Flower power takes Jillian to silver success
Chelsea medal for talented florist
Blairgowrie and Rattray is celebrating this week after home-grown talent Jillian Page added a fifth medal to her collection from the world’s most prestigious flower show.
Florist Jillian from Something Special Flowers in the Wellmeadow won a silver medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show this week.
Jillian was competing in the Florist of the Year category against 15 of the best in the business from across the UK, and was the only Scottish florist to be represented in the competition.
The winners were announced on Tuesday morning just as the Blairie was going to press, and social media was flooded with messages of congratulations for Jillian from hundreds of well-wishers in the town.
An emotional Jillian thanked everyone for their support, commenting that it had been “exhausting but 100 per cent worth it”.
The talented Rattray woman has previously won four medals - including a gold for her stunning creation of a gown to be worn at a fantasy crystal ball - on the two occasions she’s entered the premier league RHS competition in the past.
Three years on from her last appearance in London, Jillian won the Scottish heats, which were held in Glasgow back in March, and secured a place in Chelsea again.
The brief for the competition was to make a free-standing floral structure for a wedding, with the venue being the Tate Modern gallery.
The theme at Chelsea this year is ‘Summer Skies’ and the florists were asked to create a large kite in flowers and foliage.
Before heading off to London, Jillian explained: “My kite is quite substantial, more than a metre high and nearly two metres in length.
“I have been working on it for weeks. It is based on a cross of copper piping, with chicken wire, decorative wire and wool as a backing. The floral parts are added at the show.”
She went on: “Part of the reason I entered again was down to the support I got from the town.
“In previous years it felt like everybody in Blairgowrie was getting behind me and I think it is good for the town to have something positive to get behind.
“The support from everyone once again has been overwhelming and genuinely means so much, it keeps me going when I need it!
“Chelsea is always such a great event, it is so inspiring to see everyone’s work and creativity, talent and commitment, and how techniques and design have developed.”