Chrysanthemums Direct are delighted to announce that at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show we were awarded an RHS Gold Medal for our display of Chrysanthemums.
Pictured are Tim Wonnacott and Debbie von Bergen, from the St. Catherine's Hospice, in front of the exhibit at Chelsea. Our new variety, named for Tim, is being sold with a donation from each sale going to the Hospice's New Horizons Appeal.

The following event took us to the opposite end of the country, to Wadebridge and the Royal Cornwll Agricultural show. Here we were awarded a Large Gold medal as well as the trophy for the Best New Exhibitor. This is a view of the exhibit and sales table.

After a couple of days at home, having been on the road constantly since Chelsea, it was off to the delightful town of Axminster in Devon. The Axe Vale Garden Festival must rate as one of the friendliest shows of the year with all the committee members doing all they could to make every exhibitor welcome. All proceeds from the show were donated to local charities. Here we received a Large Gold medal and the honour of being judged Best in Show.

This weekend, with Martyn taking a few days off at home, saw Don Wright, with the help of Ro (the lady who packs all your mail order plants and is seen in front of our exhibit) and Trevor Lawrence, do the very local Arley Hall Garden Festival. Here we were awarded a Gold medal.

Friday 3rd July saw Martyn set off to Hampton Court however, the day almost ended in disaster after a tyre blowout on the M40. Fortunately, despite the van turning over, Martyn was not injured nor was any other motorist involved. What followed was a great team effort, Andy and Ben, from the nursery, volunteered to set off and, having picked Martyn up from hospital, went to recover all that was salvagable from the van and deliver it to Hampton Court. Their day finished at 3 o'clock the next morning when they arrived back in Cheshire. A fresh load of flowers was cut overnight, and together with new selling plants, delivered to the show on Saturday morning ready for staging.

With Hampton Court not finishing until Sunday evening Don staged the display in Harrogate. When Martyn had finished at Hampton Court he went back to the nursery to get fresh selling stock and onto Harrogate on the Monday ready to open on Tuesday morning. Here we were awarded a Large Gold medal.

Tatton Park saw a change of style, with Don doing a Victorian themed exhibit using a number of props including 100 year old wheelbarrows and handcarts. The blooms still predominated and provided a spectacular display which was awarded a Gold medal. The BBC came to the nursery and filmed the preparations for the show, and this, along with a interview with Carol Klein, was broadcast on Gardener's World on the Thursday. This coverage caused a great deal of interest and we had a very busy show despite the weather.

Next came a trip over the hills to Derbyshire and the Bakewell show. Despite the very wet ground conditions we had a successful time, being awarded a Large Gold medal and the trophy for Best Exhibit in the flower show.

With Martyn back from his well earned break it is a short trip to the coast at Southport. Again the weather was not the best, so much for a barbeque summer! Here we gained a Large Gold medal and the Liverpool Daily Post Centenary trophy for the Best Exhibit of Chrysanthemums.

Next came what used to be the Amateur Gardening show at Shepton Mallet. A much smaller show than in recent years and all the floral exhibits are now in permanent buildings so no matter what the weather a dry time was ensured. Here we gained a Large Gold medal. This show also marked the end of young plant sales for 2009, some good bargains were snapped up by the public.

Two shows this weekend, so Don was off to Harrogate for the autumn show on the Great Yorkshire showground. Amongst the spectacular 30 foot exhibit the flower that caused most interest with the public was our new release for 2010, Chrysanthemum 'Green Mist' (seen in the middle of the picture), which was being given it's first outing. The exhibit was given a Premier award.

This weekend saw us at the South of England showground in Sussex, for their Autumn Game Fair. This was just a small exhibit in with the amateur show, but caused a lot of interest and sales of cut flower went very well - indeed Martyn came home with an empty van!