RHS
Flower Show at Tatton Park 2007
A
report by Caroline Harcourt
This year, because it was the 25th anniversary of the founding of the
Cottage Garden Society, we decided that we would be very brave (foolish?) and ask
the RHS if we could have a stand twice the normal size. In consequence,
we had the daunting task of designing a garden 10 m long and 2.5 m wide!
When I say we, I actually mean Jean Haywood (one of the founder members of the
Cheshire group of CGS) with help from her husband, Bill. All Sue Turford
and I (as organisers of the set up) had to do, or were capable of doing, was to
make suitable encouraging noises and then send the design to the RHS for
approval.
We heard in February that the garden was accepted and then, in the March issue
of the Cottage Gardener magazine, we asked for volunteers to man the stand.
Much to our delight, all spaces were quickly filled up by willing
members. Most of the hard work was now down to Jean as she was supplying
just about all the plants from her small nursery, Woodseaves Garden Plants,
near Market Drayton in Shropshire. George Eccleston was also busy making
a white picket fence for the garden and a matching door for the back of the
display. Kath Hillard and J. Allen provided additional plants, and Andy
Goodwater supplied bricks to edge the path and also numerous plants for the
vegetable garden.
Come July 15th, eight of us arrived on site to set up the garden. Thank
heavens we were under cover, the mud and rain was no fun at all! We
started by bringing the plants, the gravel, compost, and all the other
materials into the marquee. Jean and Kath, helped by George's wife, Maureen,
then set about putting the plants in place, while Sue and I set up the table
display and made labels for the plants. Meanwhile Bill, George and Andy
laid paths, put up the door and trellis and fitted the fence in place.
However, so as not to be too stereotyped in our gender roles, the men also went
off and fetched numerous cups of tea for us all!
We had hoped to get it the display set up in one day, but that proved
impossible, so we agreed we'd be back the following morning if we could.
Setting up
the display
Next day we all brought footwear suitable for mud and wet, but the weather
couldn't decide what to do, particularly annoying for me as I kept having to go
the half mile or so back to the car to open windows, close windows, or move
into shade to keep my dog at a suitable temperature! At last, about 7 pm
at night, we had done all we could and the stand looked amazing. All we
had to do now was wait and see what the judges and, more importantly, the
public thought of the stand.
The
completed display
Members of the
public admiring the CGS stand
The medal
silver gilt.
Wednesday morning we learnt the great news that we'd be awarded a silver
gilt medal. Not that the idea of the stand is to win a medal, of course,
we are at the shows to attract new members, but we were all pretty pleased
nevertheless. A RHS judge came to explain why we had been awarded that
particular medal she thought the display was wonderful and much appreciated
all the work that had gone into it, but gold is given only if all the plants
are perfect no pests or diseases are allowed. Some of ours, as expected
in a garden anywhere other than in a show, were not quite perfect!!
Our new
president, Nick Hamilton, with Jean Haywood, appreciating the display.
Through out the show, there were masses of photos taken and questions asked,
with lots of interest in the Society. Almost 80 new members were
recruited and a fair amount of merchandise was sold many thanks and
congratulations to all who helped.