KEY POINTS:
A retail garden has taken the Judge's Supreme Award at the 2007 Ellerslie International Garden Show for the first time.
Kerikeri palm company Palmco has beaten the exhibition gardens to the top award with its jungle of large and rare exotic palms, most worth thousands of dollars.
Convenor of judges, Jan Woodhouse said the award-winning garden, by designer Adam Shuter, had a real "wow" factor.
"The sinuous path draws you through and there's a sense of enticement, as you can't see the end, Woodhouse said.
"It is a lovely experience walking through as you are quite separated from the rest of the flower show. The attention to detail in the under-planting masses of sub-tropical species is very, very good."
As a retail garden, companies are able to focus on their products, although they are expected to meet the same high standards.
The win is also a bonus for the 70,000 expected visitors to the Ellerslie show, who will be able take the boardwalk and experience Palmco's exhibit, as opposed to exhibition gardens, which can only be looked into.
The garden also won a second Supreme award for construction.
It is beautifully constructed, with good use of natural materials for the boardwalk and the gazebo, said Woodhouse.
International Judge Claire Whitehouse believes the Ellerslie show demonstrates New Zealand's excellence in all aspects of design.
"I've been really impressed by the excellence of design across the whole show, such as the use of space for different exhibits and the degree of imagination."
Whitehouse believes New Zealanders have a level of creativity not seen in shows like Chelsea in England.
"There are too many regulations so it can stymie imagination. Here, people try out ideas."
Whitehouse cites the Supreme Award for Design Excellence by first-time exhibitor Denise Gray of Sentiments Flowers, for her Tornado.
It (the tornado) is an example of huge imagination, she says, scoring very highly on design criteria.
"It has an immediate impact as soon as you see it. The more you looked at it, the more you see and it adds to the story. It starts from the dark brooding flowers at the bottom, and then more and more flowers are caught up in this violent wind," she said.
The Supreme Award for National Lightening went to Plantet Earth and Fusion Landscape Design, by designers Julie Moore and Lynn Cairney.
Woodhouse described the moody journey through bush and beach as a "magical, multi-media experience with a variety of lightening effects and lovely detailing with ambience."
"It has all sorts of details that will take several visits to actually appreciate, yet it has a very strong emotional element."
The Supreme Award for Horticultural Excellence has been awarded to the Auckland Orchid Club and two young design teams from Unitec will share the Young Designer Scholarship.
Futuro is the garden inside a spacecraft, showing an intellectual approach and done well, says Woodhouse. The Pinball design is an interesting design, well executed. Both exhibits are in the Tower Design Marquee.
Yet to be announced are the People's Choice award, revealed after the visiting public has voted, later this week.
Exhibition Award winners:
Gold
The Rain Garden by Jamie Douglas, Kirsten Sach and Zoe Carafice.
Silver distinction
Stevenson Tertiary Design Garden by Kelvin Chua
Silver
Watch This Space by Matt McIsaac and Matt Ransom
Auckland Botanic Gardens by the Design Team at the Gardens
Visique Garden by Plantation by Mike Mansvelt
Mitre 10 by Graeme Ross
Retail Gardens
Gold
Palmco by Adam Shuter
Manukau City Council by Chow Hill Architects
Silver
Honda by Eva Zombori
Starlight Marquee
Gold
The Garden Lighting Company by Barry Sluiters
Plantet Earth and Fusion Landscape Design by Julie Moore and Lynn Cairney
Silver
Take It Outside by Time Friday and Adrian Fry
Alex McClew
Floral Art Clubs and Societies
Gold
Hibiscus Coast Floral Art Group
Silver
Howick Floral Circle
Floral Art Professional
Gold
Sentiments Flowers by Denise Gray
Windsor Florists by Anne Crawford
Silver Distinction
Starz Floral Stylists on the North Shore
Retail Garden-School Exhibit
Gold
Okaihau Primary School in central Bay of Islands, Northland
Silver
Fruitvale Primary School in Waitakere
National Flower Bed Competition
Gold
Christchurch City Council
Garden Art
Silver
Artfully Yours
Garry Dunn
Mosaica
Manukau Beautification Garden Art
Gold
Beachlands School Big Bus Collection, Monarch Caterpillar (entry No.10)
Beachlands School Mosaics Collection, Monarch Lifecycle (entry No.1)
Silver
Kedley Intermediate, Ceremonial poles (entry No.2)
- NZ HERALD STAFF
