In June 2019, Leon Kluge, was honoured by the South Africa Landscape Institute (SALI) with the 2019 National Chairperson’s Discretionary Award, presented at the SALI Awards of Excellence … by SALI National President, Norah de Wet.
This November, Kluge will be heading up the gardens at the Jhb International Flower Show at Waterfall City, 30 October – 3 November, 2019.
Kluge grew up a horticultural family and studied landscape design in Israel before working in the Comoros Islands. With experience in Israel and the Comores Islands, Leon started the award-winning Fever Tree Nursery in Nelspruit upon his return to South Africa.
African Thunder
In 2018, he became the first designer from African to win a Gold Award, Horticulture Excellence Award and Best of Show for his African Thunder fantasy garden at the Singapore Garden Festival.
“Cultural elements are very important to me and all my designs contain a strong cultural theme,” said Kluge. “I use both South African and African plants in my designs. Our plants are very popular around the world and people are always interested in learning more about them.”
Kluge says he takes his time with his designs. Once he gets his inspiration, he’ll consider a plant palette, then move on to cultural aspects. “It’s these cultural elements that are so colourful and bring a warmth and vibrancy to the garden,” said Kluge.
Judging the show gardens
Kluge will judge the shows gardens at the Johannesburg International Flower Show, together with international judges Sharon McGukin and Pascal Garbe.
Leon Kluge, 2019 Chelsea Flower Show
Leon Kluge's African Thunder design, Singapore
Floral designer – Jill Manson
Celebrity florist, motivational speaker and teacher, Jill Manson, currently captures an audience of over 1.7 million viewers with her inspiring and creative floral design TV show called Fresh Cut.
The Jill Manson Floral Design School is the leading school of floral design in SA and teaches all levels of floristry to enthusiasts and career driven entrepreneurs wishing to make a living from the trade.
Jill has created floral designs and floral décor for hundreds of prestigious events over the last 18 years. Her stage presence is magnetic and she rivals a passion for the cut flower industry and her country like no other.
Edible gardening sensation – Johan ‘Panda’ du Preez
The fabulous Johan ‘Panda’ Du Preez from Starke Ayres, will be a guest celebrity in action at the Johannesburg International Flower Show. One of the most exciting new personalities in the horticultural industry, Panda loves cooking, knows a great deal about sowing seed and is a edible gardening expert.
Panda is a great ambassador for garden centres across the country, is a talented and fun cooking demonstrator… and is a social media sensation for the horticultural industry. See Panda in action at his cooking demonstration with edible plants … with a difference.
Date: Sunday 3 November, 2019 Time: 14:45 – 15:45
All talks & demo’s are FREE to visitor’s to the show | No Booking | Seats are limited
Tickets to the show available at johannesburgflowershow.com
What else can you see at the Johannesburg International Flower Show?
Guests needing a break from meandering through the show can relax and be entertained by a number of live bands and musicians in an open-air area.
Children can get their hands dirty in the Seedling Park, which offers workshops, shows and self-led activities.
The gorgeous flower market will offer beautiful fresh cut flowers as well as a wide selection of plants that guests can purchase to take home to replicate ideas they have gained from the show.
A food court and Grand Café will offer delicious food and drinks for all tastes, as well as vendors and trade stalls where visitors can browse and purchase anything from garden tools, seedlings and flowers to water features and sculptures.
Anything and everything from the extravagant to the traditional garden gnome!
Waterfall City, the host to this much-anticipated event, is a truly connected hub with a fully integrated lifestyle. The design is inspired by the contemporary principles of walkable mixed- use environments to create a truly first-class city.
Johannesburg International Flower Show …
Tickets will be on sale from www.johannesburgflowershow.com
For more information on the event, go to
– Jhb International Flower Show – Facebook page
– Website – www.johannesburgflowershow.com
