2017 Flower Show
Preparations for the Flower Show started in earnest at 9am on the dull and drizzly Friday morning.
The 'usual suspects' proceeded to flex their muscles to get out all the bits and pieces of Horti paraphernalia from beneath the stage in the Victoria Hall and scratch their heads to decide how all the staging fitted together.
We've said it before, but it is quite an operation (somewhat like assembling flatpack furniture without the instructions)
They were joined an hour later by four of the Queen's Guard who were a welcome addition to the manpower.
and by lunchtime all the stands were erected and class cards in place ready for the entries to be taken on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Many thanks once again to Jim, Colin, William, Michael, John and Malcolm for sorting out all the staging and to Elizabeth, Morag and Anne who set up the Mike Sheridan and Beaton Craigie Rooms, unpacked and arranged all the vases and made sure all the administration and a myriad other things were in place so all would run smoothly in the lead-up to welcoming competitors and receiving their entries for the Show.
What a Team they are !!!
The 'usual suspects' proceeded to flex their muscles to get out all the bits and pieces of Horti paraphernalia from beneath the stage in the Victoria Hall and scratch their heads to decide how all the staging fitted together.
We've said it before, but it is quite an operation (somewhat like assembling flatpack furniture without the instructions)
They were joined an hour later by four of the Queen's Guard who were a welcome addition to the manpower.
and by lunchtime all the stands were erected and class cards in place ready for the entries to be taken on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Many thanks once again to Jim, Colin, William, Michael, John and Malcolm for sorting out all the staging and to Elizabeth, Morag and Anne who set up the Mike Sheridan and Beaton Craigie Rooms, unpacked and arranged all the vases and made sure all the administration and a myriad other things were in place so all would run smoothly in the lead-up to welcoming competitors and receiving their entries for the Show.
What a Team they are !!!
The weather leading up to the show presented our gardeners with the usual dilemma of "Should I pick now or leave it to the day of the Show?"
Always a tricky question for our exhibitors but unlike last year, when we saw torrential rain batter all the plants on the way from car to hall, the weather was much kinder to us on Friday and Saturday.
As our Chairman said,
"Ach.....it's swings and roundabouts" from one year to the next
and we never know what will be exhibited until it turns up at the door.
Always a tricky question for our exhibitors but unlike last year, when we saw torrential rain batter all the plants on the way from car to hall, the weather was much kinder to us on Friday and Saturday.
As our Chairman said,
"Ach.....it's swings and roundabouts" from one year to the next
and we never know what will be exhibited until it turns up at the door.
The vegetable and fruit section was a bit depleted this year
and all the growers agreed it had been a difficult few months for certain plants and vegetables.
and all the growers agreed it had been a difficult few months for certain plants and vegetables.
The Pot Plants didn't look as if they'd been bothered by the summer showers.
Click the 'play' button on the photo below to start the slideshow.
A great display as usual.
Click the 'play' button on the photo below to start the slideshow.
A great display as usual.
Once again, we welcomed some new Members to the Society, a few of whom won an award or two!
It's always lovely to see newcomers and it bodes well for the continuation of the Flower Show in future years.
We hope they'll enjoy being part of this Society which was established in 1859, and that they'll also encourage their friends and family to come along and join us.
It's always lovely to see newcomers and it bodes well for the continuation of the Flower Show in future years.
We hope they'll enjoy being part of this Society which was established in 1859, and that they'll also encourage their friends and family to come along and join us.
Cut Flowers
Filled the Hall with spectacular colour and fragrance on Saturday and Sunday
Floral Art
Lots of imagination and skill is displayed with these clever floral art entries.
Very professional !
Lots of imagination and skill is displayed with these clever floral art entries.
Very professional !
Crafts
Some amazing exhibits
Some amazing exhibits
Home Baking
All looked delicious !
All looked delicious !
Children's Challenge
A special mention should go to the youngsters who spent many hours making their entries for the Children’s Challenge.
They certainly have vivid imaginations which resulted in some fabulous, colourful items which brought broad smiles to everyone's faces.
Can't wait to see your creations next year.
Well done to you all !
A special mention should go to the youngsters who spent many hours making their entries for the Children’s Challenge.
They certainly have vivid imaginations which resulted in some fabulous, colourful items which brought broad smiles to everyone's faces.
Can't wait to see your creations next year.
Well done to you all !
Best Business Floral Display
A bigger selection of photos can be seen on our 2017 on our tab for
2017 Best Village Floral Display
A bigger selection of photos can be seen on our 2017 on our tab for
2017 Best Village Floral Display
As you can see from the above photographs, there was a fantastic array of entries to enchant and delight our visitors, young and old.
As usual we were supported by local residents and visitors to the village from the UK and further afield.
We had the opportunity to chat to folk from all over the World with a couple from as far away as Texas saying how delighted they were with the Exhibition and saying that they were thrilled to see such a traditional village event being carried out every year.
They were given details of our website and said they'd look forward to keeping up to date with our comings and goings.
We hope they will be able to enjoy dipping in and out of the website for years to come but more importantly our thoughts were with them and many others as Texas was in the forefront of the news a week after our show. As a result of tropical storm Harvey Texas was hit by catastrophic flooding which sadly killed several people and over 30,000 homes had to be evacuated.
The local population of Ballater can easily empathise with the Texans, having been on the receiving end of Mother Nature ourselves at the end of 2015.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected and even though we don't have a name for the couple we spoke to we sincerely hope you and your family and friends are safe and well.
As usual we were supported by local residents and visitors to the village from the UK and further afield.
We had the opportunity to chat to folk from all over the World with a couple from as far away as Texas saying how delighted they were with the Exhibition and saying that they were thrilled to see such a traditional village event being carried out every year.
They were given details of our website and said they'd look forward to keeping up to date with our comings and goings.
We hope they will be able to enjoy dipping in and out of the website for years to come but more importantly our thoughts were with them and many others as Texas was in the forefront of the news a week after our show. As a result of tropical storm Harvey Texas was hit by catastrophic flooding which sadly killed several people and over 30,000 homes had to be evacuated.
The local population of Ballater can easily empathise with the Texans, having been on the receiving end of Mother Nature ourselves at the end of 2015.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected and even though we don't have a name for the couple we spoke to we sincerely hope you and your family and friends are safe and well.
Visitors to the Show
The Prizegiving Ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon
and a goodly crowd was in attendance to witness the delight of all our Winners who were presented with their awards by our new President, Dr Margaret Glennie.
and a goodly crowd was in attendance to witness the delight of all our Winners who were presented with their awards by our new President, Dr Margaret Glennie.
Best
Have a look at the other Trophy Winners
Here are some of the Winners in the Children's Challenge
Last .....but not least.....
the Raffle !
A big part of our Show is the annual raffle, the proceeds of which go a long way towards the cost of putting on the Show each year.
This, together with Sponsorship money very generously donated by local organisations and businesses within and outwith the village, means that we can continue to have an Annual Flower Show in Ballater.
We really appreciate everyone who gave up their valuable time to make the raffle a success.
Also the money raised in the plant sale and also this raffle enables us to help other organisations in the Village - we have been able to purchase and supply the Halls with much needed new tables for the use of everyone attending community events.
You can see the tables being presented to the Halls' Trustees by clicking here
Click here to see the names of the lucky raffle prizewinners.
the Raffle !
A big part of our Show is the annual raffle, the proceeds of which go a long way towards the cost of putting on the Show each year.
This, together with Sponsorship money very generously donated by local organisations and businesses within and outwith the village, means that we can continue to have an Annual Flower Show in Ballater.
We really appreciate everyone who gave up their valuable time to make the raffle a success.
Also the money raised in the plant sale and also this raffle enables us to help other organisations in the Village - we have been able to purchase and supply the Halls with much needed new tables for the use of everyone attending community events.
You can see the tables being presented to the Halls' Trustees by clicking here
Click here to see the names of the lucky raffle prizewinners.
A very big thank you to all who sponsored the Show,
donated prizes and bought and sold raffle tickets, and also to those who work behind the scenes prior to, during and after the Show.
This mamouth joint effort certainly adds up to making our Show such a great success.
See you all next year !
donated prizes and bought and sold raffle tickets, and also to those who work behind the scenes prior to, during and after the Show.
This mamouth joint effort certainly adds up to making our Show such a great success.
See you all next year !