Page 24 - Landscape-Issue138

FEATURE

SOUTH AFRICA WINS AT

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

South Africa stole the show at this year’s RHS Chelsea
Flower Show when it won a gold medal with perfect
scores from the RHS judges, as well as awards for Best
Exhibit in the Pavilion and Best New Design. This year’s
design was inspired by the windswept slopes of the

Cape mountains. It is the country’s 38th gold medal in
its history at Chelsea, dating back to 1976, and Leon
Kluge’s third gold medal, having won the top prize for

South Africa in 2018 and 2019. Leon Kluge (right) and Tristan Woudberg

ead designer and acclaimed
plantsman Leon Kluge, together
Hwith artist Tristan Woudberg,
led a group of volunteers to create this
year’s display which included large clay
sculptures forming the backdrop for
the beautiful fynbos flowers. Numerous
species were used, from the high-altitude
fynbos to the strandveld bulbs which
hug the coastline. In total 22 000 stems
were used and a special effort was made
to include the rarely seen hybrids such as
Protea ‘Snow Leopard’, P. sulphurea and
P. serruria florida.
Using natural clay to form the sculpture,
Woudberg explained that large panels
weaved through the display, creating the
earthy backdrop for the flora to take centre
stage. The sculptures took on the role of
mountain ranges, dividing the different
biomes of the Cape. The natural cracking
effect provided by the clay is a reminder
of the contrasting wet and dry seasons of
the fynbos biomes, as well as the fragility
of these ecosystems. The negative spaces
in the sheets of rock acted as windows,
creating new vistas to explore as one
moved around the exhibit.
After a four-year hiatus and the sponsor
from 1989-2019 withdrawing its support,
a private sector team stepped in to ensure
that South Africa’s flora was once again
represented at the world’s premier flower
show. A contribution from the Rupert
Nature Foundation and Grootbos Private
Nature Reserve provided the financial
support needed to create the display in
London.
In addition to Kluge and Woudberg,
the team comprised Keith Kirsten,
conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and
Marinda Nel.
Cape Flora SA, an NPO established in
2005, offered its support this year, and for high quality fynbos cut flowers in leonkluge@yahoo.com
remains committed to the sustainable international markets, providing livelihoods msnel0663@Gmail.com
harvesting and growth of the fynbos for stakeholders and communities within Photos courtesy of Sven Musica
industry. The exhibit promoted the demand the South African fynbos industry. sven@phonixcapture.co.za n

22 Landscape SA • Issue 138 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za