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24 May 2011
Last updated at
15:12
In pictures: Norfolk's Chelsea Flower Show winners
Peter Beales Roses from Attleborough and Thorncroft Clematis from Reymerston have both been honoured with gold medals at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show. Photographs by Martin Barber.
Thorncroft's award is its fifth Chelsea gold in as many years. "We have had four gold medals for the last four years so the pressure was on to make it five out of five," said Jon Gooch, a director at Thorncroft.
"At last count we've got over 100 different varieties of rose here and somewhere between 1,000-1,200 plants," said Richard Beales from Peter Beales Roses.
"It's the quality of the blooms themselves and the design of the stand overall - it's floral art as much as the horticultural side of things," said Jon Gooch.
Peter Beales Roses launched two new varieties at the show, including this Churchill Rose - a free-flowering shrub rose with a light perfume and medium sized, semi-double blooms.
Thorncroft Clematis used to sell other plants before it spotted a gap in the market. "When we began growing plants it was always clematis that were the most popular because there weren't many available. We got interested in them and started to grow more and more varieties."
While many growers have complained about the dry weather this year, the Norfolk rose-grower hasn't been affected. "Roses have been doing well this year - the colours are true but they will probably fade a little quicker than normal," said Richard Beales.
Once the show is finished many of the flowers will be sold off, while others will be taken to other flower shows in the next few weeks.
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