Cape Flora SA on getting award-winning fynbos to Chelsea
South Africa’s fynbos stole the global spotlight at Chelsea Flower Show, and you’ll soon be able to see the gold-winning display up close.
CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson speaks to Jacky Goliath, who was at the Chelsea Flower Show as a representative of Cape Flora South Africa.
Listen below:
It was another triumph for South Africa at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show earlier this month.
Mzansi took home a gold medal and the coveted Lawrence Medal for the best floral exhibit.
Designer Leon Kluge’s breathtaking 'Two Oceans'-inspired display wowed the judges and audiences alike.
Good news is if you missed it in London, the award-winning installation will be recreated in Stanford this September.
RELATED: WATCH: Fynbos display wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show
But just what goes into creating a display like this? How does Team SA ensure the flowers continue to look their best for the duration of the week-long show?
"When the flowers arrive in boxes, then we take them out, remove some of the leaves and put them in water."
- Jacky Goliath, Cape Flora South Africa Representative
Goliath reveals that the award-winning display was comprised of some 25 000 flowers!
"To see all of those flowers in buckets was already a sight!"
- Jacky Goliath, Cape Flora South Africa Representative
RELATED: WATCH: South Africa makes a bloomin' comeback at the Chelsea Flower Show!
Goliath says kudos must also be given to the fynbos growers who provided the flowers for the display.
"These flowers actually come from the Cape Flora South Africa growers... and it doesn't take a year or two years. It takes quite a few years to have bushes that are beautiful enough."
- Jacky Goliath, Cape Flora South Africa Representative
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.