and vibrancy. Congratulations. So so so proud.
What an incredible achievement.Well done🎉
Fantasties!!!! Trots op Suid-Afrika🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Well done. The design is beautiful and the flowers and plants also so beautiful.
Baie, baie geluk julle!! Is so trots op julle ,wat so hard gewerk het!!
En boonop kan ek met groot trots sê : ek bly in die Wes-Kaap,waar al die pragtige blomme op ons wandelpaaie lewend gesien kan word!!
Nog ʼn maal : Bravo!❤❤❤❤
Well done! With all the pressure you did it!!!!
Wow, well, done South Africa, you never cease to amaze me
Well done on representing South Africa so beautifully and naturally!
Ongeloolik mooi het geweet ju kan dit doen. Baie gelik.
Stunning display🎉
Absolutely Stunning!! Congratulations Leon and team 🎉❤
Well done. It's beautiful
Amazing!! Well done after all
That hard work 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
Stunning. I am a fan of Leon’s videos. He is an amazing botanist.
I am thrilled and so very happy for you. Well done Leon and the whole team. I can only imagine all the hard work and thought that has gone into your splendid display.
Awesome Congrats .. Wish we could grow Protea outside here in the UK I know they do down in Cornwall but futher up the country they dont do very well. Would be nice to have a hybrid Protea which can tolerate the UK weather
Absolutely STUNNING!!!
Well deserved. Congratulations Leon I can tell you that it is such a pleasure following you on social media, I love you energy and your love for nature that just glows in your face when you are explaining what you are showing. Such a joy to see. ❤
Congrats!!
Wow những bông hoa rất to ,đẹp và lạ mắt 🌺👍.
Coming from Chicago on Thursday, see you at the show
Artist display to it's fullest CONGRATULATIONS.
Love it! Well done!
Pragtig! Baie geluk!
Congratulations from all of us (South Africans) here in the Netherlands. You guys have done a sterling job and it shows. We are so proud of you.
WOW, WOW, WOW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Amazing display. Heartfelt congratulations to Team SA❤
Baie geluk Leon en groep ons is trots op julle en ons Proreas.
Met Chris yesterday he was such a delight !
Thank you Leon for a wonderful achievement you and your team winning a Gold Medal🇿🇦🥇🥇Sure my friend David Davidson is looking down with big smile 👍Cape Town🌍🇿🇦🌈
Well done
!!! Absolutely wonderful fantastic beautiful !!! Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou very very much...I have not enough words !!!!!!!
Well done! Stunning SA exhibit, once again. Congrats to you all, and thanks for your dedication and hard work ❤
Fantastic 🎉so delighted for you all 💝💐🙏🏼✨
Awesome work South Africa. Stunning!! Congratulations!! I literally have tears in my eyes watching this. What a beautiful country we live in!!~~~
Wonderful! Congratulations!
OH WOW, WELL DONE! SOMETHING POSITIVE!
Well done South Africa! It is a superb display! Many congratulations from here in the UK
Congratulations Team SA ❤🏆🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
Congratulations!
Well done South Africa. What happens to the flowers afterwards?
Oh! To have a bouquet of these flowers.
Hoe trots is ek!! Baie geluk en baie dankie vir julle harde werk!
Bravo South Africa 🇿🇦 👏
Bravo, c’est absolument magnifique, étonnant. Quelles plantes extraordinaires!
C’est une grande réussite.
Well done for winning Gold you hardworking people. Proud to be South African.
Congratulations, well done. Beautiful.
Congratulations! A truly beautiful installation. Not only did you do yourself proud but also those of us who love and appreciate the beauty of South Africa too. 💚
Congratulations ❤. Making South Africa proud🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🎉🎉🎉🎉. Very proud.
I thought this design spectacular!
Stunning!😍🫶🏻🇿🇦
Well done, Team South Africa. ❤
Well done south africa now we must work with the aloe as well. Live the flowers
Im proudly South African 🇿🇦 😊
Well done Leon and team..you do us proud🎉
Congratulations South Africa!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! Magical composition and material!
Well done and good to see you back.
🥂🥂🥂⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bravo!! Congratulations!!❤
🍀❤️👍🌹🌿🇮🇸🥳🥰
Why the hate!!!! Could u ever orchestrate such beauty?
Baie geluk. Dis pragtig.
So proud🇿🇦❤️🇿🇦
Oh wow! Dis pragtig! Well done guys! Jou ma se fynbos! Lekker man!
Wonderful 🌼🌸🌺🌷
Congratulations 🎊
WOW AWESOME PRAGTIG !!!DANKI JJESUS V ONS MOOI LAND AND FLOWERS SO UNIQUE AMEN 🙏 🙌 ✨️ ❤️
❤ well done
A special tribute to David Davidson of Kirstenbosch 🌸
👏👏👏👏👏👌❣️💥🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🏆
Astoundingly Beautiful! We are proud South Africans!