Latest news with #LeonKluge
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
South Africa's Fynbos wins gold at UK flower competition as Kirstenbosch maintains strategic absence
The beautiful display of Fynbos that won gold. Image: Supplied For the sixth consecutive year, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden did not exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), which manages the iconic garden, confirmed that its decision to step away from the world-renowned event was made in 2019 and remains in place. According to Nontsikelelo Mpulo, Director of Marketing, Communication and Commercialisation at SANBI, the decision was based on a combination of practical and strategic considerations. 'The Chelsea Flower Show was a costly exercise for the organisation with no clear return on investment,' said Mpulo. 'Our displays featured indigenous flowers and materials that were often confiscated at the UK border and not permitted for use. Additionally, our sponsors withdrew their support.' The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further affected SANBI's financial stability, and revenue has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. While a return to Chelsea has not been ruled out, Mpulo said the organisation is exploring local alternatives, including plans to establish a Biodiversity Expo in the Western Cape and Gauteng. 'It has been some time since Kirstenbosch participated in the show. The questions you pose have periodically come to the organisation, and our position remains the same,' she added. Despite its absence from Chelsea, Kirstenbosch continues to be celebrated internationally. It has been named one of the top ten gardens in the world by The New York Times, received the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award, and was voted Best Botanical Garden in Africa by the World Luxury Travel Awards in 2023. South Africa won big Image: Supplied Kirstenbosch also became the first South African botanical garden to receive Level IV accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Programme and The Morton Arboretum in the USA — an honour currently shared by just 46 gardens worldwide. While Kirstenbosch was not at Chelsea, South Africa was proudly represented by designer Leon Kluge and horticulturist Tristan Woudberg, whose spectacular fynbos exhibit won a gold medal at the 2025 show. The display captured the beauty and diversity of the Cape Floristic Region through two towering mountain slopes divided by a ravine, designed to evoke a secret Cape waterfall in springtime and constructed with over 25,000 stems of fynbos blooms. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve was one of several sponsors supporting Kluge's display, alongside Hazendal Wine Estate, the Rupert Nature Foundation and Southern Sun. Michael Lutzeyer, owner of Grootbos, expressed his pride in the team's achievement. Chelsea Flowers in Stanford will be open to the public in spring from 10-24 September 2025 Image: Supplied 'I am delighted and proud of Leon Kluge's fynbos display which received international recognition and a gold-award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, confirming what we at Grootbos have always known — the Cape Floristic Region is one of the most beautiful and unique regions of the world and fynbos itself is the star of the show. "Grootbos was one of the proud sponsors of the exhibit which celebrates the beauty of fynbos — thank you and well done to the whole team who worked so hard. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the Grootbos Foundation have protected and conserved this landscape for 25 years and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has confirmed that the world (and even the fox) believes this biodiversity hotspot is worth protecting.' To ensure South Africans can also experience the magic of Chelsea, Grootbos and the Grootbos Foundation will sponsor a full-scale replica of the winning display in the village of Stanford. Titled Chelsea Flowers in Stanford, the exhibition will run from 10 to 24 September 2025 and coincide with the region's spring bloom.
Time Out
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Take a look: SA's Cape Floral Kingdom wins Chelsea Gold
There are flower shows, and then there's the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - the crown jewel of British horticultural society, complete with all the bells, whistles and fascinators to make it blooming brilliant. It's such a spectacle, with the show previously ranking as one of the world's top travel experiences - and it makes South Africa's top RHS honours this year all the more meaningful as it puts one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet firmly in the global spotlight. To date, South Africa has won a total of 39 gold medals at this long-standing event. Acclaimed horticulturist Leon Kluge, whose design also won gold last year, states this year's winning display was the biggest yet, 'with up to 25,000 stems of fynbos cut flowers'. RHS President Keith Weed CBE presented Kluge and his team the Lawrence Medal, awarded to the best floral exhibit over all the RHS shows throughout the calendar year - and the first time South Africa has received this award. 'Inspired by South Africa's two mighty oceans, the Indian and Atlantic, which have given rise to a multitude of habitats from the fynbos of the Cape to the more subtropical lushness of KZN,' adds Kluge. Kluge also praised the 'generous support' of the display's sponsors, including the farmers and farmworkers who helped bring it to life and the Grootbos Foundation, Hazendal Wine Estate, and Southern Sun. 'We celebrate this Gold together, and may it encourage us to protect and conserve our beautiful natural heritage!' The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is on until Sunday, 24 May. Needless to say, you'll find a swathe of more amazing garden designs and gorgeous floral displays. See all the 2025 winners here. Guests can also indulge in exclusive shopping at the event, which includes a piece of the Karoo inspired by the Cape Winelands' very own Babylonstoren, which is exhibiting at the event for the first time.
The South African
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
South Africa exhibit wins gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show 2025
South Africa has once again achieved remarkable success at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, securing a prestigious gold medal for its captivating exhibit, 'Living Oceans.' Renowned horticulturist Leon Kluge, alongside Tristan Woudberg and their dedicated team, crafted the 'Living Oceans' display, drawing inspiration from the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans along South Africa's coastline. This exhibit celebrated the nation's rich biodiversity, showcasing over 25 000 ethically sourced stems of indigenous flora, including fynbos, succulents, and coastal species. The design artfully depicted the influence of ocean currents and rocky cliffs on South Africa's unique plant life, presenting a sculptural and dramatic landscape that resonated with themes of climate, ecology, and natural beauty. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leon Kluge (@leonkluge) Kluge took to Instagram to show off the award and say: 'Well, it's gold again for South Africa here at the Chelsea Flower show. 'It was a bit nerve-wracking this morning not knowing what [medal] was going to wait for us at the stand. We are very relieved and very excited about the gold, putting South Africa's flora right at the top of the world stage.' This is the second gold for South Africa after it stole the show at last year's event, when the same team won gold with a perfect score for a garden inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains. The team was also awarded 'Best Exhibit in the Pavilion' and the 'Best New Design' in 2024. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cape Flora SA (@capeflorasa) Meanwhile, another standout was the Karoo Succulent Garden, a collaborative effort between The Newt in Somerset and its South African sister estate, Babylonstoren. Designed by Katie Lewis, this 45x15m garden featured over 6 000 succulent plants from 15 families, including quiver trees, fan aloes, and lithops. The garden's six biomes, constructed with sandstone, shale, and quartz, highlighted the adaptability and resilience of succulents, emphasising their suitability for drought-resistant gardening amidst climate change concerns. The show's marquee was adorned with vibrant displays of South African flora. Notable highlights included proteas, Leucospermums, clivias, agapanthuses, and Cape primroses, presented by esteemed nurseries such as Gardeners Delight, Jacques Amand, and Dibleys. Additionally, botanist Elsa Pooley launched her new book, South African Indigenous Garden Plants , offering valuable insights into the nation's rich botanical heritage. Dates : 20-24 May 2025 : 20-24 May 2025 Location : Royal Hospital Chelsea, London : Royal Hospital Chelsea, London Opening times : Tuesday-Wednesday (RHS Members' Days): 08:00-20:00 Thursday-Friday: 08:00-20:00 Friday Chelsea Late: 17:30-22:00 Saturday: 08:00-17:30 : Tickets: Available for purchase on the RHS website Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
News24
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
SA garden wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show
For the second year in a row, a Leon Kluge-designed garden representing South Africa's beauty has won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. Kluge and his team won for their entry inspired by the meeting of two oceans - the Atlantic and the Indian - and all the flora in between. The well-respected horticulturalist took to Instagram on Tuesday cradling the team's award. 'Well, it's gold again for South Africa here at the Chelsea Flower show,' a beaming Kluge said at their stand at the prestigious event. 'It was a bit nerve-wracking this morning not knowing what [medal] was going to wait for us at the stand. We are very relieved and very excited about the gold, putting South Africa's flora right at the top of the world stage.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cape Flora SA (@capeflorasa) He thanked their sponsors, Hazendal Wine Estate and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Cape Flora South Africa as we as all the messages of support from back home. Much preparation went into preparing this year's garden at what is known as the 'Olympics' of the flower world, with at least 25 000 stems of beautiful flowers and fynbos being cut ahead of their display. The end result was beautiful hues of yellows, purples and pinks showcasing South Africa's unique biodiversity. This is the second gold for South Africa after it stole the show at last year's event, when the same team won gold with a perfect score for a garden inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains. The team was also awarded 'Best Exhibit in the Pavilion' and the 'Best New Design' in 2024. South Africa's Babylonstoren also had a Karoo Succulent Garden displayed at the show this year for the first time. READ | Babylonstoren flies a piece of the Karoo to London to wow at Chelsea Flower Show The team worked in partnership with its sister estate, The Newt in Somerset in the UK, to bring a little piece of the Karoo to the world. The Newt in Somerset has been the headline sponsor of the event for the past four years, and the succulent garden served as a showstopper for the attending visitors. Babylonstoren's master botanist Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld told News24 that Karoo succulents could teach many things to the world, and was well-suited to represent South Africa's resilience. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is open from Tuesday to Saturday this May.
The South African
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
South Africa's botanical excellence in bloom at Chelsea Flower Show 2025
South Africa's rich botanical heritage is captivating audiences at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show in London, with two standout exhibits celebrating the nation's unique flora and design prowess. Renowned horticulturist Leon Kluge has unveiled a breathtaking garden titled Living Oceans , drawing inspiration from the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans along South Africa's coast. This exhibit showcases the diverse plant life influenced by these two oceans, featuring a canyon of tannin-rich water cutting through a mountain of fynbos. The Atlantic side displays the vibrant geophytes and bright flowers of the drier West Coast, while the Indian Ocean side boasts lush sub-tropical plants. Woven sculptural pieces interspersed throughout the garden celebrate South Africa as the 'flower basket of Africa,' blending cultural artistry with botanical beauty. In its final year as the event's headline sponsor, The Newt in Somerset presents the Karoo Succulent Garden , a striking homage to South Africa's semi-desert Karoo region. Designed by estate architect Katie Lewis, the 45m x 15m garden features six biomes constructed with sandstone, shale, and quartz to replicate the natural habitats of the Karoo. The exhibit includes 6 000 plants from 15 families, such as towering quiver trees, fragrant pelargoniums, and uniquely shaped succulents. This garden emphasises sustainability and water-wise gardening, resonating with global climate change concerns. Both exhibits not only highlight South Africa's botanical diversity but also underscore the country's commitment to sustainable and innovative garden design on the world stage. The 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be held from 20 to 24 May at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. This year's show features 23 diverse gardens, emphasising creativity, sustainability, and community impact. Notable exhibits include gardens inspired by ecological restoration, AI-monitored urban forests, and themes supporting social causes such as women's rehabilitation and HIV awareness. Dates : 20-24 May 2025 : 20-24 May 2025 Location : Royal Hospital Chelsea, London : Royal Hospital Chelsea, London Opening times : Tuesday-Wednesday (RHS Members' Days): 08:00-20:00 Thursday-Friday: 08:00-20:00 Friday Chelsea Late: 17:30-22:00 Saturday: 08:00-17:30 : Tickets: Available for purchase on the RHS website Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
