It’s a case of a penguin catching early honours, as an exhibit by the Christchurch Botanic Gardens team wins the Zealandia Horticulture National Flower Bed title at this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show.The exhibit reflects Christchurch’s gateway to the Antarctic, based on a cartoon caricature of a penguin sitting in a deck chair on an island, shaded by a large cabbage tree.
Lead Judge, Renee Davies, said the Christchurch Botanic Gardens’ entry was outstanding in the way it was planted.
“Every single flower head was at the same height, there was not a gap to be seen in the planting which creates ripples of the ocean around the island and the penguin simply added that important touch of humour. The garden had all the elements that make a great bedding plant exhibit.”
Zealandia Horticulture National Bed Flower 2012 Competition results:
Christchurch Botanic Gardens - Gold
Christchurch International Airport Company - Silver
Ashburton District Council - Silver
Keep Christchurch Beautiful - Bronze
Rotorua District Council - Bronze
Auckland City Council - Merit
