After a tough winter .. sun shines for Garden Club's Spring Show

However, spring weather arrived just in time and the seasonal flowers, especially the daffodils, were at their peak during the show weekend which was held in Broughshane Community Centre.

Bob Gordon from Portglenone, who is President of the Ulster Group of the Alpine Garden Society, opened the event and distributed the prizes.

Entries for the daffodil classes were the highest for many years and attracted exhibitors from all parts of the province.

The Floral Art Section also provided an opportunity for gardeners at all levels to demonstrate their artistic talent and pot plant, cut flowers, flowering shrub and cacti classes were well supported. The display of camellia and magnolia blooms was particularly impressive.

miniature gardens

Primary school pupils demonstrated their creativity by producing miniature gardens, collages and animals constructed from fruit and/or vegetables as well as exhibiting in their own daffodil class and a new colouring competition proved popular with the younger exhibitors.

The Club wishes to acknowledge the support given by the following businesses in providing prizes:- Montgomerys, Ballymena; Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick; Bali-Hai Nursery, Carnlough; Samore Plant Centre, Martinstown; James McNeill, Broughshane; Montrose Garden Supply Company, Ballymena and Ben Vista Nursery, Ahoghill

The award winners were...

Daffodil Classes

Montgomerys Prize for the best daffodil bloom in the Show: Derrick Turbitt.

Guy Wilson Memorial Cup together with a prize presented by Montgomerys, Ballymena for twelve varieties of daffodil, one stem of each, selected from at least three Divisions: Derrick Turbitt.

Red, White & Blue Ribbon of the American Daffodil Society awarded for five varieties, American raised, one bloom of each, staged in one vase: Nial Watson.

Laughlin Cup together with a voucher presented by James McNeill, Broughshane awarded for a collection of six varieties, three stems of each selected from at least three Divisions: Brian Duncan.

Creighton Cup together with a voucher presented by Ballymena Garden Club awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Single Bloom Classes: Brian Duncan.

Christina McCleary Cup together with a prize presented by Montgomerys, Ballymena awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Miniature and Special Daffodil Classes: Brian Duncan.

Crawford Cup together with a voucher presented by Samore Plant Centre, Martinstown awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Amateur Senior Collection Classes: Richard McCaw/George Wilson.

Frazer Cup together with a voucher presented by Montrose Garden supply Company, Ballymena awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Amateur Senior Single Bloom Classes: Richard McCaw.

Martin Cup together with a voucher presented by Bali-Hai Nursery, Carnlough awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Novice Classes: David Pinkerton.

Prize presented by Ballymena Garden Club awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Beginners Classes: Jill Pinkerton.

Best Bloom – Division 1: Derrick Turbitt.

Best Bloom – Division 2: Nial Watson.

Best Bloom – Division 3: Derrick Turbitt.

Best Bloom – Division 4: Philip Wallace.

Best Bloom – Division 6: George Wilson.

Best Bloom – Any other Division: Brian Duncan.

Best Bloom – Seedling: Brian Duncan.

Miscellaneous Classes

Bali-Hai Nursery Prize awarded for the highest points in Pot Plant Classes: Sandra Smyth.

Montrose Garden Supply Company Prize awarded for the highest points in Pot Plant Classes: Elizabeth Boyd.

Rathowen Cup together with a voucher presented by Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick, awarded for the highest points in the Cacti and Succulents Classes: Andy & May Linton.

Floral Art Classes

Slemish Bowl together with a prize presented by Samore Plant Centre, Martinstown for the highest points in the Women’s Institute Classes: Heather Kerr (Muckamore WI).

Woburn Abbey Flower School Trophy together with a prize presented by Mrs May Matthews for the highest points in the Open Section: Mary Knox.

J E Losty Trophy together with a voucher presented by Ben Vista Nursery, Ahoghill for the highest points in the Intermediate Section: Heather Hume.

David McClelland Trophy awarded for the highest points in the Novice Section: Pat Duncan/Marjorie Patterson.

Prizes presented by Mrs Mavis Speers for winners of each class in the Novice Section:

Class L1: Pat Duncan.

Class L2: Marjorie Patterson.

Silver Salver presented by Ballymena Floral Art Society awarded for the best use of garden material in the Open, Intermediate and Novice Sections: Ann Puttock (Crumlin Flower Club).

Schools and Young Persons Classes

Thirkettle Shield awarded for the best daffodil bloom from the exhibitor’s garden: Jenny McAllister (Portglenone PS).

Miniature Cups awarded to the winners of each of the following classes:

Colouring competition: Molly Andrew (Kirkinriola PS).

Animal made from fruit and/or vegetable: Cameron Fraser (Loughview Integrated School).

Collage using coloured paper on an aspect of nature: Ciara Fraser (St Colmcille’s PS).

Mustard or cress grown in an unusual container: Matthew Davison (Kirkinriola PS).

Miniature garden: Lois McClintock (Kirkinriola PS).

Photograph to illustrate the theme, “Spring Flowers”: Naomi Lamont (Broughshane PS).

Posy suitable for a breakfast tray: Eilis Fraser (St Louis Grammar School).

Photograph to illustrate any aspect of the environment: Eilis Fraser (St Louis Grammar School).

Daffodil bloom from the exhibitor’s garden: Jenny McAllister (Portglenone PS).