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Mpumalanga treated to Chelsea Flower Show

Horticulturist Leon Kluge
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Mpumalanga residents and nature lovers have been treated to the mini Chelsea flower award winning display. It celebrates South Africa’s fauna and flora.

Horticulturist Leon Kluge’s Mountains of Abundance is currently on show at Lowveld Botanical Garden in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

Diverse flora; from proteas, arums, restio to fynbos, all arrayed on a wild mountain slope depicting Table and Magaliesburg Mountains with a cascading waterfall mixed with colourful Ndebele hats. This is just a miniature display of what Lean Kluge displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. Kluge says our mountains are full of indigenous plants.

“Our mountains are full of plants, full of indigenous plants. We have more plants in these mountains then the whole of the UK have and want to portray that because these flowers are used globally in garden centres, but no one knows where they come from. In order to get more people to South Africa floral tourism, showcasing them this is where they come from.”

With a keen affinity for plants, Kluge won his 37th gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. He says that this is a proud moment for South Africa.

“It’s a very proud moment for all of us as South Africa because they is a very few gold awards at that show.”

Flower enthusiasts were dazzled by the colourful mix of flowers.

“It’s an opportunity for the local people to see what went on at Chelsea. If you involve in horticulture plants, Chelsea is the crown.”

Communications Manager of the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, Mandisa Ndlovu, says she hopes this attracts  more visitors.

“We are trying to give locals a chance to see what happens in other place like the Chelsea flower show. This is just one of activities that we are going to have as a garden as we turn 50 this year.”

The exhibition will bloom until the end of June.

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