Cold Ash Spring Show and Plant Sale celebrates another year of winners of stunning floral displays

A community has celebrated the return of its annual spring show and plant sale.

Cold Ash Gardening Club hosted the event at the Acland Memorial Hall on Saturday (March 22), where a cheerful glow of yellow and the scent of narcissi enticed visitors inside.

There were plenty of floral art exhibits available to browse, including some by new exhibitors, encouraged to enter after a recent floral art demonstration by Mad Hatter Floral Design, in Aldermaston.

Eddy Smith won the Hardwicke Cup for the most points in the narcissi section, while Chris Jones won the Hillman Cup for the most points in the flower section.

Jacqueline Smith won the Mann Cup for the most points in the floral art section with her magnificent arrangements.

The MacDonnell Cup for the best handcraft exhibit was won by Jen Samuels for her fabulous patchwork quilt.

This year, the handcrafts section, always featuring a wide range of items, included more unusual items such as a foraging basket woven from twigs, a knitted bag and a quirky crocheted hanging basket, containing a crocheted hanging plant.

Show Secretary Kate Miller said of the event: “It was wonderful to see a wide range of narcissi, from trumpets and cups to clusters and miniature.

“Despite the recent cooler temperatures, we also had flowering shrubs including some camellias and rhododendrons, plus tulips and other spring flowers.”

The organisers wish to thank all exhibitors, committee members, helpers, judges Kelvin Mason (flowers), Marilyn Piper (floral art) and Elizabeth Whitehead (handcrafts) and those who donated plants for the plant stall.