Blooming marvellous show!

The warm weather in March brought all the daffodils into flower early, this resulted in a great display of daffodils as well as other cut flowers, pot plants, cacti and succulents.

Primroses and some of the alpines in the pot plant section were of a particularly high standard. There was also a great display of tulips.

Anne Hutchinson was the special guest, she judged the cut flower and pot plant sections, and presented cups to winners.

The Coleraine Championship requiring nine blooms of daffodils from three different divisions was won by Robbie Curry (Lisburn), with Philip Wallace (Lisburn) as runner up.

David Pinkerton (Killinchy) won the Chronicle Cup for the three bloom daffodil classes and Derrick Turbitt (Portstewart) won the Schools Cup for most points in the single bloom classes. The Intermediate Cup was won by Ronnie Campbell (Newtownards). Local exhibitor Sidney Donnell (Portrush) won the Harriman Challenge Bowl for novice daffodils.

Betty Holmes travelled from Garvagh to win the McClure Cup for cut flowers, while Gordon Toner (Limavady) won the Creighton Cup for pot plants.

Rosaleen Toner (Limavady) won the Cawoods tray for cacti and succulents. Pat Hartin (Ballymoney) won the Shirley cup for open floral art. The judges on the day were: Daffodils:- Ian Scroggy (Carnlough), Bobert Curry (Lisburn), and George Wilson (Lisburn). Anne Hutchinson from Maghera judged the cut flowers and pot plants while, Jennie Mitchell from Coleraine judged the floral art section.

Coleraine Gardening club wish to thank Coleraine Guides for the use of their hall and Coleraine Borough Council for the use of tables.

Prize winners:

Daffodils Coleraine Championship: 9 varieties; 1 bloom of each; selected from at least 3 divisions (staged singly).

1st R. Curry,2nd P. Wallace, 3rd D. Turbitt.

Three bloom classes: G. Wilson, R. Campbell, D. Turbitt, D. Pinkerton, P. Wallace

Single bloom classes: D. Turbitt, R. Curry, G. Wilson, R. Campbell, P. Wallace, D. Wallace, D. Pinkerton.

Daffodils intermediate: G Toner, H. Wright, R. Campbell, A. McClean, W. Armour.

Daffodils novice: S. Donnell, B. Holmes,

Best daffodil bloom in show: ‘Moonshadow’ 3W-Y shown by by R. Curry.

CUT FLOWERS

1 vase flowering shrub or tree 3 stems: B Holmes took first, second and third place.

1 vase heathers: 1st. M Gourley; 2nd. B Holmes

1 vase tulips 3 stems: 1st D Turbitt; 2nd and 3rd B Holmes

1 vase polyanthus 3 stems: B Holmes

POT PLANTS

1 pot daffodils: 1st G Toner; 2nd and 3rd H Wright

1 pot any other flowering bulbs or corms: 1st G Toner; 2nd H Wright; 3rd G Toner

1 pot orchid: 1st B Holmes; 2nd and 3rd B Holmes

1 pot primrose: 1st A McClean; 2nd B Holmes; 3rd A McClean

1 pot auricula: G Toner

1 foliage pot plant (up to 4” pot): 1st B Holmes, 2nd A McClean

1 foliage pot plant (over 4” pot): 1st H Holscher; 2nd B Holmes; 3rd M Gourley

1 flowering pot plant (up to 4” pot): 1st G Toner; 2nd E Conner; 3rd G Toner

1 flowering pot plant (over 4” pot): 1st B Holmes; 2nd G Toner; 3rd B Holmes

1 pot bonsai: 1st H Wright; 2nd S Donnell; 3rd H Wright

Best exhibit in Pot Plants: Gordon Toner’s trillium

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS

1 pot cactus (up to 4” pot): 1st R. Toner

1 pot cactus (over 4” pot): 1st M Gourley; 2nd R Toner; 3rd S Donnell

1 pot succulent (up to 4” pot): R Toner

1 pot succulent (over 4” pot): R Toner

1 cacti garden (up to 18”): H. Holscher

FLORAL ART (OPEN)

CLASS F1 “Spring Jewels” a petite exhibit not to exceed 25 cm in width, depth and height: 1st E Connor; 2nd P Hartin; 3rd I Petticrew

CLASS F2 “Spring is in the Air” an exhibit; width 50 cm; depth 40 cm; height unlimited:1st I Pettigrew; 2nd P Hartin; 3rd E. Connor

CLASS F3 “A Walk in the Woods” an exhibit; width 50 cm; depth 40 cm; height unlimited: 1st M. Knox; 2nd P Hartin; 3rd M. Knox