The Anguilla Beautification Club Flower and Garden Show last weekend has been described as the best yet in the ten years of the event. The Wallblake House was filled with the many flower arrangements and plants and the former church held a fantastic orchid display, children’s art and embroidery.

Floral arrangements on display

At the Opening Ceremony, chairperson of the Show, Lady Gumbs welcomed those present explaining that the show aims to create an awareness and appreciation of the beauty around us and also to provide an outlet for the residents of Anguilla to showcase their creativity in flower arranging, plant display and other areas.

Governor Andrew George congratulated the organizers and competitors saying that the event is bigger and better every year. He wished the Club every success for this year’s show and for the future.

Cutting of ribbon by Rowena carty

Minister of Finance and Tourism, Victor Banks added his congratulations especially that the Show highlights the beauty of the island so that all can be proud and happy. He pledged the Government’s continued support in the efforts of the ABC.

Rev John Gumbs, pointed out the value of flowers and the fact that they have a spiritual influence and are given at all special occasions for love, weddings, birthdays, sickness and death.

President of ABC, Hyacinth Hughes outlined some of the projects during the past year that included landscaping at the Ashley’s roundabout, at the East End Pond, Blowing Point, the library and providing plants for Campus B of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School.

Best in show

Two good ideas were put forward by Dame Bernice Lake in her address. She suggested a botanical garden in the centre of The Valley where persons can relax, eat their lunch, listen to music and admire the flowers and landscaping. Her other suggestion was that flower growing should be brought to the next level, as the farmers have done for agriculture, and urged persons to grow flowers to sell and thus save all the funds on importing them. She said that there are many advantages in gardening, not only to relieve stress but to grow mentally and intellectually and become more creative.

Rowena Carty, a founder member of the ABC, cut the ribbon to open the show and the many visitors flocked to see the arrangements of flowers and other attractions. The grounds of Wallblake House had the displays by the primary schools that were all beautifully arranged, and also some attractive displays from the Garden Centres and Hotels. There were also many gardening items on sale including orchids, herbs, plants, fertilizers, tools and produce. Several stalls were selling arts and crafts including pottery, jewelry, paintings, decorations and more, that created a festive atmosphere at Wallblake House.

2009 Flower and Garden Show Winners

The overall winner in the flower arrangements was presented with the Best in Show award. This year for the third consecutive year it was won by Vincia Gumbs. In the Best Village competition the winner was Shoal Bay and they received US$1000.00. In second place was Sandy Ground that received US$800.00 and third was Lower South Hill, with a prize of US$500.00.

The Best Garden was awarded to Dr Rona Hodge-Lake and in second place was Stanley Reid with Elsie Phillips third. The Garden display in the grounds of Wallblake House was won by the Anguilla Garden Centre with CuisinArt Resort & Spa coming second and Better Homes and Gardens in third place.

The school garden display was won by Central Christian School. There was a tie for second place between Adrian Hazell and Island Harbour schools and in the fourth place was Orelia Kelly Primary School. Special thanks were extended to Sir Emile Gumbs, Bob Rieman, Jackie Barlow and Iris Lewis. The wheelbarrow in the raffle competition was won by Mildred Philip with Seymour Hodge receiving a ceramic pot and Inez Mussington a cosmetic set.
Certificates were presented to the first, second and third place winners in each category. First place winners included Sherma Hodge, Liz Panzetta, Rona Hodge-Lake, Vincia Gumbs, Ingrid Marr, Catherine Rieman, Ann Bradahl, Jacob Parles, Brenda Lawrence, Civilla Kentish, Ruth Niles and Althea and Bob Turner. Junior first place winners were Javiette Richardson and Meesha Richardson.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News