The Barbados Horticultural Society claims its 24th Gold as tropical splendour meets Diamond Jubilee pride on the world’s most famous gardening stage.
Once again, the colours of Barbados have blazed across the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The Barbados Horticultural Society (BHS) has won yet another Gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show – its 24th Gold in the society’s proud history of competition.
The BHS dazzled judges and visitors alike with an exhibit that was as much a patriotic statement as it was a work of horticultural art.
🌺 On the Road to 60
The exhibit, titled “On the Road to 60,” is a tribute to Barbados’ Diamond Jubilee – the island nation’s 60th anniversary of Independence, to be celebrated later this year. (Read about the year-long celebrations.)
At its heart stands a faithful replica of the iconic Independence Arch, the landmark that graces our capital city of Bridgetown, here transformed into a cascade of tropical glory.
The Inspirational Arch
Bedecked with flowers and foliage flown direct from the island, the arch was a living, breathing celebration of everything that makes Barbadian flora so extraordinary.
Lush anthuriums, flaming ginger lilies, dramatic heliconia and sweeping ferns intertwined to evoke the lush vibrancy of home – bringing a piece of the Caribbean to the heart of London.
🥇 A legacy written in Gold
This Gold medal is no flash of fortune, in fact it is the latest chapter in a story of sustained excellence that has unfolded over decades. Year after year, members of the BHS make the journey to Chelsea, armed with the island’s finest blooms and an unfailing passion for floral design. The results speak for themselves.
| 24 GOLD MEDALS | 12 SILVER GILT MEDALS | 1 SILVER MEDAL |
This tally – 24 Gold, 12 Silver-Gilt and 1 Silver – is the kind of record that would be remarkable for any nation, let alone a small island of just 166 square miles. It is a testament not only to the extraordinary natural beauty of Barbados’ flora, but to the skill, creativity and relentless dedication of the society’s members.
👊🏾 Punching above its weight
There is a phrase that Barbadians know well: punching above your weight. It is what this island has always done – on the cricket pitch, on the world stage of diplomacy, in culture, in sport, and now, season after season, in the great pavilions and show gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society.
As a Small Island Developing State, Barbados competes at Chelsea not with the resources of large botanical institutions or national horticultural bodies backed by vast budgets, but with something arguably more powerful: an unshakeable belief that the beauty of our island, and the talent of our people, can stand proudly alongside the very best the world has to offer.
The Gold medal confirmed once more that we absolutely can.
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