South Africa’s Chelsea-winning fynbos exhibit opens in Stanford
The Life After Fire fynbos display, which won gold and Best Exhibit at Chelsea, is open in Stanford until 27 September.
South Africa's award-winning Chelsea Flower Show exhibit has been recreated in the Western Cape town of Stanford, giving local visitors a chance to see the display that won international honours in London.
The exhibit, titled Life After Fire, opened at Stanford in Bloom on Saturday and will run until 27 September.
Designed by South African landscape designer Leon Kluge, the display explores the way fynbos regenerates after fire. It brings together indigenous plants and charred natural materials to show how fire forms part of the Cape floral kingdom's ecological cycle.
The South African entry won a gold medal and was named Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.
Its Stanford recreation places the plants in a local setting and allows visitors to view the work without travelling abroad. Organisers say the display is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
Stanford in Bloom is a ticketed event. According to the organisers, profits will support the Grootbos Foundation, which runs conservation, education and community programmes in the Overberg.
The exhibition also gives local growers and conservation groups an opportunity to focus attention on the diversity of fynbos and the pressures facing the Cape Floral Region.
Visitors should check the Stanford in Bloom website for current ticket information and access arrangements before travelling.