Local Clematis exhibition ‘a blooming marvellous idea’
IT was a blooming marvellous idea to exhibit the Chelsea Flower Show display here in Guernsey, according to islanders who visited Raymond Evison’s nursery seashore themed clematises yesterday.
The two-day exhibit went so well and so many of the flowers meant for the grand show in London were sold that it also meant the flowers in the actual display went up for sale too, raising several thousands of pounds.
Julie Vidamour had come to see the display with her family and said it was beautiful.
‘It’s a really lovely display and nice to be able to see it here in Guernsey,’ she said.
‘We haven’t been to the Chelsea Flower Show itself, we’ve been to Hampton Court, which has a garden festival, but it’s definitely made us want to go in the future.’
She even bought a couple of the plants, including the Elodi.
Mr Evison himself had been due to travel over to London with 2,500 of the clematis, the flower with which he has won gold 30 times and although the coronavirus put paid to him adding another to his collection this year, he said it had been a wonderful and successful day to be able to present over 1,500 of them here in the island instead.
‘People have really enjoyed coming along and it’s been really nice to see everyone out,’ he said.
‘Many have even said it’s one of the good things that has come out of all this to have the Chelsea Flower Show cancelled so that they were able to see them here in Guernsey as many would not get the chance otherwise.
‘We’ve also raised several thousands of pounds for charity too and that’s great news.’
The two charities to benefit, The Queen’s Nurses and the Guernsey Botanical Trust at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden in Saumarez Park, were there on both days over the weekend, with The Queen’s Nurses’ Ellie Phillips stating they had all had a good time.
‘It’s been really busy and such nice weather for it too,’ she said.
‘It just so happened that this was put on at the same time as phase four began meaning that people really wanted to come out and enjoy some normality.
‘Everybody has been really happy and we’ve managed to raise so much.’