It’s blooming good for National Trust
Gardeners at three National Trust properties in Devon are celebrating a total of seventeen prizes across multiple categories, after a sweep of awards were won for rhododendron, magnolias, camellias and floral arrangements at the recent RHS Rosemoor Garden Show.
Garden teams at Castle Drogo, Killerton and Greenway were thrilled to receive awards for their hard work nurturing the colourful flora, which visitors in Devon will be able enjoy when visiting the properties this season.
Successes included ten prizes for Killerton, near Exeter, with four first prizes, three second prizes, two third prizes and a fourth prize – the majority for rhododendron.
Castle Drogo’s garden team were awarded a total of four prizes, including first for any rhododendron shown by a first time exhibitor, as well as a second and third spot too.
Another glut of awards went to Greenway on the River Dart, who took home three 1st places, three 2nd places and one 3rd for their floral arrangements and prize-winning camellias.
This success follows on from the RHS Early Spring Flower Show at Rosemoor on Saturday 11 March, where the Greenway garden team were awarded 14 prizes for their selection of camellias.
Colin Clark, Senior Gardner for Greenway said: ‘After gathering what felt like nearly every flower in the garden, the team put together some beautiful arrangements. I was hugely impressed with the display, as were the RHS, as they awarded us 1st, 2nd and 3rd for floral arrangements.’
Ashley Brent, Gardener at Killerton said, ‘This is the first year that we’ve exhibited plants from Killerton and we’re thrilled to have been able to bring home so many prizes, especially following the success of our ornamental spring plants and Rhododendron at the RHS Early Spring Flower Show.’
Emma Robertson, Head Gardener at Castle Drogo said, ‘It’s been really good to be able to showcase the wonderful plants we have in the gardens high up on Dartmoor.’
The good news is that the flowers will all be in bloom for a few more weeks, so anyone wishing to visit the gardens and see them have until end of May to see the award-winning plants and maybe ask the gardeners a question or two about the secret to growing great rhododendron and camellias.
