42^nd.  Show on the South Coast

   I would like to congratulate Kevin Myerscough (left) and the South Coast Membership, for their efforts to stage an excellent Area Show considering the extreme hot weather conditions over the last few weeks.
   The exhibits were of a very high standard, particularly when the temperatures at the time of Judging was thirty degrees Centigrade-phew!! I was surprisingly pleased by the displays which met my eyes as I walked into the Show area. There were four Six Boards. It took me a long time to judge these, particularly second and third as they were all very close in standard. Non the less, I was finally happy that the positions were correct- from first to third Dave Coats winning Six Board Board was the cleanest and best staged. Bill Squibb second and Norman Burgess third. All entries, considering the melting heat wave were excellent as they were starting to melt as I was finishing judging. There were excellent pots staged too. Brian Simmons staged several pots of Beverley 'B', which were some of the best I've seen on my tours of the Shows. Dave Coates once again took Best Pot with Mrs Elizabeth Mc Lauchlan. Mrs E; is one of my favourite begonias. It is so versatile, as it produces excellent pots and cut blooms too- an all rounder for sure.
   The two new kids on the block Kevin Myerscough and Peter Rogers are the new acorns of the South Coast Area. Unfortunately for Kevin his blooms were badly affected by the excessive heat in the run-up to the Show [ this happens to the more experienced growers' too]. Peter however, managed to display some excellent pots and cut blooms and I can see a promising growing career for them both in future years. CONGRATULATIONS, to all for an excellent Show.

Pictures by Ian Rhys Williams & Editor

Havant Garden Centre