Barbados and Grenada, who have both mastered the delicate art of transporting and preserving beautiful flowers and foliage from the Caribbean to London for display, showcased in the Great Pavilion at the 2016 RHS Chelsea Show, and both won a gold award for their elegantly crafted floral artistry. Barbados represented by the Barbados Horticultural Society have exhibited at this most prestigious flower show for 28 consecutive years and have 18 Gold Medals, 10 Silver-Gilt Medals, and 1 Silver Meal. Grenada who has also exhibited consecutively for 18 years and have won a prize at each event including 12 Gold Medals. Below is an over of each of their floral display from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
BARBADOS
Gold Medal: 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Great Pavilion Award
Theme: With Barbados celebrating 50 years as an independent nation this year, their floral display titled This Place Barbados was designed to depict the 11 Parishes across the island as well as showcase major attractions. Some of the major Barbados attractions represented in the floral display included colourful Bridgetown Market, Oistins fishing village, St Lucy’s Parish where most of the sugar cane used to produce Mount Gay Rum is grown, Harrisons Cave along with some of the lush botanical gardens including Orchid World, Andromeda, Flower Forest and Hunte’s Gardens.
2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show: This Place Barbados. Photo Credit: ©Ursula Petula Barzey.
GRENADA
Gold Medal: 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Great Pavilion Award
Theme: Lead by Grenadian-based designer Catherine John, the floral display titled Three Enchanting Islands – Pure Grenada showcased the diversity of vegetation and crops grown and found across Grenada and Sister Isles Carriacou and Petite Martinique. With each boasting beautiful landscapes, there was also a representation of the islands beautiful beaches and coastline which is of vital importance.
2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Pure Grenada – Three Enchanting Islands. Photo Credit: ©Ursula Petula Barzey.
With their continued success (last year both also won gold), Barbados and Grenada will no doubt be back to RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year as it is a fantastic way to promote each Caribbean destination along with their botanical gardens which are popular with visitors. Barbados will also be excited for 2017 as beyond participating in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, they are also hosting the 12th World Flower Show next June 18-25. Held every three years, this is the first time this global event with at least 1,500 delegates from 30 countries will be held in the Caribbean. The event titled Flowers in Paradise will be an excellent opportunity to further showcase tropical blooms from Barbados and other destinations in the Caribbean including Grenada.
