A trip from Greyton to Stanford offered the wonderful opportunity to experience Life After Fire, the extraordinary botanical display first created for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Designed by Leon Kluge and presented as The Flora of South Africa, the exhibit received both a Gold Medal and the prestigious award for Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion—a remarkable achievement for the South African team. RHS Chelsea Flower Show Awards
Inspired by the widespread wildfires of the Cape, the display explores the remarkable relationship between fire and fynbos. Although fire can be devastating, it is also a crucial part of this unique ecosystem. It resets the fynbos “successional clock”, releasing seeds, stimulating bulbs and encouraging an extraordinary variety of plants to flower. Fynbos landscapes generally need to burn at appropriate intervals—often around every 10 to 15 years—to remain healthy and diverse.
A fascinating talk by Leon Kluge brought the Chelsea adventure vividly to life. He shared stories of the team’s experience creating the exhibit in London, from transporting and sourcing plants to dealing with unexpected challenges—including spiders, strict controls and a shortage of suitable proteas. His account revealed the imagination, determination and teamwork behind the award-winning display.
It was a truly memorable day out and an exhibition not to be missed. To book: Chelsea Flowers in Stanford
Closer to home, we need only look around Greyton to see the same inspiring story unfolding. Following the fires of the past year or two, our landscape is alive with an astonishing array of spring flowers. Everywhere, fresh colour and new growth remind us of nature’s resilience.
We really do have a beautiful Greyton in Bloom happening all around us.
