The 14th - And Best - Ellerslie Flower Show Yet

MEDIA RELEASE
3 March 2009
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The 14th Ellerslie International Flower Show – the best in the Show’s history

A week tomorrow (4 March) the gates for the first Christchurch-hosted Ellerslie International Flower Show open, promising “the biggest and the best show” in Ellerslie’s 14-year-old history.

With more than 80 horticultural exhibits the stage is set to develop the Southern Hemisphere’s largest garden show into one of the top five garden shows in the world, says Ellerslie Managing Director Dave Mee.

Christchurch bought New Zealand’s premier garden event in November 2007 to reclaim and enhance Christchurch’s image as the Garden City and to develop Ellerslie in to one of the world’s most prestigious garden shows

“With a new venue, a new city and an emphasis on creating a world-class event, Ellerslie has begun its journey to be recognised as among the top five garden shows in the world.”

He says this year’s Show retains many of the successful elements of past shows but also reflects the new southern location with the Taste of the South and celebration of southern flora.

“Importantly, Ellerslie has preserved and boosted its international status with a multi-award winning feature garden from Singapore as one of the key attractions, four international judges from Britain, Japan and Australia, and one of the world’s top Ikebana artists on site each day demonstrating the Japanese art of flower arranging.”

Mr Mee says Ellerslie is well recognised as a prestigious event on the international calendar of flower shows as is evident with the large contingent of international media, horticultural experts and visitors who will be attending Ellerslie 2009.

Highlights of Ellerslie 2009 are:

• The multi-award winning Singapore Garden Festival garden, Seeking Shangri-La by talented Asian designer Peter Cheok. A fantasy garden with a serious environmental message, the garden is a real showstopper.

• The Starlight Marquee where West Meets East in what will be one of the most visually stunning and challenging displays of garden design and lighting.

• Ellerslie’s Crate Escape – the ultimate bloke’s garden, promoting backyard cricket, beers and barbecues, designed by All Black halfback Andy Ellis and his mate Danny Kamo from John Marsh Landscape Architects.

• Three times daily fashion shows of the hottest Wearable Weeds by internationally renowned Christchurch costume and fabric artist Jenny Gillies. Her floral weeds collection is sure to court a little controversy.

• Hourly filming by Bush Telly of 40 interviews on conservation topics throughout the Show in the Hort Galore Marquee for distribution in April on YouTube, Google Video and DVD.

• Twice daily demonstrations of the Japanese art of flower arranging by one of the world’s top Ikebana artists – Seiseki Yoshiro Umemura.

• Leading British garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin – who selects gardens for the Chelsea Flower Show – coming to Ellerslie 2009 to judge and deliver a series of lectures on British garden trends.

• The official Ellerslie Garden Tours – guided visits to Canterbury’s award-winning and nationally significant gardens.

Ellerslie International Flower Show is New Zealand’s premier week-long Garden Party in Christchurch’s North Hagley Park from 11 to 15 March. The Show celebrates Christchurch’s Garden City heritage and the best of national and international garden design. The 2009 Show will feature almost 80 horticultural exhibits, including 25 gardens, with loads of fresh and exciting ideas for every garden. Check out the website for further information www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

ENDS

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