By Hamish Clark
The best in New Zealand garden design is back on display a year after the earthquakes forced Christchurch to cancel its Ellerslie Flower Show.
Many of this year's exhibits have been inspired by the tragedy that hit the garden city and this afternoon the winner’s medals were handed out.
Final touches were made a day before the crowds swarmed in.
More than a quarter of a million plants in 91 exhibits are on show.
The show’s managing director, Dave Mee, says they wanted to go back to the original site.
“It wasn’t too badly damaged, in fact it is probably one of the safest places in the city,” says Mr Mee. “It is so beautiful and Ellerslie wanted to be back.”
There is the love for Christchurch expressed with a giant heart shaped steel beam and salvaged ruins brought back to life under a mist of rain and a beam of light.
Jim Fogarty, convenor of judges, says it is something that New Zealanders can be very proud of, “and especially for the people of Christchurch, there is a lot of hope here”.
Eight gold medals were handed out to the very best designs.
Sandi MacRae’s garden includes walkways of shattered glass and big orbs surrounding the stillness inside a glasshouse.
“It's a bit of a haven inside there; it is safe, warm environment,” she says.
Ben Hoyle’s gold medal design features large bright petals in a garden reflecting the love/hate relationship with the ground beneath us.
Xanthe White also won gold with her future garden of Christchurch.
“Because of being in the earthquake last year, coming back meant more to me than just showing my work,” she says.
The Supreme Award winner will be announced tonight and then the show will run right through until Sunday, where local residents will get a chance to buy some of the amazing plants when they go on sale at the end of the show.
3 News