INSPIRED by the tropical landscape of a Caribbean island, RHS Chelsea Flower Show stalwart Suzanne Gaywood narrowly missed out on her eleventh gold medal at this year's show.
However, the 64-year-old, from Woodham Walter, did take home a Silver-Gilt award for her team's entry Spice Isle, which used ornamental gingers, heliconias, and orchids to recreate a scene from the island of Grenada, where Suzanne was born.
"I was hoping for gold, everyone strives to achieve that standard, but I have come to terms with it," said Suzanne, who also runs gardening tours of her exotic birthplace with Individual Holidays.
"The judging was much stricter this year. They have been very particular, and have come down very hard on the exhibits.
"I consoled myself when I realised that it was my fifth silver-gilt, and I have double the number of golds."
Indeed this year's medal brings Suzanne's total haul at the Chelsea show to 16 in 16 years of competing, where even in the first year as "novices" she and her team took home a silver award.
For the 2014 entry, which is seven metres in diameter, visitors could gaze on a sandy beach with coral coloured flowers on one side, and walk round to find a galvanised hut on the other full of vibrant, rainforest-inspired species set off by a ground cover of nutmeg shells.
For more information about Suzanne at the show go to www.grenada-at-chelsea.org.uk