September 22nd 2021
This year’s unique autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show has seen first time designers Peter Chmiel and Chin-Jung Chen be awarded Best in Show for their Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden.
The garden received a Gold medal for its design inspired by a philosophy of reconnecting people and nature and highlights the benefits of responsible city planning.
Designers Peter Chmiel and Chin-Jung Chen said: “This is our first time at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and we are absolutely thrilled to have received a Gold Medal, but then to have the super surprise of winning Best in Show, we are so delighted. It’s been a wonderful experience. Thank you to Guangzhou Government for giving us this opportunity to represent the city.”
About the award-winning garden, James Alexander-Sinclair, RHS Chair of Judges said:
“The Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden is a garden that has real heart and soul to it. The combination of tall airy spaces, babbling waters and layers of cool green plantings cannot fail but to soothe even the most harried soul.”
In other awards, Plant of the Year was awarded to Cercis canadensis Eternal Flame ('Nc2016-2') which was up against a shortlist of 18 plants. The unique colouring of the plant is new and changes throughout the growing season with new growth emerging deep red and then turning to burnt orange and golden yellow as the leaves mature.
The full awards list and more is available on the RHS website here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/shows/press-tent
Source: RHS Press Release