Episode: New Zealand Ellerslie International Flower Show

Presenter: Neville Passmore

The 100% pure New Zealand Garden by Xanthe White was transported and set up in just the same form in London?s Chelsea Flower show in 2006, where it created an absolute sensation.

Over 1500 plants were shipped to London for the display and many were on show for the first time in the U.K. such as the rare Rock Daisy (Pachystegia rufa) and the charming Oioi or Wiwi (Apodasmia similis).

The garden has now come home and been replicated at the Ellerslie Show. There is a journey of a different sort going on with the garden and it is represented by the symbolic flow of water. Off the mountains, over cliffs, into ponds, down rivers, into lakes, over waterfalls and then down through streams to the ocean.

In the mountains you see the Silver Fern or Ponga Fern (Cyathea dealbata), New Zealand?s floral emblem. The image is also captured in the garden in shimmering metal, created by one of the countries foremost sculptures, Virginia King. The two other pieces in the landscape represent a leaf and Limpet shell.

Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), New Zealand?s world famous Christmas tree, is just a few weeks away from putting on its fire storm of summer colour. There is actually a second colour story, a more subtle one. The older foliage, just before it drops, turns the most dazzling colours of orange and red.

As you move down the slope a whole new palette of plant is revealed. Chatam Islands Forget-Me-Not (Myosotidium hortensia) have lush green leaves that make a year round show, even without the enormous seasonal blue flower spikes.

Down at the beach, the rippling, black sand has been recreated on rubber tiles made from recycled car tyres and have been coated in the heavy, metal sands of the region.

One of the standout elements of the garden are the magnificent cast glass water features. The entire garden was created by Xanthe White, New Zealand?s most celebrated garden designer and it reflects her childhood enjoyment of the wild, black west coast beaches.

Xanthe?s garden won the coveted silver-gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower show in London; a stunning achievement.

Xanthe White Design

Email: xanthe@xanthewhitedesign.co.nz

100% Pure New Zealand

Website: www.newzealand.com

Virginia King

Website: www.virginiakingsculptor.com