- Contributed photos
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (right) being taken on tour of the Jamaica Horticultural Society's stand by Anne Ramsay, co-ordinator of the booth. Below, Jamaica Horticultural Society's display at the Chelsea 2003 show.
JAMAICAN SPECIES of flowers are all the rage in the United Kingdom these days as attendees are still raving about the wonderful display of the Jamaican Horticultural Society (JHS) at the recent Chelsea Flower Show 2003.
Around the theme "From the Mountain to the Shore", the JHS team created a Jamaican scene using favourites like Alpina Burpurata (red and pink gingers), orchids, heliconias, anthuriums and lush foliage including dracaena, palms and philodendroms. These represented the hillsides and mountains.
The centre-piece featured a waterfall surrounded by growing ferns and monsterra leaves.
But, perhaps the two most talked-about features were the cascade of brilliant Agapanthus (blue lilies) and the bunches of blighia sapida (ackee) tied as they are displayed in the fruit stalls across Jamaica.
The display evoked positive responses from visitors "exquisite design", "wonderful memories of a happy holiday in Jamaica."
Among the celebrated visitors to the JHS display were Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who made an unscheduled call at the exhibit stand.
Her stops are usually pre-arranged and rotated each year but, allowing some flexibility whenever she sees an interesting display and wishes to stop.
Well, the JHS display clearly fell in this category and she and the Duke of Edinburgh particularly admired the white dendrobium orchids and "magnificent" (her words) Agapanthus.
The Royal couple were greeted by the JHS team, Blossom Hakansion, Gloria Bethelmey, Cecile Tobisch, Juanita Feurtado, Stephen Jones and Anne Ramsay Coordinator.
Pearl Wright and Patrick Waldemar were consultants on this year's design.
The JHS display was facilitated by the Jamaican High Commissioner, the Jamaica Tourist Board London, Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Producers Group, Scotia Bank Jamaica, Jamaica National Building Society, Arms and Ammo, Coke & Associates/Eckled, Partners VMBS-London, the Women's Club and Mr. Owen McFarlane, a Jamaican living in London and Matthew McCarthy of the Jamaica Tourist Board.
Other visitors to the JHS stand included: staff of the Jamaican High Commission including Deputy High Commissioner Audley Rodriques; Trevor Taylor of VMBS London and his wife; Her Excellency Bee Applebaum, South African High Commissioner; Her Excellency Ruth Rouse, High Commissioner of Grenada and scores of Jamaicans living abroad.
The Chelsea Flower Show is visited annually by approximately 200,000 persons and provides an extensive platform from which to showcase the variety and beauty of Jamaica's horticulture.
