By EMMA SUN
TWO hills green thumbs who became the first Aussies to take out a prestigious award at the Chelsea Flower Show say they are “still on cloud nine” about the win.
Show stalwart Wes Fleming from Fleming’s Nurseries in Monbulk finished his ninth show entry with a bang, with the help of Olinda sustainable landscaper Phillip Johnson of Phillip Johnson Landscapes and a dedicated team of 18 volunteers to receive the ‘Best in Show’ medal.
The group made history around the world when Mr Johnson opened the golden envelope last week – and the fact the group won by unanimous vote only added to the euphoria.
Mr Fleming said they were still over the moon about their achievement, at a show which is considered to be the Olympics of the horticulture world.
“It’s hard to believe that after almost a decade of presenting show gardens on the world stage we’ve finally pulled off a Best in Show medal,” he said.
“It’s the Oscars of the gardening world, so we just couldn’t be happier.”
There was no doubt this year’s award was the icing on the cake for Mr Fleming, who boasts four gold medals and four silver-gilt medals from previous years.
It was the perfect send-off.
“To be awarded a gold medal at Chelsea is a major honour in itself, so to then be given the very exclusive and prestigious ‘Best in Show’ is extremely humbling and euphoric at the same time,” he said.
“To have also received the first ever completely unanimous decision by the judges in the show’s 100-year history – well that takes it to another level.
“I’m proud to be a horticulturalist but moreover thrilled that this accolade comes in our final year – there could not have been a better way to farewell this amazing nine-year journey.”
Mr Johnson described it as an absolute dream come true.
“Winning an award among contemporaries of this calibre is absolutely mind-blowing,” he said.
“We couldn’t be more proud of what we have achieved, it’s been an incredible experience.
“We came here with a very ambitious vision – to showcase Australia, our horticultural industry and to educate the world on the possibilities of sustainable landscape design.
“This presented challenges from the other side of the world, but we knew we only had one chance to make the impact necessary to educate, and that’s what we have done.”
This year’s Trailfinders ‘Australian Garden’ presented by Fleming’s Nurseries is a sustainable habitat complete with a monolithic stone gorge, running waterfalls, a studio structure and billabong.
Renowned for his approach to sustainable landscape and garden design, Mr Johnson’s design is maintained by an integrated water management system which is independent from mains water and reduces the impact on the stormwater infrastructure by retaining and recycling stormwater run-off.
A three metre-cubed home ‘studio’ structure, designed by Melbourne-based architecture firm, Studio 505, was a key feature in the garden’s design and had been crafted specifically for the Queen’s height.
The finished design took a total of 17 days and more than 2,500 man-hours to build, transforming what once resembled a bare soccer pitch into a sustainable garden retreat.
The team used 38 tonnes of tools, equipment, materials and plants sourced both locally and abroad, which Mr Fleming credited as the foundation of the team’s success.
For more information visit www.flemings.com.au/chelsea2013
