The South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show Spreads Its Wings

Added: 15.09.2006

Six hectares of land on the Lourensford Estate in Somerset West have been cleared to create a new site for the South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show 2006 which takes place from Thursday October 26 to Sunday October 29.

Following the success of last year's event which attracted more than 24 000 visitors over four days, the organizers, with the support of South African Airways, have promised a bigger and brighter show this year with parking for an additional 600 vehicles.

Six hectares of fruit orchards, have been cleared to make way for the flower show and its catering and entertainment elements. The new site is double the size of last year's site and designed specifically to the show's requirements. Existing old pin oaks and poplar and plum trees will be retained to create a natural four-sided border to the site with the balance used for parking.

"We are very excited about this expansion, which will obviate the need for a shuttle service," said Paul Jackson one of the show's directors. "Visitors will now be able to walk from their parked cars directly to the showgrounds."

In a celebration of gardens, exhibition manager David Davidson is inviting members of the public, horticultural societies, garden and flower clubs, and commercial growers and retailers to exhibit fresh flower displays, new and unusual plants for the house and garden, wild flower specimens, as well as displays of fruit and vegetables. By growing this element of the show the South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show hope to provide visitors with a profusion of colour.

Following her visit to last year's event, international gardening journalist Ursula Buchan observed that it was the fusion of human interest and influences that ultimately would determine the uniqueness of an emerging South African gardening style.

"Last year there were 38 outdoor show gardens with a rich variety, reflecting the multifarious origins and standpoints of the Rainbow Nation: European influenced gardens vied for attention with those using purely African plants, artefact and materials," wrote Buchan in the UK's Telegraph newspaper.

This year, Feature Gardens will again form one of the prime attractions to the show, with luminaries and novices of the garden design world creating inspiring gardens that mirror the changing enthusiasms of gardeners to the present day and even into the future.

In order to improve the overall quality of show gardens, design concepts and plans will be required from all garden exhibitors this year. The organisers are confident that this should dramatically improve the quality of exhibits and they will be offering professional assistance to first time or less experienced exhibitors.

"The main ethos of the South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show is to entertain and inspire a love of gardening in people and a pride in themselves as South African gardeners, by nurturing and cultivating a relationship with gardening that integrates the dynamic influences and values of changing lifestyles," said David Davidson, technical manager of the event. "It is my intention to create for the flower show, an extravaganza of colour, design form and entertainment, focussed on horticulture, garden design and construction, art, gardening products and to include fine cuisine and other lifestyle choices."

The line-up of speakers for the popular lecture series aimed at stimulating fresh ideas and providing inspiration and sound advice, will be extended to include demonstrations by well-known authors of cook books who will give advice on the growing, preparation and serving of great and innovative food.

The many and varied exhibits combined with great food and entertainment, will ensure that the South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show 2006 will provide an entertaining days outing for the whole family.

The South African Airways Cape Town Flower Show will be open daily from 10am until 7pm with an entrance fee of R40 for adults, while children under 12 enter free. Senior citizens will pay R25 on presentation of a pensioner's card. Tickets are already on sale at Computicket and will be available at the gate. Secure, free parking will be available all day.

To book flights to Cape Town visit www.flysaa.com.

For general enquiries contact the Cape Town Flower Show office on (021) 422 0390 or visit www.capetownflower.com

FOR FURTHER INFO
Pam Bowling
(021) 424 9779 082 370 4774
pam@capetownflower.com

FOR COMMENT
Paul Jackson
(021) 422 0390
paul@capetownflower.com