Leon is the best in the world

JAPAN – Nelspruit landscape architect, Leon Kluge, calls himself “the rebel gardener” but in the world of gardening now proudly dons the title as one of the world’s best garden designers. Kluge, who represented Africa at the gardening world cup in Nagasaki (Japan), took top honours with a gold in the home-garden category and also won the prestigious best on show.

Not even a typhoon could stop Kluge in his quest to be the best. In an email interview with him yesterday, Kluge, who is still in Japan, said this year’s theme was “world peace” and they had the task of interpreting it as best as possible.

Choosing to use South Africa’s icon, former president Nelson Mandela, as a theme, paid off. His “breaking free” garden depicts the time frame shortly before Madiba’s release from prison. During this time he managed peaceful negotiations with the presiding government. Kluge’s garden displayed nine vertical walls, each representing one of South Africa’s provinces. The walls were greened on the outside to demonstrate renewed growth in each of the regions after democratic freedom.

The corrugated iron sheets on the inside of the walls represent the poorer areas around South Africa where these sheets are used for housing material. The sheets are brightly decorated, known as “shack chic”, a truly local tradition, characterising the colourful and friendly people of his country.

The simplistic table and chair exemplify the loneliness of Mandela in his cell and stress what a determined prisoner he was to be able to change SA and the perception of the world as it was then known. The shackles on the pathway represent the country that has broken free from apartheid.

The plant pallet in the garden typically depicts the type of vegetation found along the western coast of South Africa as well as on Robben Island. These two areas combine to offer one of the largest naturally flowering regions on earth, known as the unbelievable Namaqualand spectacle which occurs annually after the winter rain. This very colourful event symbolises the “rainbow nation” of South Africa.

Kluge said he competed against some of the world’s best representing the United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, France, Korea and Japan. “It was a bit intimidating to know that some of these world-renowned designers were competing against me. The competition can be quite daunting,” he said.

Participants get a budget and an allocated space in which to work. “You are not allowed to bring anything with you, so when I arrived in Japan, I had to go out and search for everything I wanted to use. Even the plants had to represent South Africa and sourcing them was an almost impossible mission!”

They had five days to create their masterpieces but in the middle of it, the city was hit by a typhoon. “We sat in a small pub nearby and watched as the trees flew past.”

But the next morning Kluge and his team were back on site to rebuild what had been damaged.

Not anyone can compete in this event, as he explained, “There is an evaluation process that takes nearly a year. In this period I won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in London and I have also won two silver medals in previous world competitions.” These achievements proved to be enough for him to receive an invitation to compete again this year.

More than 65 000 people visited the show over the week-long period. Kluge said the gruelling process of judging took two days. A highlight for him was the numerous visitors who started crying while walking through his garden. “My main aim was to market our beautiful country and it was amazing to experience how many people were interested to learn more about South Africa.”

The Lowveld is proud of Kluge who has in recent years made a name for himself in the industry, especially with his creative vertical gardens.