HPS North West Group
Southport Summer Show 2004


This year was the 75th Anniversary year for Southport Show and exhibitors were asked to produce displays with this in mind. Following our Large Gold Medal and Silver Challenge Shield award in 2003 and a Silver Gilt at the 2004 Southport Spring Show the North West Group were determined to produce another winning entry and some research into local history revealed that the ornate bandstand in Victoria Park, where the flower show is staged, was moved to its present site at around the time of the first flower show.


It was decided that our three-meter square island display would be built around a reproduction of the bandstand, with a small area of grass to represent the park and an even smaller area of sand and shells to represent the adjacent beach while a Victorian pattern cast-iron urn was planted with a '75' in sempervivums to continue the historical theme.


A palm-tree, representing those found along Southport's Lord St., was used as the central feature in the bandstand and cutouts of musical instruments and groups of musical notes were suspended from the roof of the bandstand to indicate the more usual occupants. A late design item was the addition of a model plane, towing a congratulation banner, to the roof of the bandstand since such planes are a regular feature of the Southport scene.


Planting-up produced the usual discussions although this year we had an unusually large group of plants to select from and eventually used less than half of those brought to the show. In addition to some new clematis varieties used to clamber among the mock cast-iron panels of the bandstand we had sourced modern varieties of crocosmia, heuchera, agastache, coreopsis, salvias, lobelias and many other perennials, looking for new cultivars wherever possible to demonstrate the wide range of plants now available.


In addition to the main island display the society also provided a large 'bureau' providing information about the HPS, a list of future events and photographs of the members enjoying the varied activities of the group. The bureau was provided with atmosphere in the form of an old potting shed, equipped with vintage garden tools, and a small patio surrounded by a magnificent collection of members' pot plants in ceramic and terracotta pots.


Our efforts were obviously approved as we were awarded a Large Gold Medal, plus the Silver Challenge Shield for best amateur society display and a discretionary Silver Rose Bowl awarded for an outstanding exhibit. All our hardworking members are to be congratulated and we are already casting around for ideas for Southport 2005.


Keith Russell
Past Chairman
North West Group

© Mike Kedzlie, 2004