The Christchurch Botanic Gardens has won the Judges Supreme Award at this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show with a garden of fungi, mould and lichen.

The Convenor of Judges Robert Hillier of England says the exhibit is a real show-stopper.

“The Botanic Gardens exhibit is simply outstanding. They have kept the garden very focused and not over complicated it – the public will be blown away by it.”

Life and Death is a display of the plant kingdom in light, sound, movement and texture, bringing together elements of sensory inspiration. Using plant materials associated with natural decay, the garden demonstrates nature’s ability to reuse and recycle.

Hillier says the message is strong and it is a very clever garden: “The garden has an enormous wow factor”.

“They have a good message to give and get it across well.”

In the Starlight Marquee, Life and Death is about challenging Ellerslie visitors to think about the planet and taking care of the environment.

The Judges said it was a “stunning garden taking the viewer into the underworld of root system, fungi and decomposing organisms using a captivating display of lighting and sound effects to enliven this other world in an extraordinary fashion.”

The garden also won Gold and a Gold Lighting Award.

Find out more at www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz