Johannesburg - Municipal parks departments did well at the recent Sunday Tribune Garden and Leisure Show in Pietermaritzburg .
Modelled on the Chelsea Flower Show, Pietermaritzburg’s Garden & Leisure Show is regarded as a premier horticultural event in the southern hemisphere, attracting more than 20 000 visitors.
* The Ekurhuleni parks department landscape design team returned to Gauteng after team leader Mpho Baloyi from Vosloosrus accepted a silver-gilt medal and a trophy for the most improved keynote garden exhibit from Pietermaritzburg mayor Chris Ndlela.
Against the backdrop of the show theme, “Out of The Paintbox”, the Ekurhuleni team designed a children’s garden complete with gabions filled with colourful balls and gumpole pencils. The focal point of the garden was a spectacular garden lounger made from recycled wattle.
“Seven horticulturists based in different depots around Ekurhuleni came together to brainstorm the design for our exhibit at this year’s Pietermaritzburg Garden Show,” says Baloyi. “The aim was to mix nature with art and colour. We really wanted to design a garden that inspired kids to want to go into the garden.”
Tembisa horticulturist Cyril Makgope says: “The modern-day bed was designed using square metal tubing and recycled wattle. We also brought in a rainbow of colourful plants such as pelargoniums, peace lilies, red anthuriums, nemesia and scabiosia.”
* The city of Cape Town parks department triumphed as the People’s Choice trophy winner.
This year’s exhibit received a coveted gold medal from mayor Chris Ndlela, as well as a top spot overall in a field of experienced keynote municipal exhibits from around SA.
The team of seven included city parks department members from Brackenfell to Kommetjie, who built an exhibit that included a view up Adderley Street towards a giant graphic of Table Mountain, which was the central focus.
Colour and movement were at the heart of the exhibit, designed by Chris Buys, with input from David Curran and Jan Botes.
Filled with flower sellers and Bo-Kaap musicians, the exhibit was primarily designed to remind gardeners in the north and east of the country that Cape Town is the ultimate colourful destination for holidays.
* Silver-gilt medals went to the municipalities of Ekurhuleni Metro (East Rand) and Tshwane Metro (Pretoria).
Mogale City (Roodepoort) received a silver medal, and bronze medals went to Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), Mbombela (Nelspruit), Upington, Kwadukuza (Stanger) and Umhlatuzi (Richard’s Bay).
* The Best on Show trophy went to a tiny artistic garden created by KZN’s Cramond Garden Club.
* This year’s judges included top Johannesburg landscapers Arthur Mennigke and Alwyn Smit, KykNet garden presenter JJ van Rensburg, and KZN landscape design school principal Lindsay Gray. - Saturday Star, Weekend Argus