WARM spring sunshine welcomed visitors to a borough gardening group’s Spring Show.
Wokingham Horticultural Association (WHA) Spring Show held its seasonal display at St Paul’s Parish Rooms on Saturday afternoon.
Attendees were greeted with perfume from the spring flowers that filled the hall, including narcissi, daffodils, hyacinths and mixed flower arrangements.
Daffodils were exhibited in all their glory, and even some mystery daffodil bulbs had decided to bloom in time for the show.
“Flower arrangement exhibits: Mellow Yellow, Easter Parade and April Showers, showed that Wokingham has some very talented flower arrangers,” said Janet Gordon from WHA, “as did the Novice exhibits of Easter Baskets and Tiny Treasure.
“The domestic section was suitably seasonal with simnel cake and hot cross buns amongst the entries, and healthy options were covered by entries of orange and blueberry bircher and free-from cake.
“Marmalade, peanut butter biscuits, savoury goats cheese tartlets and a lemon drizzle cake for novices completed the menu.”
Photography entries raised some chuckles in the ‘amusing caption’ section.
Referring to one, Janet added: “Will we ever know if the rotten tomatoes were thrown at the poor man in the stocks?”
Other categories included photographs of Jack Frost, Favourite Photo, Still Life, and a Recent WHA Outing.
“Children from the Dolphin School produced some excellent coloured in pictures,” she continued.
“And we also had ‘grown up’ coloured in pictures from WADE Day Care Centre and other exhibitors.”
Spring Show Cup Winners were presented with their cups by WHA’s newest committee member, Sally Gurney, Wokingham’s Town Mayor in 2023.
The following prizes were presented:
Ballylin Cup, for class 1 daffodils: Terry Miller
WHA Novice Challenge: Hermione Lewis
Daffodil Society Bronze Medal: Terry Miller
Philip Sale Cup, for mixed flowers: Margaret Finch
Eve Scott-Horniman Club, for her simnel cake: Mary Gillan
Staniland Goblet, for most points in the flower section: Margaret Finch
St Kilda Cup, for most points in the domestic section: Pauline MacBrayne
Clifford Rawlings Cub, for most points in the handicraft section: Gemma Piper
Heelas Cup, for most points in the flower arrangement section: Doreen Hogston
Hand knitted or crocheted items: Hermione Lewis and Gemma Piper
Photograph ‘Still Life’: Cheryl Cook
Photograph ‘Touch of Jack Frost’: Sally Gurney.
As well as enjoying the exhibits on display, visitors to the show were able to take refreshments of tea and cakes thanks to WHA’s volunteer bakers.
Wokingham Horticultural Association (WHA) holds shows throughout the year, and welcomes novices and new exhibitors.
The club runs a trading store for its members twice a week, and offers social opportunities and a chance to share gardening tips.
A craft group meets every Wednesday, and members can enjoy visits to RHS gardens as part of a programme of activities and events throughout the year.
For more information, visit: w-h-a.org.uk
