Highgate flower show flourishes despite challenging weather for gardeners

Some delightful summer blooms at the Highgate Horticultural Society's 156th summer show. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

Old rivals and new competitors were vying for top prizes at the show, which has now been going for 156 years.

According to HHS, an unusually wet spring and a particularly dry summer have posed climatic challenges, but green-fingered enthusiasts still managed to produce a wide range of summer flowers, fruit and vegetables, alongside home-baking and handicraft.

Aptly-named gardener Gary Sycamore was one of the show’s stars — exhibits including a mix of vegetables known as ‘cook’s delight’ won him an astonishing 13 awards.

Other worthy cup winners included Steve Hooper and Mary Alexander for three remarkably uniform beetroot crops, Jean Morley for redcurrants, Alan Dallman for foliage and Zarin Nadjafian for a basket of summer flowers.

Gary Sycamore with his trophies and prize-winning veg at the Highgate Horticultural Society's summer show. Picture: Nigel Suton (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

The Royal Horticultural Society’s judge said: “Despite the recent dry and hot weather there were some lovely exhibits and some exceptional ones.”