Photography by Alexander Edwards Photography
‘Extraordinary Voyages’ is the theme of this year’s Chelsea in Bloom, which runs from September 20th – 25th. Throughout the week, visitors to the Kings Road, Chelsea, will be able to feast their eyes on the most dramatic of floral displays at Sticks’n’Sushi, . A huge, fierce dragon, made entirely of sustainably sourced and maintained fresh flowers and foliage, will wrap its sinuous neck and body around the building, with its tail and rear talons reaching into the restaurant.
With a strong emphasis on sustainability the dragon is made with carnations, solidago, aspidistra, crocus and ruscus. In total 6,800 stems of flowers and foliage have been used for the display. Nothing that harms the environment, such as oasis, has been used in the creation of the dragon.
Sticks’n’Sushi, the Danish restaurant group, is known for its high-quality, fresh food based on a unique combination of traditional sushi and yakitori sticks from the grill, Sticks’n’Sushi offers diners a welcoming combination of Danish hygge and Japanese Noren. “Sticks’n’Sushi, has had an extraordinary voyage in its history, mastering Japanese cuisine, adding Nordic aesthetics and the hectic and vibrant feel of the UK, hence the inspiration behind the floral installation,” says Cosette Perez UK Head of Marketing at the restaurant group.
Created by leading florists In Water Flowers, the design echoes this journey. Long present in Japanese, Danish and British mythology, dragons have come to represent heroism and success. To play on the restaurant group’s Danish heritage, this dragon is taking his voyage in a Viking-style boat, created from aged tree bark.
Describing their inspiration, Neeva Shore of In Water Flowers said: “From Japanese mythology we have a creature with clawed feet depicting good, wisdom and strength, and we have channelled the Norse sagas and skaldic poems where the vessels of chieftains and kings, known as dragon ships, had carved dragons’ heads adorning them for protection, warding off the spirits of both land and sea.”
Sticks’n’Sushi King’s Road has also created an exclusive floral cocktail, CHELSEA’S HANA, which has been made from Ultimate de Provence Rose wine, shaken with Bombay Sapphire, hibiscus liquor and fresh lemon. Served with a hibiscus sugar rim and edible flowers.
