Cornwall Garden Flower Show: Enter your beautiful Cornish blooms in the Competitive Classes

Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show is encouraging the people of Cornwall to rise to the challenge and submit their best blooms.

The popular two-day event for all the family will be staged at The Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April 2023.

The Show's organisers hope that the people of Cornwall will rise to the challenge of making this celebration of Cornwall's early spring even more magnificent, whether they are nervous novices, green-fingered enthusiasts or experienced horticulturists.

With the deadline for horticultural entries looming on Friday 17th March, now is the time to step out into your glorious gardens and think about which of your fabulous flora will be in peak condition on Thursday 30th March, and Friday 31st March when all entries need to be delivered to the Showground for staging and judging.

Then, the process is simple, as Entries Secretary, Rebecca Trant, explains: "Once you have decided which spring flowers and shrubs you wish to enter, take a look at the Schedule of Competitive Classes on the CGS website, check which classes your flowers and shrubs are eligible for and then complete and submit the online entry form. It's as easy as that."

Entries for the Floral Art classes follow the same process.

"With 149 classes for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Magnolias, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Daffodils, Herbaceous, Rhizomatous and other Bulbous Plants, Pot Plants and Alpines, including 14 classes in the Novice section, why not take your chance and experience the thrill of winning one of our coveted 39 trophies?" adds CGS Show Chairman and President, Andrew Leslie.

Suzy Gilchrist from Fowey did just that and entered for the first time last year, only to scoop The Moira Reid Memorial Cup for Best Exhibit of Variegated Foliage.

Trophies to be won (Image: Charles Francis)

Suzy said: "Yes, I felt nervous, even a little out of my depth, as I arrived on set-up day at my first CGS Spring Show with a car boot full of entries, or at least a punt at what I thought an entry might look like, and no idea of what came next, But for every question or doubt, there was a friendly steward or helpful fellow attendee and before I knew it, I had vases of my exhibits dotted amongst all these beautiful displays and a huge smile.

"It felt like I was giving my garden a lovely day out. Be warned, though. It's addictive! Now I cannot wait to be surrounded by all the amazing flowers and my CGS Show friends at this year's event so don't be daunted, check out the Novice classes and just go for it – it's enormous fun!"

Judges of the Competitive Classes will include Tony Kirkham MBE VMH (Former Head of Arboretum, Gardens & Horticulture Services at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew); Jim Gardiner (Executive Vice President of RHS Garden Wisley); Jackie Petheridge (President of the National Daffodil Society); Gwynne Davies (RHS Judge and Bulb Committee member); Ro Fitzgerald (well-known and very experienced RHS Judge ), Phil Johnson (RHS Herbaceous committee member) and horticultural experts closer to home such as Honorary Fellow of the RHS, Alice Boyd VMH; Head Gardener of National Trust Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trerice and Bosloe Gardens, John Lanyon and camellia specialist, Jim Stephens.

For further information about the Competitive Classes at the Show, which are free to enter, please contact Rebecca Trant via [email protected] or 07766 880873. Hard copies of the Schedule of Competitive Classes are available upon request.

You do not have to be a member of the Cornwall Garden Society to take part. Upon receipt of your entry form, the CGS will provide you with an exhibitors' number that will provide you with free entry to the Show.

Tickets for the Cornwall Garden Society 2023 Spring Flower Show are £10 in advance or £12 at the gate (card payments only), £6 for CGS members, and free for under 16s. To book, visit: Cornwall Garden Society