Antigua Barbuda Horticultural Society
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joy Farrell 268-561-5881
www.antiguahorticulture.com
info@antiguahorticulture.com
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA SECOND ANNUAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW and AWARD RECIPIENTS
April 20, 2011…………Despite the looming threat of thunder showers, more than 300 people turned up to celebrate the Antigua and Barbuda Horticultural Society’s Second Annual Flower and Garden Show held at GARD this past Saturday April 16th.
Horticultural enthusiasts and visitors to the show were treated to a spectacular array of flowers and plants both from vendors and entrants to the flower and plant competition. Hellsgate Steel Orchestra and the Antigua and Barbuda Royal Police Force Band and the Expressions Chorus conducted by Miss Debbie Eckhert provided the entertainment.
Judges Edith ‘Snookie Oladele’ head Judge, Myrna Kelsick, Jean Derrick, Johanna King (Visiting President from Barbados Orchid Society) were on hand to judge the various categories of flower and plant entries.
His Excellency Sir Eustace Francis Governor General’s Deputy was on hand to present the awards and say a few words.
Some of the ABHS award recipients included:
The highly coveted Best in Show award, for the second year running, went to Mr. Montgomery Lewis for his red bougainvillea, in the flowering potted plants category. Mr. Lewis also took second place in the floral displays for his impressive arrangement of imported anthurium and heliconia.
Mrs. Sylvana Moses was another big winner. She took home three first prizes for her floral entries, under three different categories: tropical, dried and miscellaneous. Her dried arrangement included an innovative use of coconut cloth and other dried components to create a stunning dried wreath. ABHS member Mrs. Maudlyn Evans took home second place in the dried floral arrangement category.
Mrs. Marcia English won an amazing 4 firsts in the potted plant category including a first place award for her spectacular Beaucarnea Revoluta (ponytail palm). ABHS president Barbara Japal won first prize in the Ferns category for her Aspernum Nidus (Birds Nest Fern) while her 94-year-old father Mr. Eddie Mannix took home second prize for his Polypodium (celery fern). Mrs Evelyn Jacobs one of our very active Members took home a 1st and 2nd place ribbon.
Mrs. Martha won a second place for a wonderful wild flower display complete with a waterfall in our miscellaneous category.
In the Fruit and Vegetables segment of the competition, Judges, Brent Georges and Carolyn Thomas were on hand to award an honorable mention to Fitzmorgan Greenaway for his overweight pumpkin (over 30bs) and a first prize to Fitzi Semper for his lettuce.
Head Judge Mrs. Edith ‘Snookie’ Oladele remarked that she was impressed with the overall quality of the entries this year. She went on to say that the society would endeavour each year to raise the quality with periodical workshops on the various aspects of exhibiting.
ABHS President Barbara Japal extended special thanks to LIAT for providing The Best In Show’ winter with a ticket to Barbados and Mr. Sean Smith of LL creations for their water feature which was raffled, Hortico for their display garden and Dave Martin for his paving work in the ABHS sustainable display garden as well as Roberta Williams of GARDC for our enduring partnership.