Yapton show blossoms in spite of tough times for growers

Yapton Cottage Gardeners’ Society’s early summer flower show, on Saturday (June 22) filled the village hall with colour for about 100 visitors to enjoy.

Rose classes were mostly well contested, but sweet pea entries were understandably fewer than average, a casualty of the weather.

Among the general cut flowers, the best vases included some very clean shoots of alstroemeria, while every entry in the flowering trees and shrubs was quite different in content.

Pot plants included cacti and other succulents, and a small, but varied, range of vegetables was staged, together with strawberries and gooseberries.

In the floral art classes, the Cole family swept the board, with David claiming four firsts in as many entries, and his sister, Debra, taking the novice class.

The cookery prizes were shared out among most of the exhibitors, and the photographic images attracted the attention of the visitors once the event was open. Two children staged four entries each.

Society chairman Roy Phillips presented the trophies. David Stubbings was the most successful exhibitor, receiving the Hawthorn Trophy for most sweet pea points, the National Sweet Pea Society bronze medal for best vase and the Bill Payne Memorial Trophy for cacti and other succulents.

Stan Crouch retained the Godfrey Challenge Cup for roses and Imogen Holden won the Junior Flower Cup.

First prize winners: Maxine Jones, David Donovan, Diane Booker, Jenny Pay, Stan Crouch, David Stubbings, Mary Carmel Pardi, Vicky Millis, Christine Hickman, Barbara Coomber, Barry Bezants, Anne Hollis, Debbie Lawrence, Andy Parr, Malcolm Paradine, Mike Millis, David Cole, Debra Cole, Katharine Horwood, Alan Thew, Eva Pendreich, Abi Eade, Imogen Eade, Imogen Holden.