Welcome
The 37th Sunday Tribune Garden & Leisure Show will again take place at the Royal Showgrounds, Pietermaritzburg, from 21 to 24 September 2012.
With over 24 000 visitors including 5 000 from out of province the show has evolved into a national event of consequence.
Often referred to as South Africa’s Chelsea, and certainly the largest horticultural event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere; the occasion again promises to exceed the expectations of participants and visitors alike.
The theme in 2011 is Circles.
With the emphasis being on inspirational show gardens, visitors are exposed to the latest landscaping techniques, innovative design features, and displays of indigenous and exotic plant material. The show also incorporates a garden equipment and accessories component.
The highlight of the show always centres around the magnificence of the 40 or so keynote gardens. These will include displays by the parks departments of Durban (EThekwini), Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi), Nelspruit (Mbombela), Pretoria (Tshwane), Bloemfontein (Mangaung), Cape Town, Kempton Park (Ekhuruleni), Krugersdorp (Mogale) and Kimberley (Sol Plaatje).
All designer gardens are subject to the scrutiny of the invited Chelsea Flower Show mentored judges, whose brief it is to adjudicate displays in accordance with the best of international criteria; this process being complemented with an invitation to the public to vote for their favourite garden.
Every effort is made to cater for the aspirations of all age and demographic groups. To this end and to harness the fresh and uncluttered skills of the youth whilst simultaneously instilling pride in one’s environment, the show caters for the young. In 2011 several schools, including a number from rural areas, will again participate by way of designer mini-gardens measuring 2m x 2m. Should this prove a little daunting, the Show will also include in excess of 100 (yes, one hundred) 50cm x 50cm tray gardens from schools across the province.
Also, for private gardeners who believe they have an element of talent without purporting to be technical experts there will be a separate section catering for such displays. These will be judged solely on the ‘wow’ factor with any display awarded a gold medallion receiving R1 000 prize.
Garden clubs and horticultural societies form an integral part of the show, with the annual pièce de résistance being the 600 sq. metre Hall of Orchids. Also and for the fourth successive year, the event will incorporate a substantial indigenous component; this to complement the presence of a large number of nurseries – certain with highly specialized plant material – affording the public an educational experience whilst simultaneously encouraging sales.
In addition to horticulture, the show has for much of its history hosted the Illovo Floral Cake Icing display and 2011 will be no exception. This is indisputably the largest and most prestigious expo of icing expertise in the country and in its own right is a major attraction.
Every day of the show, ‘Ready Steady Plant’ demonstrations under the watchful eye of Tanya Visser, editor of The Gardener, will take place. Although a light-hearted and fun-filled experience, the 20 minutes granted to the teams to design something meaningful is an inspirational eye-opener in its own right.
To complement a comprehensive display of product and services, Mayfords will be hosting In Tune with Nature, a one and a half hour light classical concert, arranged by Richard Cock with soloists from the KZN Opera School and Christopher Duigan on piano. This event will be compéred by Tanya Visser, the Editor of The Gardener and Die Tuinier and will take place on Saturday morning 1 October.
Only 45 minutes from greater Durban, and a leisurely four and a half hour drive from Gauteng, the show is conveniently located in KZN’s capital, just one kilometre from the N3 in the heart of the scenic midlands.
Visit www.royalshow.co.za for further information.
Issued by the Office of the CEO
Royal Agricultural Society of Natal
26 August 2011
