Early this morning I was met with a darkening sky, a dramatic downpour and a sudden chill. A sharp change that made me hark back to some of the highlights of summer. His & Hers (particularly me) love flower shows and Southport held one that was really good entertainment. Some recollections of a fun day.

Feature by Jean Hill

First impressions: the guys on the ground were smiling, really welcoming and so helpful. We were met, greeted and treated like VIPs as were all visitors.

The information kiosk provided us with details of events’ programme, a map and useful directions. We discovered Shibori with Sally Miller and I purchased a beautiful, delicately crafted, floaty shawl, intended for a special present. We stopped for coffee amongst the blooms and made a plan for the day.

We found ourselves, fortuitously, beside the Crusty Pie Company. Have to say that their Cornish pasties are the best I have ever tasted. They do steak and ale pies and home-made chutney. All good.

Time for the Cookery Theatre and Sean Noonan, Head Chef at Cottons Hotel, Knutsford. He was demonstrating a risotto with a difference: using ground celeriac rather than rice and using a very fancy state of the art appliance. Scallops and butter were, very much, in the mix: tasted delicious.

Next came special guest Jemma Melvin, Fortnum & Mason Platinum Jubilee Pudding winner, who was a joy to watch. She recreated her winning dish, lemon Swiss roll and Amaretti trifle. The mandarin oranges coulis counteracts the sweetness of the orange with the sharp, acidic lemon juice. The cream is soft and fluffy (and I think involves double cream, egg yolks and cornflour). The jelly is flavoured with lemon juice. A long queue formed to taste this concoction: which I joined, solely in the spirit of research for this article. Obviously. It was delicious and well worth the wait. This is a family affair: as a prelude to her BBC appearance, her family took surplus elements of her kitchen to the tip because the BBC film crew needed to fit in her rather small kitchen. It was all top secret.

We consulted the map and headed for the Show Gardens. The Macmillan Cancer Support ‘A Growing Legacy’ won Gold. It was a wild garden full of seeds. Seeds were the metaphor for leaving a legacy gift in your will. Southport u3a provided a gateway to learning with: ‘Learn, Laugh, Live’. The summerhouse was filled with books, camera and binoculars to signify the opportunities available. Cutting Edge Gardens & Landscapes showcased their garden: ‘To Plant is to Believe’. The two aspects were affordability and well-being that should be attainable for all gardeners.

We bought lily bulbs, snakes head lilies and fluffy (double) tulip bulbs. I homed in on the herb stall and bought as many as I could carry. There were bargain seeds for £1 a packet: too good to miss.

There were several horticultural experts at the Garden Theatre. This is an opportunity to gain precious knowledge about those plants you want to cultivate, to find out what they need to flourish.

The Grand Floral Marquees were a revelation. Lilies, heavy with scent and gladioli stole the show. Elaborate designs that would appeal to adults and children alike abound. Delightful.

There were wood turners who had created beautiful works of art, that happened to be practically useful. Wonderful to see all that creativity and celebrate a time-honoured craft.

There was the ‘Grow Your Own’ project, which I have embraced this year. Very happy with my rhubarb and tomatoes (and all the herbs) a minor victory won against the slithery slugs and snails.

There were plenty of places to eat and drink. The atmosphere was fun and friendly, with much to do and see. Something to look forward to next year. It was state of the art (equipment) cookery alongside more traditional crafts. Much to celebrate in a great location.

Please do book for next year if you are interested in horticulture (and other events). It was a great experience.

https://www.southportflowershow.co.uk/

From the archives: Southport Flower Show introduces a sparkling array of bakers, celebrities and gardening experts amongst the glorious horticulture.