Bravo, Grootbos! - Chelsea Flowers in Stanford

‘The announcement that TIME Magazine has selected the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery that houses the Grootbos Florilegium as one of the World’s Greatest Places for 2024 could not have come at a better time,” the patron of Chelsea Flowers in Stanford, Overstrand Executive Mayor, Dr Annalie Rabie, said.

“Not only does the recognition of this nature underscore the huge contribution the Grootbos Foundation has made towards conserving our unique floral heritage, but it will definitely serve to spark renewed interest in this exhibition that is an exact replicate of the winning design that earned a gold medal for South Africa at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London earlier this year and was also crowned as ‘Best exhibition in the Pavilion’ and ‘Best New Design’,” the Mayor added.

(Overstrand Bulletin, September 2024) 

This comment made by Mayor Rabie is an excellent summary of the breathtaking Chelsea Flowers in Stanford’s exhibition. The ceremonial lint for the opening of the Chelsea Flowers in Stanford exhibition was cut by Mayor Rabie, patron of the exhibition, on Saturday, 21 September 2024, which will be open till 6 October 2024. “I am incredibly proud to announce that, thanks to the exuberance and long-term efforts of Grootbos to champion fynbos, the very best of the world-renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show is now in Stanford,” Mayor Dr Rabie said. With her were Mike Lutzeyer (Grootbos Foundation), Leon Kluge (Head Designer), Tristan Woudberg (Artist) and senior staff members from Grootbos. Mike and Leon gave the guests a brief introduction of the planning, hard work, purpose and finalising of the exhibition. Mayor Rabie declared the exhibition open under a big hand of applause and the quests could hardly wait to enter the hall.

The stand, as designed by Leon Kluge, showcased the spectacular Cape fynbos in a unique layout and was built as a replica of the award-winning Chelsea Flower Show of South Africa earlier this year in London, but this year for South Africans - Gold Medal, as well as the awards for the ‘Best in the Pavilion’ and the ‘Best New Design’. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Leon Kluge have decided to bring the glorious floral design home to South Africa so the everyone can experience the uniqueness of the display garden and the triple-award win from the most prestigious garden show in the world.

Following South Africa’s win at Chelsea, local Grootbos Florilegium artist, Daleen Roodt, won a Gold Medal, 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 - Daleen’s winning artworks are also part of the display in Stanford. A visit to Chelsea Flowers in Standford is a ‘must’ for a breathtaking experience.

Hardus Botha

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