Blooming beautiful, Jenkins wins IN BRIEF international garden awards

NO STRANGER to flower and garden shows, Christian Jenkins from Christian Jenkins Landscape Design has taken his renowned and innovative style to the New Zealand Flower and Garden Show (NZFGS) and walked away victorious.

For the second year in a row Mr Jenkins flew to New Zealand for the floral and horticultural spectacular; held over five days (November 28-December 2) at West Auckland’s The Trust Arena and had nine days to construct an outdoor garden space.

“Last year was my first time doing an international garden show and we got a gold medal. I know the lady who runs the program, and New Zealand is only four hours away, so I went,” Mr Jenkins said.

“For people that don’t know about garden shows, you’ve got to produce a garden (10m x 10m) or 15m x 15m if you’re crazy enough.

“There’s four criteria the judges look at, your design, plant life, how well it has been constructed and how unique and innovative the design itself is.”

Mr Jenkins’ entry from the 2017 show was used on this year’s brochure while his 2018 entry ‘Lost and Found’ won a gold medal, an Excellence in Horticulture Award as well as an Excellence in Design Award.

“The feedback I received from the judges was excellent, they said it was some of the best planting they’ve ever seen at a flower show.

“He said it was as good as you would see at Hampton Court (The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in the UK) which is fantastic feedback.”

He said this year was easier having done a research trip in 2017 and another one in September to liaise with his sponsors, furniture and plant supplier.

“Last year was so daunting, I didn’t know what I was up against or where to get everything from. This year I flew over again for the weekend and quickly caught up with everyone.

“The nursery grower who sponsored me had imported Australian grass and bottle trees (which I used in my entry) about eight years ago, so the general public had never seen those plants before.

That’s why I scored so highly on the horticultural plant selection.”

Mr Jenkins flew over his fellow worker, Jan Juc local and “super foreman” Trent Taylor who came over for six days to help build and construct the garden.

“Other contestants had 21 days as they were local, but we only had nine. Out of 26 entrants there were three gold medals awarded and we were one of them.

“This year was quite special, it made me walk away, after winning those awards and the feedback from the judges and feel really proud.

“I’ve done so many Melbourne flower shows, and I get a hard time, it’s so political but in New Zealand they like that I am who I am.

“They like what I am and what I do and my point of difference, the thing at the Melbourne shows is they don’t like it too different whereas I’m always trying to push the boundaries.”

Mr Jenkins said his focus is now firmly on getting accepted into the 2020 Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) and hopes his most recent awards help him achieve that.

To see Mr Jenkins’ online portfolio and entries to various garden shows see christianjenkins.com.au.