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Kennaway House |
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Sidmouth's first Daffodil Day a blooming success - by Clarissa Place - from the 'Sidmouth Herald' website - 10th April :  Organiser Sally Blyth with Lady Christine Skelmersdale. Ref shs 14 18TI 0710. Picture: Terry Ife Sidmouth's very first Daffodil Day was a blooming success as organisers showcased the best of the flower variety at the weekend. Visitors could see the work of eight different nurseries, including a Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner, or take a guided walk led by Richard Eley around some of the town's daffodil sites. Outside Kennaway House was a daffodil decorated vintage Charabanc Toast Rack and specially made giant daffodils from Millin Metal. Inside, guests could view sixty local artists' paintings and pictures and photographs by school children all inspired by the yellow flower. Sid Vale Folk performed in the Cellar Bar - which was followed by talks from Lady Christine Skelmersdale, from Broadleigh Gardens, Kevin Hughes and the Reverend Handel Bennett and his wife Joan, on how the Sid Vale Association organised the community planting of over 600,000 bulbs in Sidmouth. There was also a Marie Curie tombola, daffodil gifts, a raffle and scrumptious cakes. 
 Nick Wade of Gardeners Delight Nursery. Ref shs 14 18TI 0723. Picture: Terry Ife Maggie Tinsley with Henrietta Bradshaw. Ref shs 14 18TI 0704. Picture: Terry Ife
Some further details from the day : Talks were given by : 11am - Lady Christine Skelmersdale from Broadleigh Bulbs and Gardens, who holds the National Collection of Alec Gray hybrids, will be talking about 'Using daffodils in the garden'. 12:15pm - Kevin Hughes, who has run the nursery at Heale House Gardens. He has had 30 years of field experience looking at narcissus in the wild, especially in Southern Spain and he will look at the greenhouse and garden culture of daffodils, understanding their ecological requirements and how that can help us grow them in our own gardens. 2pm - Rev. Handel Bennett, President of the Sid Vale Association, will be giving his talk on 'Keith Owen Sidmouth's Remarkable Benefactor' , who had the vision of a million blooms in the Sid Valley. The Daffodil Art & Photographic exhibition was open to all.
Special categories for school age children, from under 5s to 18 year olds. Art materials as prizes. Sidmouth Primary School is currently engaged in science lessons on plants, which they painted for Daffodil Day.
Nurseries attending the Plant Fair in the grounds : Elworthy Cottage Plants - cottage perennials, alpines, hardy geraniums and bulbs including snowdrops and narcissus Link to www.elworthy-cottage.co.uk Gardeners Delight Nursery - Unusual & rare perennials, alpine, Climbers & hardy shrubs grown by us in North Devon Link to www.gardenplantsandgifts.co.uk Hilltop Garden & Nursery - Dorset grown hardy herbaceous perennials & dahlias & unique stone art. Link to www.hilltopgarden.co.uk Millin Metalcraft - incredible metal sculptures. Sam is making several huge Daffodil sculptures based on the 'Keith Owen' Daffodil. The heads are over two feet across and look amazing! Link to www.millin-metal.com Millwood Plants - hardy, unusual herbaceous perennials for woodland gardens & shady places & cottage garden favourites Link to www.millwoodplants.com Pounsley Plants - Roses and rare and unusual herbaceous perennials Link to www.pounsleyplants.com Triffids Nursery - early flowering bulbs, snowdrops and shade loving perennials Link to www.triffidnurseries.co.uk Tynings Climbers - Chelsea gold medalists, specialise in climbing plants & hold National collections of Passion flower& Jasmine. Link to their brochure Wild Thyme Plants - beautifully scented, hardy perennials, shrubs & wildflowers. Link to www.wildthymeplants.co.uk |
which can benefit from the valley's benign early spring climate and highlight the wonderful planting by the Sidmouth community.
Link here to the dedicated Kennaway House website.
