23
May
A Harrogate florist has been awarded its third gold medal at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.
Helen James Flowers, based on Station Parade, received the accolade for the RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year category.
It is the fifth year the company has been invited to compete at the show.
Laura Pannitt, daughter of owner Helen James, created the design and represented the business at the show.
She told the Stray Ferret:
Ms James said her daughter was one of just 10 lucky florists selected to compete in the category.
Helen James Flowers' display at Chelsea Flower Show.
The category brief was ‘colour’, Ms Pannitt said, adding she felt inspired to create something “bold” and “energetic”.
She said:
The display, which had to sit on a 40cm x 40xcm plinth, featured a range of fresh flowers, including gloriosa, knipofia, scabious, clematis, dahlias and more.
The base structure took around a week to build, Ms Panitt said, adding the flower arrangement then took another 7 hours to put together.
She added:
Helen and Laura are only the second mother-daughter team to win gold medals at the show, Ms James said.
Helen James Flowers also struck gold at the show in 2019 and 2023. It was awarded a silver gilt medal in 2022.
The floristry firm was also named RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year in 2019.
Lara Thorpe of London-based Wild at Heart Flowers won the RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year award this year.
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