Each year we hold a Horticultural Show full of exciting classes and we would really like to encourage more people to get involved. If you have never entered before, this is the year to have a go. It is very easy to enter, is good fun and if you are successful, there is prize money and certificates to be won.
If you have some roses in your garden you can enter just a single stem, or a selection of up to 5 roses. All you need to do is pick them the morning of the show and come along and display them – we provide all the display vases, water etc and there is always someone around to give help and advice. There are also classes for sweet peas, herbs, fruit and vegetables. There is a class for just one flower bloom and a vegetable or even the wonkiest vegetable and the most fragrant rose bloom.
There are classes for cookery enthusiasts and novices – if bread making is your skill then make some focaccia or soda bread, or you prefer cakes, how about making some brownies or a lemon meringue pie. For keen photographers, you could enter a photograph on a variety of topics – At the Water’s Edge, Transport, Nature or any other subject. Not forgetting handicrafts and flower arranging – everything is covered and you can just enter some mixed garden or seasonal flowers arranged in a vase/jar or in a cup and saucer.
We particularly enjoy the entries from our junior members and we offer the opportunity to grow a marigold or arrange some flowers or present a piece of creative work – a painted pebble, a sock puppet or a miniature seaside garden.
All entries for the show can be done online by downloading the form from our website and each class for adults is just 50p or free for Juniors. Why not have a go and come along when all the entries are on display in the afternoon. Last year’s show attracted 700 visitors!
You will no doubt be busy in your gardens this month as everything starts to appear and as the last frosts subside, you can think about getting more things outside. Preparing your pots and containers for some new plants is something to think about this month as last year’s compost will have been depleted. It is always a good idea to put some stones or broken china in the bottom for drainage and maybe a little garden soil mixed in with your new compost.
Some vegetables can now be planted outside in the ground or in containers. Beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowers, strawberry runners and sprouting broccoli are just a few examples. Ensure that the soil has been dug over to leave a fine finish that resembles breadcrumbs, and is free of weeds and large stones. As we move into May you can plant out more, but check the growing instructions for each individual plant. Further inspiration can be drawn from visiting nearby gardens - see page14 ‘What’s On’ for details of our plans.
Visit our website: www.hihs.org.uk or email us on admin@hihs.org.uk