Spring might be on the way but it’s not here quite yet.
So, on today’s Nostalgia pages let’s remind ourselves of a time of year when there are plenty of blooms around.
PRESENT: Les Bell, of Kirkby, with his prize-winning chrysanthemums at Barrow Horticultural Society Show in 1989
Barrow Horticultural Society held its annual show in September 1989.
Show manager Ray Spittle said the standard was very high that year, with flowers good enough to do well in national shows.
A trophy in memory of committee member Jim Rollinson was won by his daughter.
WEIGH: Gary Roberts with his prize-winning pumpkin at Barrow Horticultural Society Show in 1989
Linda Rollinson, 20, of Southport Drive, Walney, picked up three awards at the show, including the cut-glass vase in memory of her late father, for a naturalistic floral art exhibit.
Winner of the blue rib and for the best horticultural exhibit was Les Bell, whose chrysanthemums also won the trophy for the best exhibit in flowers and five other awards.
Gardeners might have been cursing the recent dry spell in September 1991 - but it made little difference to the high standard of entries at Barrow’s 70th horticultural show that year.
WINNING: Dahlias were the road to success for Gordon Benson, of Barrow, in the novice section at Barrow Horticultural Society Show in 1989
The Forum 28 show hall was brightened up with glorious gladioli, delightful dahlias, quality carrots and a lot more.
Organisers said entries were down on previous years, but the standards seemed as good ever.
And particularly pleasing, according to show manager Roy Spittle, was the large number of youngsters entering the various schoolchildren competitions.
CHEERS: Linda Rollinson, first prize winner in floral art for table decoration at Barrow Horticultural Society Show in 1989
Mr Spittle said: “We are down on entries overall because of the weather, especially in flowers.
“In the circumstances people have rallied around and done extremely well.
“We have done our best to make it look good for the public.”
The Mail’s reporter wrote: ‘Certainly to the layman there was no hint of it looking like a bad gardening summer. If this was bad, what must it be like when it’s good?"
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