Grenada spices up Chelsea Flower Show

Grenada’s floral display of tropical blooms at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has won a coveted Gold Medal. The theme for this year’s winning exhibit, created by Suzanne Gaywood, was inspired by the nutmeg, cocoa and spice producing estates on the island and the activities centred around a ‘boucan’, the area where the spices are brought in for preserving, packing and dispatching.

Celebrity chef, Gary Rhodes joined Suzanne Gaywood to help to promote Grenada and his restaurant “Rhodes” at The Calabash Hotel on the island along with Peter de Savary, one of the sponsors of the exhibit and owner of Mount Cinnamon Hotel and Mount Edgecombe Plantation in Grenada.

An outstanding variety of colourful exotic blooms flown in by growers on the island attracted many celebrities including Sir Trevor McDonald, Catherine Jenkins, Susan Hampshire and Rolf Harris.

Commenting on her success, Suzanne Gaywood said: “We have organised the Grenada exhibit at Chelsea for the past 12-years and it is always a thrill to win a Gold Medal. I am delighted for the growers and the individual gardeners who every year select their best blooms to send to Chelsea and the hard working team in the UK who build the exhibit.”

Alison Cryer, Director, Grenada Board of Tourism, UK & Ireland said: “As the main sponsor, the Tourist Board is delighted that Suzanne and her team have won their seventh Gold Award. Being represented at the Chelsea Flower Show is an ideal opportunity to display the quality and beauty of the exotic blooms found in Grenada.”

Cryer continued: “We are planning to build on the interest created by exhibiting at Chelsea and the enthusiasm of the growers in Grenada by organising signature garden tours escorted by Suzanne later this year.”

The High Commissioner for Grenada, H.E. Ruth Elizabeth Rouse was also at Chelsea and commented: “Chelsea is the ultimate event in the gardening calendar and the exhibit created by Suzanne and her dedicated team, both here in the UK and the growers in Grenada, provides a true representation of the Isle of Spice.”

For more information on Grenada, visit Grenadagrenadines.com.