Despite one of the most challenging summers in recent years, the show benches were packed with colour and variety at Verwood & District Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show on Saturday 12th September.
More than 350 exhibits were entered across the classes, with the hall packed by prize-giving time, when Mayor of Verwood Simon Gibson presented the awards.
Bill Howarth collected several trophies across the flowers, pot plants, vegetables and fruit categories, while Roger Church took the award for roses and was presented with the RHS Banksian Medal.
The dahlia classes provided a spectacular riot of colour, with Ollie Greensmith taking Best Exhibit for a bowl of flowers in delicate pastel shades. Newcomer Robert Driscoll won the Sid Dommett Cup for Best Onion Exhibit with a perfectly presented set carefully dressed with raffia, while Doreen Norton claimed Best Flower Arranging Exhibit for her interpretation of the theme ‘Pzazz’.
Homecraft entries were up on last year, with Lesley Swaffield’s carrot cake taking Best Exhibit. Diane Ponting won Best Handicraft and Geoff Stubbs took the photography title with an entertaining image of ducks being herded at a country show.
Young exhibitors were out in force too. Carter Hayes won Junior Best Exhibit for his artwork, while the Great Verwood Grow Off saw seven-year-old Amy Hutchings win with her French marigold, 13-year-old Heidi Greensmith with her tomatoes and three-year-old Phillipa Blatchford with her zinnia.
Even with such a difficult growing season, 350 entries made a convincing display of what local gardeners can still achieve.
Verwood & District Horticultural Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm at Verwood Memorial Hall.
verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk
The Dorset Life Community News section is sponsored by Wessex Internet
