DECIDING on the date for the Spring Flower Show is always problematic, writes Sheena Page.

Go for the end of March and some of the blooms may not have reached their best. ‘It’s too early, the daffodils aren’t ready’, they cry – and the show day might be grey and wet. Go for April and the daffodils may well be over. ‘You should have had it two weeks ago, I’ve nothing left to show’, they wail. And the show day might still be grey and wet!

Not having a crystal ball, we have to decide on a date well in advance and keep our fingers crossed that there will be something to show. The faithful growers of Wellington, West Buckland, Bradford-on-Tone, Churchstanton – and Shepton Mallet! – have never let us down and we were delighted that on Saturday we had the largest number of exhibitors and entries since the inception of the show in 2000.

The only disappointment was that there were no entries in the children’s classes. That aside, more than 100 visitors were treated to wonderful displays of spring bulbs and blooms, with different varieties of daffodils and tulips on show, camellias and hellebores, primulas and orchids.

The most popular class is always a vase of spring flowers and this year’s winner was new exhibitor Dawn Porter with a lovely vase of yellow and white narcissi, tulips, hyacinths and hellebores.

As well as admiring the exhibits, visitors were able to buy plants from Whitepost Nurseries and Chelston Nurseries, and beautiful floral cards and prints from committee member Tracey James. As always, Easter biscuits were served with the teas and coffees.

The committee would like to thank all exhibitors and visitors, and the judge, Phil Kerton. Thanks also to Wellington Prep School for the hire of the hall and Langford village hall for the use of crockery.

The summer show is on Saturday, August 26, and schedules are now available in the library and at Nurtured by Nature as well as online at www.wellingtonflowershow.co.uk