Whitehouse show will feature garden gurus

A village’s inaugural garden event will feature tips from green-fingered experts. Whitehouse village hall is the venue for Grow and Show on Saturday August 25, from noon to 3pm. It is billed as non-competitive, friendly opportunity for villagers to bring the produce of their gardens and show others their successes, whether big or small.

Experts

Three experts will offer tips – former forester Iain Maclachlan, a rose specialist and judge at both Tarbert and Islay flower shows; vegetable grower and Tarbert show judge Bobby McColl and Bill McHugh, from Skipness, who brings 50 years’ experience of horticulture and commercial growing. The event is open to villagers from Clachan, Skipness, Tarbert and Tayinloan as well as the hosts Whitehouse growers. Staging is from 10am and 11.30am and organisers ask exhibitors to make sure they are on time. The committee members for the event are Suse Coon, Amanda Curley and Dorothy O’Donnell. They are looking forward to as many entries as possible, and are hoping that this will be the first of many successful shows in Whitehouse. Schedules can be found on Facebook at ‘Whitehouse Village Hall’, and also in local shops in each surrounding village. On the day there will be a people’s vote in each of the four show categories: flowers, fruit, vegetables and floral art. Visitors will be able to enjoy hot food, including a barbecue, home baking and Whitehouse SWI will be serving afternoon teas. Heart of Argyll Wildlife will run a bug hunt and other activities. A Whitehouse Grow and Show spokesperson said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to bring our communities together and share the enjoyable experience of gardening in its many forms. ‘Many thanks to all those giving their time, skills and support for the event.’ A special programme for the event will be available for sale on the day with full details of all the activities.