Inaugural NZFGS Best in Show announced

The debates have raged, the discussions have been passionate, some tough decisions were made and finally, New Zealand Flower & Garden Show announced the results from this year’s event. The Best in Show winners are:

• Best in Show: The Beekeepers Hobbit Hole, Hobbiton
• Horticultural Excellence: The Beekeepers Hobbit Hole, Hobbiton
• Construction Excellence: Urban Kitchen, Ben Freeman and Katie Costain, Billygoat Landscaping
• Design Excellence: Trouvaille: Something Lovely Discovered by Chance, Leon Kluge & Bayley LuuTomes
• Sustainability Award presented by RaboDirect: Hamlin Road Farm, Sarah Hewitt
• Special Feature: All Day I Dream in Gardens, Ben Hoyle
• Judges Special Commendation: Garden of Many Rooms, Jules Moore

Over the course of judging, 100 entries across six categories were evaluated on qualities such as command of space, use of design elements, use of materials and emotional impact.

Overall, 17 Gold, 16 Silver and 23 Bronze Medals were awarded, with six taking home the overall‘Best in Show’ award.
Convenor of judges Pascal Garbe said the quality of exhibitions was outstanding and there is no doubt designers were creating world-class exhibits.“It shows the excellence we’ve come to expect from exhibitors has not diminished, while relative newcomers have reached award-winning standards really reflects the growing talent in the New Zealand’s horticultural community.”

Kate Hillier, Event Director, New Zealand Flower & Garden Show says, “Our horticultural community is composed of some of the best in the world and the New Zealand Flower & Garden Show is proud to support it. Kiwis are becoming increasingly interested in gardening techniques and are highly receptive to new innovations. We look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year!”

NZFGS Gold Medals have been awarded to:

• Hanging Gardens, Leigh Nicholson
• Nature and Nurture, Christian Jenkins
• All Day I Dream in Gardens, Ben Hoyle
• The Beekeepers Hobbit Hole, Hobbiton
• Trouvaille: Something Lovely Discovered by Chance, Leon Kluge & Bayley LuuTomes
• LJ Hooker Austar Realty, Amy Anderson
• The Path to a New Zealand Life, The Auckland Bonsai Society
• Kari Ki Te Tepu, Dawson School
• Recycled Garden, Roscommon School
• Food Over Fear, Bellevue School
• Country School Hideout, Karaka School
• Funk Up My Junk, Buffie Mawhinney
• Hamlin Road Farm, Sarah Hewitt
• The Winslow Girls, Buffie Mawhinney
• Heritage Roses New Zealand, Olga Yuretich
• Bloom Wherever You Are Planted, Franca Logan, Florienne
• FLONZI, Robbie Williams

NZFGS Silver Medals have been awarded to:

• The Expected Journey, Adam Shuter & Department of Corrections
• Urban Kitchen, Ben Freeman and Katie Costain, Billygoat Landscaping
• Gateway to the West, Dan Rutherford
• Garden of Many Rooms, Jules Moore
• Gardenia, Anna MacCormack, Gardenia
• Back in Time, Rhode Street School
• Sunrise Organics, Kerron Windybank
• Curiosity, Camila Placido
• The Children’s Gardens, Te Kari A Nga Tamariki, Dawson School
• Kiwi Can Do, Spark PR & Activate
• Kyle Mackenzie
• Waitakere Orchid Society
• Celebrate, Raewyn Thomas
• Windsor Florist, Ann Crawford
• Fresh Flowers, Timandra Houltram
• Centrepiece, Lesley Rennie

NZFGS Bronze Medals have been awarded to:

• Eleganza Sofisticata, Outlook Landscapes
• Nestled In: Awash with Nature, Liz Beale
• A Peaceful Resting Place, Nigel Cameron
• Wild Exposure, Garry Beherssing and Vanessa Hedges
• A Moment of Happiness, Treeline Designz
• The Balcony Kitchen Garden, Justice Bellamy
• Wild Tussock, Tom
• Tiri’s Treasured Taniwha, Tiromoana School
• Contraction Leftovers to Planters, Zara Hill
• Neeve Woodward
• Cavalier Bremworth,
• Woodside Community Garden, Nicole Te Wake
• Ranui Community Garden
• My Backyard Garden Project
• West Auckland Gardens, Diane Griffin
• Suva Orchid & Horticultural Circle, Pravina Rae
• Maten Floral Design, Nancy Ma
• Floral Fusion, Milyanda-Jane Sterling
• Fox & Fancy Florist, Kelee Zammit
• Windsor Florist, Ana Caqeta
• Eastridge Flowers, Lily Garrad
• NZMA, Gemma Kwon
• NZMA, Charisse Baker
• MIT, Diana Pan
• Office Hours Flowers, Melissa Peterson
• The Pacifika Connection