Southport and District Chrysanthemum Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The society has been meeting and hosting events ever since 1950.
It is marking its 75th year with a series of events and talks, such as the recent Spring Garden Festival held at Marble Place shopping centre in Southport town centre.
Families flocked to the free exhibition which was held over two days at the start of the school Easter holidays on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th April 2025 with 46 exhibitors.
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.
Forthcoming events include:
Wednesday 23rd April 2025, 7.30pm – 9.30pm – A talk by renowned designer, plantsman and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw. This 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.
Saturday 10th May 2025, 10am-12.30pm – Come along to the Get Growing plant sale and coffee morning at Emmanuel Church on Cambridge Road. Grab some plants at great prices for borders, tubs and baskets then enjoy a cup of coffee / tea and cake. Free entry.
Tuesday 27th May 2025, 7.45pm – 9.30pm – Tea bags, bras and tights with Darren Rudge. Come along to hear from Darren Rudge how household items can make gardening more cost effective, with top tips and some trivia thrown in.
Darren, also known as ’the laughing gardener’ has been a BBC radio presenter/broadcaster for over 15 years. His tips and advice can be heard on BBC Radio West Midlands, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and BBC Oxford. Refreshments, plants for sale and raffle. Free entry for members. £2 for guests.
Tuesday 24th June 2025, 7.45pm – 9.30pm – Summer plants in the garden with Ingrid Millington. Joining is Ingrid Millington from Hillview Hardy Plants in Shropshire.
Hear about summer plants for your garden. Hillview Hardy Plants are regulars at many shows and plant fairs and have national collections of acanthus, albuca and auricula.
Refreshments, plants for sale and raffle. Free entry for members. £2 for guests.
Tuesday 30th September 2025, 7.30pm – 9pm. Making the most of your garden space with Jane Allison. Jane Allison runs Mayfields Plants and Garden Design from her third of an acre garden in Stanthorne, Cheshire. The talk begins with a look at three of Jane’s garden designs from start to completion. Also covered are planting ideas, the use of containers, wildlife considerations, water features, where to site fruit and vegetables, and choosing the right plant for the right place.
After a long career in teaching, Jane exchanged teenagers for plants. She attended Reaseheath college in Nantwich, and gained qualifications in horticulture and garden design, thus turning a lifelong interest in plants into a second career. She specialises in cottage garden perennials, many of which are grown from seed, and propagated from plants in her own herbaceous borders. Refreshments, plants for sale and raffle.
Free entry for members. £2 for guests.
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.
At the annual Autumn Show 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.
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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