Families can admire a fabulous free Spring Show exhibition this weekend in Southport courtesy of Southport and District Chrysanthemum Society, as the society celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The event will be held at Marble Place Shopping Centre between 10am and 5pm this Saturday and Sunday (5th and 6th April 2025) at Marble Place shopping centre on Chapel Street in Southport town centre.
You can see displays provided by 46 exhibitors and all their helpers.
The Southport and District Chrysanthemum Society was reformed in December 1949 after the original society disbanded during the Second World War. The first meeting was held in January 1950.
Chrysanthemum growing and showing was popular and shows had been run in the town by the Council Flower Show Committee.
In 1953 the society ran its first show independently of the council.
In the early years flower shows were staged in Christ Church School Hall and Burton Arcade (now Wayfarers Arcade) on Lord Street.
From 1974 the annual Spring, Summer and Autumn Shows were held in the beautiful Southport Botanic Gardens in Churchtown Village.
More recently the two annual shows in Spring and Autumn have been held in Marble Place Shopping Centre on Chapel Street in Southport town centre.
Celebrating the 75th year in 2025 will be renowned designer, plantsman and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw.
His talk, from 7.30pm on Wednesday 23rd April 2025, will feature the evolution of the English Garden style and stunning herbaceous borders as he “paints with plants” describing styles and approaches we can use in our own gardens.
Tickets are just £10 for the evening at Greenbank High School and will be on sale at the Spring Show in Marble Place on Saturday 5th April and Sunday 6 April.
At the annual Spring and Autumn Shows there will be special People’s Choice classes where visitors will choose their favourite exhibit.
The shows are a fantastic weekend with hundreds of exhibits of flowers, pot plants, baking, craft and photography.
There are classes for everyone including children with cash prizes and trophies to win.
Monthly evening talks with a gardening theme are held every last Tuesday at Emmanuel Church Hall in Southport.
Summer coach trips are arranged to gardens like Arley Hall and RHS Bridgewater.
The Society has two lunches held at the Old Links Golf Club.
It’s a really friendly society of around 140 members and is looking for more members to join and enjoy the talks, shows and trips.
The annual cost of membership is £15 with free entry to talks throughout the year and a monthly newsletter.
The Society’s most famous member and current Chair is Alan Foxall who joined aged 18. The multi award-winning Nursery Manager at the Botanic Gardens for 46 years and the winner of many trophies at Southport Flower Show over many years, Alan grows plants for sale on behalf of the Society.
For more details about Southport and District Chrysanthemum Society please visit: https://e-voice.org.uk/southportchrysants/
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