Those with green fingers will perk up at the news that Gold award-winning Ellerslie International Flower Show garden designer Carl Pickens will be calling on the Christchurch community to help create his exhibition garden for next year’s show.

Based around principles of sustainability and conservation of resources epitomised in his 2009 garden “Take Five”, next year’s garden is still under wraps until next month, when Carl will be calling for help from the Christchurch community.

“Next year’s garden will be more interactive. I want visitors to Ellerslie to feel uplifted and inspired when they visit the garden. I will be asking people an important question and incorporating the answers within the garden. I want everyone to start thinking about sustainability,” says Carl.

The garden will be built from untreated, sustainably grown timbers, recycled materials and feature some rare and threatened native plants.

The Ellerslie Flower Show will be held in Hagley Park from 10-14 March 2010. For more information, go to www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz