Whitehouse produces topclass grow and show event
Whitehouse Grow and Show once again proved to be a blooming brilliant community event.
More than 70 people attended last Saturday’s show, with 20 horticulture pros submitting more than 100 garden produce entries.
The show was opened by Councillor Anne Horn for which she received a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Forty people took part in the people’s vote and the winners of the wooden awards, beautifully carved by John Coon, for each category were: Floral: Hilary Sinclair; Vegetable: Amanda Curley; Fruit: Wendy Spy; Children’s: Robert Hawthorn.
While numbers were down on previous years – possibly because of the disappointing weather and for Covid-related reasons – everyone agreed there was plenty of interest.
In addition to contributing garden produce, visitors enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee and freshly cooked burgers.
There were lucky winners at the bottle stall and a number of problems were aired at the gardeners’ question time session, ably chaired by David Spy.
Pete Creech, Iain Maclachlan and John and Margit Wyllie did their best to help out with queries about mystery brassicas, eliminating bracken and plants to attract bees.
Margit produced a fine-looking pepper plant and explained how she had kept it going over the winter, then gave a brief talk on hydroponics.
Outside, Whitehouse Village Hall’s new gazebos were put to use at the food stall and at the ‘paint a plant pot’ stall.
Peter Simson gave a fascinating demonstration of green woodworking and invited people to try it themselves.
The plant stall was popular too with flowers, vegetables and shrubs on sale.
An event spokesperson said: ‘The organisers thank the many volunteers who gave their time before, during and after the show and, in particular, sponsors who have given cash or donations or lent equipment.
‘These are: the Co-op; Argyll and Bute Council Community Fund; D McNair and Son Ltd; Mackay’s Ironmongers, Tarbert; Kintyre Electrics, Tarbert; Hyslop Butchers, Tarbert; Skipness Smokehouse; The Garden Shop, Campbeltown; The Factory Shop, Campbeltown and Tarbert Academy.’