Show is blooming lovely
Top landscape designers create 20 flower gardens at Castle of Good Hope
TWENTY show gardens designed by the country’s top landscape architects and designers are on display at the inaugural Cape Town Flower Show, which opened at the Castle of Good Hope yesterday.
The show’s curator and and co-ordinator, Paul Odendaal, said he hoped the event would “instil a passion for gardening” among visitors.
Careful use of water is an important theme in many of the show gardens on display.
Bridget Fogarty, who designed a garden called “Contemporary by Nature”, said: “A lot of people think that without water you cannot garden. There’s a lot you can do. The plants (in my garden) are used to create cool, fresh water without there being any water.
“So water-wise is not boring.”
Fogarty’s garden uses natural materials to create a modern feel and is creative with colour.
“There is red grass, yellow, cream to represent the heat and drought. The cool blue of the slate stone was used to create a slate riverbed,” she said.
Clayton Laue, who designed a show garden called “SA Garden Lifestyle”, said: “I chose the layout of the South African flag because it blends very well with Table Mountain and the Castle of Good Hope. Times are changing and we have got a new flag.
“The layout allows people to walk through the garden and being water-wise is key. There is a water feature with LED lights. In the evening it will glow,” he said.
Lucy Bourton, 61, from Lichfield in the UK said: “The Cape Town Flower Show gives me lots of ideas as to how to garden without water.”
Taugeedah Allie, 31, from Mountview said: “It is amazing. The view of Lion’s Head, the architecture, the Castle. Breathtaking from your everyday routine.”
Leon Kluge and Bayley LuuTomes built a show garden inspired by origami called “Between the Folds”. “We wanted to showcase clean lines – the simplicity of origami – private and open. At the same time, it offers shade from the sun,” said LuuTomes.
Kluge said: “I want people to see how wild flowers in the wild look. That it can be in a meadow garden. It took five days to construct, but a year of planning. ”
Show director, Karey Evett said: “It just occurred to me that we have to make a lot of noise. Cape Town should have a flower show. It should be a jewel event.”
The Cape Town Flower Show is on until Sunday. Tickets, which start at R120 for adults, can be bought via Computicket or at the door.