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Ellerslie Supreme Award winners go back to grassroots

Monday 27 February 2012, 2:48PM

By Christchurch City Council

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An old movie poster promoting the Christchurch Botanic Gardens exhibit in the Hort Galore Marquee at this year's Ellerslie International Flower Show.
An old movie poster promoting the Christchurch Botanic Gardens exhibit in the Hort Galore Marquee at this year's Ellerslie International Flower Show. Credit: Christchurch City Council

CHRISTCHURCH

Supreme Award winners at the last Ellerslie International Flower Show, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, are heading to the City Care Hort Galore Marquee this year to create an exhibit themed on an abandoned film set.

Winning gold and the Judge’s Supreme Award in 2010, Gardens team leader Jeremy Hawker says they have decided to create an exhibit this year which will showcase tropical plants.

The City Care Hort Galore Marquee is dedicated to showcasing rare, interesting and special plants, as well as the garden clubs and societies which are the grassroots of the horticultural industry and the foundation on which the success of Ellerslie has been built.

Jeremy says the Botanic Gardens team were in the process of building a similar exhibit last year when the 22 February earthquake struck and the show was cancelled.

“We were looking at a display of South American tropical plants last year. This year we have decided to resurrect the exhibit and broaden the scope to use it to display the many tropical plants from our glasshouses which has been closed to the public since the earthquake and are not expected to open for some time yet.

“This way, we are promoting gardening and the public still get to enjoy the plants, while we have some fun creating an exhibit that will look like an abandoned film set from a B grade adventure movie.”

Directors’ chairs, old movie posters, skeletons and skulls will nestle among the garden which will also feature a waterfall and statutes.

Jeremy says it is going to be a fun exhibit to create and he’s confident it will be enjoyed by the thousands of visitors to the show.

Other exhibits in the City Care Hort Galore Marquee this year include the New Zealand Alpine Garden Society’s exhibit honouring past plant collectors and including plants named after these intrepid men; the Christchurch Beautifying Society’s example of a tranquil, colourful retreat that can be easily re-created; a striking display by the Christchurch Bonsai Society; the passion, charm and romance of today’s garden for tomorrow’s gardeners by the Heritage Roses New Zealand; and displays by the Canterbury Rhododendron Society and CHS Begonia Circle.

Ellerslie Exhibition Manager Kate Hillier says the Hort Galore Marquee is always a popular exhibit at Ellerslie.

“This is where garden lovers and homeowners can learn more about plants and how they can become involved in club activities.”

She says this year’s exhibitors offer one of the more diverse selections of exhibits to be seen at Ellerslie.

Ellerslie International Flower Show, North Hagley Park, 7 to 11 March 2012. For more information www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz