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In
1997, The London Garden Society needed someone to jump in, last minute, to
create a Hanging Basket and Window Box for The Chelsea Flower Show
Competition.
I was
delighted and set about choosing plants from my greenhouse and rushing
around nurseries to find fine and unusual specimens.
The
plants included: Purple Surfinia Petunias, trailing, ivy-leaved
Pelargoniums 'L'Elegante' and 'Rouletta', Magenta Zonal Pelargoniums,
Fuchsia 'La Campanella', Bacopa 'Snowflake', Lamium 'White Nancy', Lobelia 'Ricardii',
Nepeta, Helichrysum amongst others.
They
were planted six weeks before the show and pampered in the greenhouse for a
while, then hardened off gradually but kept under an umbrella just in case! |
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Winning a Silver-Gilt Medal was fabulous - and as nobody got a Gold medal in
that part of the competition, you could say I came first!!!
Then
to top that, Amateur Gardening Magazine voted my Window Box - 'Best in Show'
and I received a beautiful Edinburgh crystal vase, inscribed with the
details! |
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In
1998 I was asked to do it again! (Hoping I would get the elusive
Gold!).
The
experience was just as exciting second time around, even though I only got a
bronze.
Being
part of the competition meant we had to get the entry to Chelsea on the eve
of the show.
After
a hair-raising journey at 20 mph from Croydon to Chelsea we arrived at 10pm.
Once we had set up, we were free to wander around the exhibits... just
imagine... a completely empty marquee... it was spooky but fantastic.
The heavy scent of roses, lillies and all the exotic plants hung heavy in
the air. |
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