5 March 2013

Ellerslie Opens Its Gates Tomorrow

The gates to New Zealand’s premier gardening and lifestyle exhibition, the Ellerslie International Flower Show, open to the public at 10am tomorrow.

Christchurch’s North Hagley Park is the venue for the show, which is now ranked among the top gardening shows in the world.

“Ellerslie this year has a stellar line-up and the calibre of our exhibitors and judges really cements our Show on the world stage,” says the Show’s Managing Director Dave Mee.

The convenor of judges for Ellerslie this year is Britain’s Andrew Fisher Tomlin, who has just been named Garden Designer of the Year at Britain’s New Homes Garden Awards

Fisher Tomlin is not only judging he is also exhibiting. He has teamed with fellow Brits Tom and Paul Harfleet to create two conceptual gardens inspired by Christchurch’s magnificent grand old trees. The Sometimes you need to see what’s behind you and Sometimes you need to see what’s above you gardens at Ellerslie are the first competition gardens the talented trio have designed outside of Britain.

Last year’s Yates People’s Choice winner and Ellerslie favourite Ben Hoyle is back with his highly anticipated new garden, A French Kiss in Akaroa, while TV and radio’s Tony Murrell has partnered with Adam Shuter to create a stunning “Modern Day Moa’ garden.

Another not-to-be-missed garden at this year Show is New Zealand’s gold-medal winning entry from the Singapore Garden Festival. It provides the stunning setting for Johnny Fraser-Allan’s ‘The Gloaming’ exhibition – presented by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger from Weta Workshop.

“Young people are doing some incredibly clever things at Ellerslie this year too,” Dave Mee says.
For the first time a school is exhibiting at the Show. Children from Raumati South Primary School, on the Kapiti Coast, will be demonstrating the future of gardening is in good hands and once the Show is over their entire sustainable garden will be gifted to Wharenui Primary School in Riccarton, Christchurch.
In this year’s Emerging Designs – Student of the Year competition nine teams of students of landscape, design and horticulture will be competing against each other to see who can come up with the best design for a rooftop garden.
The Floral Art Young Apprentice of the Year competition has attracted the largest number of entries ever and the best will go on to compete on the world stage.
This year’s Show caters not only for those with an appreciation for flowers and garden design; it also offers a feast for foodies and fashionistas.

“Over the five days of Ellerslie people can indulge in a riot of colour and tastes, be the first to see the hottest new plants, design ideas and see things few in the world get the chance to experience,’’ says Mr Mee.

Edible Ellerslie, a boutique tasting village with celebrity chef and gardener master-classes, is a new addition to the Show, where the audience gets to try some of the chefs’ delectable dishes.

Around 50,000 people are expected to attend Ellerslie this year, but its positive impacts on the community will be felt long after the last visitor has gone home.

“Ellerslie is not just a celebration of gardening, it is also about giving back to the community of Christchurch,’’ says Dave Mee. “Each year as many of the plants as possible are recycled back into the community while charities benefit significantly from the money we raise through the course of the Show.”

The Ellerslie International Flower Show is open to the public from 10am to 7pm tomorrow to Saturday and from 10am to 6pm on Sunday. If you have not already got your tickets they can be purchased at the gate.

Caption: Auckland designers Adam Shuter and Tony Murrell have designed a garden for Modern Day Moa.

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ENDS

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