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Chelsea Flower Show gold-winning clematis on sale this Sunday

GOLD medal-winning clematis grown for the Chelsea Flower Show will be available to buy this Sunday, as the Guernsey Clematis team joins with volunteers from the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden to host their annual post-flower show sale.

Guernsey Clematis is holding a sale this weekend at its base in Route Militaire with help from volunteers at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden which will benefit from some of the cash raised. Left to right, Chris Ozanne of Guernsey Clematis, Cathy Morgan from Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden and Nati Gleeson from Guernsey Clematis. 		 (Picture by Peter Frankland, 34818829)
Guernsey Clematis is holding a sale this weekend at its base in Route Militaire with help from volunteers at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden which will benefit from some of the cash raised. Left to right, Chris Ozanne of Guernsey Clematis, Cathy Morgan from Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden and Nati Gleeson from Guernsey Clematis. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 34818829) / Guernsey Press

The sale allows islanders to purchase the award-winning flowers at a discount after the busy growing period prepping for the show.

‘We’ve won 36 gold medals at Chelsea,’ said prolific clematis cultivator Chris Ozanne, who has been growing the plants for 32 years, following in a similar path to his traditional tomato-growing family.

The process starts in July in the previous year – a lot of work goes into them.’

The plants are specially cultivated to try and ensure that they bloom on the day of the flower show, with an extensive regimen of cooling and warming the plants for periods of time to ensure they grow at the desired rate.

‘It’s hard work – everything has to be perfect,’ said Nati Gleeson, who has worked at the Guernsey Clematis Vinery for 27 years.

‘It’s so fantastic to watch the plants growing and blooming though, and it’s a pleasure to achieve at the shows.’

The sale is set to take place from 9am until 1pm this Sunday at the Guernsey Clematis Vinery, Route Militaire.

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