Gardeners’ Spring Show returns after Covid break

Plympton Gardeners chairman John Gilding gives a guided tour of the exhibits
Plympton Gardeners chairman John Gilding gives a guided tour of the exhibits to Lord Mayor Cllr Terri Beer and her consort Colin Beer

There were around 250 exhibits on display at Plympton Gardeners’ Spring Show on March 19 in classes ranging from flowers and garden produce to domestic science and photography. 

The event was formally opened by Lord Mayor Cllr Terri Beer who was given a pre-opening tour of the exhibits by chairman John Gilding. 

Carol Penhallurick was delighted to have come away with the Iris & Norman Lewis Trophy for her display of three bloom camellias, having wrested the trophy from club rival Dr Keith Clapton. 

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All was not lost for Dr Clapton however as he won the G & M Hicks Trophy for his entry of three double daffodil blooms in a vase. 

Emma Dunne scooped both the Daffodil Trophy for best exhibit in the daffodil and tulip classes plus the Chairman’s Trophy for three varieties of different blooms in vases. 

Gardeners-Show-returnsIan Hill created show history by being the first person ever to scoop first prize in all five photography classes at the show and won the President’s Cup for Best Exhibit in Photography, the five classes this year being: Favourite Place, Metal, Morning Noon and Night, Moving Water and Been There A Long Time. 

Other trophy winners included Sally Luscombe, always a dab hand with her flower arranging. 

While overall entry numbers were down on pre-Covid years, it was nonetheless a positive start to resuming shows after the two year break caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Subsequent to the show the Gardeners started the first full week of April by running the coffee bar at Harewood House and at their meeting on April 7 they had a talk by Brian Carlson entitled ‘All About Fuchsias.’ 

Their next meeting is on Thursday May 5 at 7.30pm in Harewood House when Caroline Stone will be talking about Peonies. Guests are welcome to attend. 

(Story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)