Autumn treats at flower show
THERE was a hint of Autumn in the air at the Wokingham Horticultural Show on Saturday where dahlias and other colourful flowers stole the show along with flower arrangements entitled 'Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness'.
More than 50 visitors to the show enjoyed the displays of vegetables, including giant cabbages, two-foot long carrots and massive onions. An exhibit showing how chickpeas grow from seed to pot intrigued many, whilst no-one could work out the mystery pot plant, which turned out to be turmeric.
Dave Croton and Robin Goddard excelled with displays of vegetables; Betty Smith and Margaret Finch scooped prizes in the flower section whilst Terry Miller's chrysanthemums came out on top. Alice Fisher was the star of the Flower Arranging Section, winning the cup and praise from the visitors for her 'Petal Power' arrangement.
Pauline MacBrayne was presented with a cup for the most points won against strong competition in the Domestic Section, whilst the Southfield School Cup for the best exhibit in the Young Exhibitors’ section went to Amelia Lawrence-Perry for her colouring.
AUTUMN SHOW 2017
Garden News Shield, (winner, class 1, collection of vegetables): Dave Croton
Premier Cup, (most points in vegetable section, classes 1-28): Dave Croton
Fruit Cup, (most points in fruit section): Fred Preston
Wokingham Times Cup, (winner, class 45, dahlias): Margaret Finch Dahlia Cup, (most points in dahlia classes): Betty Smith
National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal, (best exhibit in dahlia classes): Betty Smith
F W Latter Challenge Trophy (winner, class 50, mixed chrysanthemums): Not awarded
Freeman Chrysanthemum Cup (winner, class 52, spray chrysanthemums): Terry Miller
Yates Cup (winner class 55 – novice chrysanthemums): awarded
Murray Chrysanthemum Not
The plant and cake stalls did a roaring trade and home-made cakes were enjoyed at the tea bar.
Barbara Stagles was on hand to update visitors to the show on the progress of St Paul’s Churchyard Tree Succession Project.
The Deputy Borough Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr John Kaiser and his wife Gill, visited the show and presented the prizes.
The Mayor said that he was very impressed by the exhibits and congratulated all the volunteers who had worked towards a happy and successful show.
WHA is now looking forward to the start of their winter talks' programme on Tuesday, October 10, when Patricia Elkington will be giving tips on 'Better Garden Composition'. Talks are held at the Bradbury Centre in Rose Street, starting at 7.45 and the charge for visitors is £2
The WHA Winter Show will take place on Saturday, November 18, at the St Pauls Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham from 2pm.
For more information on WHA, please see the website at www.w-h-a. org.uk
Cup (most points in chrysanthemum classes): Terry Miller
Knapp Rose Bowl (winner, class 63, large-flowered roses): Not awarded
B F Wilkins Memorial Plate (winner, class 75, mixed flowers): Betty Smith Greywell Challenge Cup (most points in flower section, not dahlias or chrysanthemums): Betty Smith
Mitchell Cup (most points in domestic section): Pauline MacBrayne Bellamy Trophy (most points in flower arrangement section): Alice Fisher Southfield School Autumn Cup (best exhibit in young exhibitors’ section): Amelia Lawrence-Perry
RHS Affiliated Societies’ Bronze Medal (most points in classes 7-28, vegetables): Dave Croton National Vegetable Society Medal (most meritorious vegetable exhibit in show): Not awarded
RHS Banksian Medal (most prize money won, horticultural classes): Dave Croton
Victory Cup (annual performance cup) (most points in vegetable section): Dave Croton
G Phillips Cup (annual performance cup) (most points in fruit section): Fred Preston
Certificates of merit were
awarded to:
Betty Smith
Dahlia, large or giant
Betty Smith
Dahlia, one bowl
Margaret Finch
Dahlia, any other
Alice Fisher
Flower arrangement ‘Mists
and mellow fruitfulness’ Jenny Gilbert
Any other fruit
Dave Croton
Onions, exhibition
Ruth Lambert
Specimen flower in own
container
Nina Preston
Mixed flowers, same variety Betty Smith
Mixed flowers. 6 varieties Katherine Bell
Flowering orchid
Betty Smith
Flowering pot plant
Visitors’ Choice: Alice Fisher, A flower arrangement ‘Mists and mellow fruitfulness’