It is with great admiration (and a little bit of envy), that I recently heard about two eFlorist users who are heading off to compete at Chelsea Flower Show 2010 for the first time!
Kate Bainbridge, owner of Simply Flowers in Devon and Caroline Crabb of Fleurtations in Cornwall are both extremely excited and madly preparing for this high profile week.
Like me, you probably have no idea how a florist gets to compete at Chelsea but as Kate says “The BFA hold heats on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society. After much persuasion from friends and Gordon Jones (eFlorist Area Sales Manager), I entered the Bath heat!" For Caroline, it was off to the Plymouth heat.Caroline hadn’t done any competition work for a long time and in her own words “was a little weary of showing myself up!”
So both set off to their heats with a constructed “sympathy tribute suitable for a keen gardener.” Kate, still convinced that she wouldn’t get anywhere at this point! As Kate says “There were some stunning entries, but to my shock and amazement I was placed first! All I now had to do was post off my entry to the RHS and wait......”
For Caroline it was disappointment but relief when she came second. Caroline got the biggest shock when “in March I got the biggest surprise when the BFA called me to say that one of the competitors was unable to attend and I had the next highest score in the country and the place at Chelsea was mine!”
Kate and Caroline now have their brief for Chelsea “A Fantasy Parasol” so both are excitedly planning their designs for the great event and madly doing practise runs whilst still running their shops. “I haven’t stopped smiling since I found out, but the butterflies in my stomach have now taken over. I am thrilled at getting this far, and gaining this kind of recognition is simply amazing and I can’t wait to put all my efforts into Chelsea” says Caroline.
For Kate, “It’s such an honour to get this far, totally nerve wracking but exciting as well! I am also trying to secure sponsors to help with the costs involved. I share the stress and chat a lot with fellow entree Caroline”.
On the Sunday prior to Chelsea, Kate and Caroline have between 4pm and 9.30pm to setup their design. The judging takes places on the Monday followed by a private royal visit at 5pm. The awards are put in place on Tuesday and Kate and Caroline will have between 6am and 7am to make sure their entry looks its best before Chelsea is open to visitors. By 9.30pm on Wednesday they have to remove their entry.
For Kate and Caroline time is flying by and with Chelsea week (May 24th – 29th) looming, I am sure you will join me in wishing them the best of luck! We will be following them to Chelsea to see how they get on with lots of pictures and a follow-up article on the delights of competing at Chelsea! So, if you are at Chelsea on the Tuesday or Wednesday go and have a look!
