Pacific Horizons 2012
The email had me at “Aloha”!
Of course I would jump (fly!) at the invitation to judge the Garden Club of
Honolulu’s GCA Major Flower Show: Pacific Horizons 2012. The first flower show in Hawaii was
held over 80 years ago in 1931….what a different place it must have been.
Echoes of Rainbows was the show's lyrical, thoughtful theme and celebrated the “magical
phenomenon” of rainbows for which these beautiful islands are renowned. Did you know that the islands enjoy
eleven of the thirteen climate zones in the world??
The show is held in, and
benefits, the Honolulu Academy of Arts which houses two museums, an art school,
theater, plus shops and cafes and has long been a cultural center in
Honolulu. In keeping with the
rainbows theme, GCL members made these whimsical Chihuly-like hanging
sculptures out of hundreds of recycled plastic bottles (Recylocium plasticae 'Landfiller' - a highly invasive species) augmented with swirling
paint, which were hung in the museum’s main entrance, awaiting the evening’s preview party.
The
sprawling buildings and courtyards are the setting for the the show, allowing
the enthusiastic crowds ample room to see the exhibits. On each of the four days, well over a
thousand people, from grandmothers to babies in strollers, come to see the
beauty and learn from the exhibits at this island tradition. Photography exhibits were
ranged around three sides of this courtyard.
The floral design classes
were staged in a building reserved for visiting exhibits. Seven classes with titles as “Rainbows
and Shadows”, “Illumination” and
“Double Rainbow” (above) inspired creative and imaginative entries.
“Water” called for an
underwater design. First and Best In Show was awarded to this entry using double parabola-like
containers which created fascinating distorted patterns of the anthuriums as
you walked past the pedestal.
The coveted GCA Fenwick Medal
went to this entry in “Spectrum” in which the exhibitor chose “a color of the
rainbow”. These exhibitors
polished lots of date palm fruits from their gardens in order to select these
perfect ones.
The schedule read: “ Prism: A
hanging design suspended from a cable 96” from the floor, viewed from all
sides, nothing may touch the floor”. Not a class for the faint-hearted. This bold design with a plexiglass
triangle and horizontal lei-like band of exquisite form, color and texture,
with even some miniscule lights woven in won the class. Master designers
calculated just the perfect distance from the floor which created a dynamic
tension in the design.
The Novice class, “Rain
Shower” showcased the burgeoning talent in the GCH. This first place design took full advantage of the wealth of
Hawaii’s flowers and foliage. Below is the winner in the Judges' Challenge class. Exhibitors were supplied with all the same materials in this class.
How does the horticulture
compete with a museum courtyard like this?
The excellence of this
Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Davillia (I know
not which one), propagated by the exhibitor, won the prestigious GCA Louise
Wrinkle Award for Horticulture. It
is an epiphyte and the ‘cage-like’ structure you see are its’ roots.
A class called “Gatherings”
called for an arrangement composed from the exhibitor’s garden. Each entry also included a photograph
of the garden. Now for the garden-challenged
as I am, this is really taking it to the next level.
Conservation and Education
exhibit – “Colors of
Sustainability”: This thoughtful and
beautifully executed exhibit educates children through hands-on
experiences. Children wrote
promises to the environment and tied them on the bamboo poles (photo, extreme right) in the tradition of wishes at a temple. Colorful, inspirational and charming!!
“Work” done, there was a
beach house, a beach, lei-making lessons and lunch!
Mahalo, Garden Club of
Honolulu, it was fantastic!!
Cheers!
Good day wonderful, thank you this is a single sweet know and celebrate a joy that flowers beauty that shine o heart with joy.
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