TWO growers from south Lincolnshire are celebrating after picking up awards at the 2012 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Linda and Bryan Goodey at Southfield Nurseries in Morton picked up a gold for their display of cacti and succulents while Chris and Margaret Styles of Styles Roses received a Silver Gilt Flora for their exhibit of roses.
For Bryan and Linda, it was the 23rd Gold from Hampton Court and the pair have also picked up 24 Golds from Chelsea over the years, and an impressive 150 RHS Golds all together.
The nursery specialises in producing new hybrid cacti and the couple’s daughter Eleanor Brown said they had several on display at Hampton, including Rebutia hybrids, that flower for several weeks and have soft spines so are easier to look after; Echinopsis, with its massive flower; and Chamaelobivia, with beautiful flowers.
Bryan said: “We are delighted to add another gold to the tally. Shows are hard work, but we enjoy putting the display on. It’s just taking them down at the end that we don’t like.”
Southfield Nurseries was also presented earlier in the year with the prestigious Lawrence Medal for the best display shown at any of the RHS shows during 2011. It was given in recognition of their display of cacti and succulents at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show in May 2011.
At Hampton Court, Styles Roses, of Holbeach, displayed hanging baskets of ground cover roses, as well as standard, weeping, bush and climbing roses, and launched a new rose, Bobby Dazzler.
Margaret described it as: “Very bright yellow, lightly scented, small floribunda and a healthy variety”.
She said: “This award makes me feel the hard work and preparation for the show is worth it in the end. A lot of hard work goes into preparing for a show, with long hours and not a lot of sleep.”
The nursery has achieved 13 awards over the years, receiving bronze, silver and silver gilts.