Reckless Gardener - Southport Flower Show 2007

Southport's 78th Flower Show has proved another crowd-puller, despite what we have now come to expect this summer - showers and clouds. The sun did make an appearance, however, and the mixed weather in no way stopped people enjoying themselves.

The Show, opened this year by Gloria Hunniford, featured a music theme, which in fact is quite hard to interpret if you are a gardener, but as we have come to expect from Southport, everyone met the challenge with the result that there were some smashing displays.

This year the Brockhouse Gold Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best exhibit in show went to Peter Tinsley Landscaping for 'Visions of Snowdon' (Large Gold). A dramatic garden and waterfall cascading over huge weathered slate. (pictured below)

We were treated to 'Hairy Mary Big & Scary' (Silver) – designed by Darren Jackson; A View from within' - which gave a dark twist on the children's nursery rhyme. This garden illustrated how you can still be appealing to adults and children alike no matter what size your garden. Fantastic title Darren!

A & S Landscapes were awarded Gold for 'Composers Corner'. designed by Andrew Smith. This garden used the gentle flow of a stream as it twists through the garden and into a pond and featured two natural stone patio areas.

'Keys to the Band Stand' designed by Carl Monaghan (Large Gold and William & Glyn’s trophy) of Eclipse Landscaping Ltd, used modern materials with a treble clef to the centre of the garden and a central piano pathway leading to a raised bandstand/gazebo.

A treble clef also featured in Garden Creations 'Harmony' designed by David Gibson (Gold). Plenty to see in this garden with its restful prairie planting, offset by the bolder planting. (pictured below)

It was good to see Paul Richards back again with his guest garden 'Compose Yourself' (Silver Gilt). His theme is taken from Stephen Sondheim - Make the most of your music – 'you don’t have to disclose yourself; compose yourself'. So his garden does not impose its music on you but rather provides a space where there is room for everyone and allows you to make your own kind of music. (pictured below)

The winners of the Student Design Competition brought us two inspiring and interesting gardens. Andy Kirman's unusual design 'Sound Wave Oasis' shows us that sound can also be a visual medium. Andy is studying at Myerscough College on the Foundation Degree course in Garden Design. (pictured below)

Gillian Morris – 'Music for your thoughts' – illustrated a design evolving round a piano keyboard with a black and white theme and good strong planting. Gillian is studying for a City & Guilds in Garden Design at South Trafford College.

In the Grand Floral Marquee there was plenty to interest us. Station House Nurseries, from Burton, Wirral, (Large Gold) had a wonderful display of Dahlias. Catching the eye were 'Kenora Sunset', Barbarry Cosmos (pictured below) and Christopher Taylor. Sue Goodwill from Primrose Bank, Kexby (Gold) displayed Echinacea purpurea 'Vintage Wine' – stunning.

I was delighted to see that Southport has adopted its own Bedding Display Competition and several local authorities took the opportunity to explore the music theme – our favourites being Chorley Borough Council's Organ Garden and Knowsley Council's ‘simply The Beatles; magnum opus'.

The experts from The Bayer Garden Roadshow - always popular – were kept busy answering gardening questions and also hosted a number of useful and interesting practical talks and demonstrations.

Everyone is catered for at Southport and children are as important as the adults. This year saw the launch of a new concept at the show with 'Kidz Kr8' – with the aim of inspiring and educating children within a horticultural environment to embrace a healthy outdoor lifestlye. Once again the David Bellamy School's Garden Competition proved popular with gardens from the three winning entrants – Laura Harris, Stanton Road Primary School, 'The Magical Chime Garden'; Dawn Hindson from Haslingden Primary School, 'The Tranquil Water Music Garden' and Hannah Malin of Bolton le Sands Primary, 'The sights and Sound of Music'.

Getting around Southport Flower Show is always quite easy because the show is hosted in Victoria Park which has a number of solid pathways, so if you are in a wheelchair or have difficulty walking, there are plenty of areas you can get too without walking on uneven ground.

During the four day show personalities Diarmuid Gavin, Professor Stefan Buczacki, Roddy Llewellyn and Professor David Bellamy OBE.

And the devil in me has to finish off with Darren Jackson's full nursery rhyme – 'Hairy Mary, Big & Scary, What does her garden show? A place to dine, A journey sublime, and plants that sway to and fro.'