Four Exhibition Gardens Win Gold At Ellerslie

Four exhibition gardens have won gold at this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show

In what the judges say was “a tough competition for the medals with a number of hotly contested criteria”, Wellington designer Ben Hoyle and Christchurch designers Carl Pickens, Rob Watson for the Canterbury Horticultural Society and Sir Miles Warren, Alan Trott, Pauline Trengrove and Marilyn McRae have been awarded gold medals.

Convenor of Judges Penny Cliffin says the judges are absolutely thrilled with Ellerslie 2009. “The show is excellent; the public are going to love it.

“The quality and standard of exhibition gardens was very high and as good as at past shows.

“I am really, really impressed with how Christchurch has embraced Ellerslie. The plant quality is exceptional and there is a strong sustainability theme which is exciting to see.”

British judge Andrew Fisher-Tomlin says he is impressed with the integrity of the judging.

“It was the most intense judging I have ever been involved with. The medal winners should be very proud of their achievements because the judging was of such a high international standard.”

He says the quality of the gardens is excellent. “There are gardens which will divide opinion and stimulate lots of debate which is important for a garden show with an international standing.”

Jim Fogarty from Australia praised the new location for Ellerslie: “Hagley Park is brilliant and the gardens are sensational”.

“There are exhibition gardens that are of such a quality that they could easily compete internationally. I am very impressed.”

A seasoned Ellerslie judge, Jim Fogarty says every year the gardens get better and better. “There is a real unique difference about the gardens; New Zealand has very unaffected design. It is brilliant.”