Highgate Horticultural Society got its 160th year underway with its spring show on April 13

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

As the day saw weather suited to all four seasons, including hail, there were tea and cakes on hand to warm up exhibitors and visitors while judging got underway at Highgate United Reform Church.

Jeanne Willis struck gold for another year in two categories – the Bush Halsey Challenge Cup for flower arranging and the Certificate of Merit for floral art.

Meanwhile Gary Sycamore took hom the Sergeant Bowl for best exhibit for his bulbs.

Elsewhere St Joseph’s School Naturehood Club won the Society’s Cup and Prof Stephen Marston won the Taylor Halsey Challenge Cup for most points for bulbs.

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 Cake Ladies Lindsay Cashmore & Priscilla GillerHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 Cake Ladies Lindsay Cashmore & Priscilla Giller (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

David, a judge from the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “Although it has been a difficult spring, this was a really good show and some of the daffodils were exceptional.”

Dr Laura Boothman said: “The show itself had some super exhibits – less daffodils than usual after the warm spell a few weeks ago, but this was more than made up for by an abundance of early blossom and tulips. There were also some stunning floral exhibits including an Easter bonnet made solely from flowers and feathers baskets of spring flowers, miniatures and line arrangements. I always think the scent is as much of the show as the sight in spring.”

The summer show will take place on July 13, and the autumn one follows on September 7.

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Ireses. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prof Steve Marston with his prize winning Ireses. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Jeanne Willis with her Easter Parade exhibit. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Jeanne Willis with her Easter Parade exhibit. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Jeanne Willis with her Easter Parade exhibit. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Jeanne Willis with her Easter Parade exhibit. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prize winning Daffodils. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prize winning Daffodils. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Susan Shillito with her prize winng flowers. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Susan Shillito with her prize winng flowers. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Susan Shillito with her prize winng flowers. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Susan Shillito with her prize winng flowers. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Gary Sycamore with his prize winng display. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Gary Sycamore with his prize winng display. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the DaffodilsHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the Daffodils (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prize winning Daffodils. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Prize winning Daffodils. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Sign outside the church. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Sign outside the church. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Dr Laura Boothman preparing for the auction of exhibits. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Dr Laura Boothman preparing for the auction of exhibits. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Betty Hall winner of the Brough tankard. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Betty Hall winner of the Brough tankard. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Roxane Stirling auctioning the exhibits. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019. Roxane Stirling auctioning the exhibits. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the DaffodilsHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the Daffodils (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the DaffodilsHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the Daffodils (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the DaffodilsHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 8 year old Marianne Benz admiring the Daffodils (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 (Image: © Nigel Sutton)

Ham & High: Highgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Prof Steve Marston's prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel SuttonHighgate Horticultural Society Spring show 2019 . Prof Steve Marston's prize winning Tulips. Picture: Nigel Sutton (Image: © Nigel Sutton)