Gardeners overcome heat and drought to produce fine displays
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David Miller presented the prizes to the show winners. Hilda Reid received the trophy for the best exhibit in the dahlia classes.Image 2 of 8
Bernie Bennett received the trophy for the best rose in the show.Image 3 of 8
Teresa Cox received the trophy for the best exhibit by a first-time entrant, from David Miller.Image 4 of 8
Bernadette Cleary received the Ann O’Sullivan Trophy for the best exhibit in the Floral Art Section.Image 5 of 8
Betty Mimnagh Dunne received the Noreen Clarke trophy for the highest number of points in the photography section.Image 6 of 8
Ann Russell receives the Joe Daly Trophy for third place overall in the show with a total of 242 points.Image 7 of 8
Christina Smyth receives the Model Garden Trophy for second place overall in the show with 136 points.Image 8 of 8
Danny Dunne is presented with the Bank of Ireland Trophy for first place and show champion 2026 with a total of 246 points.The displays at the Mullingar and District Gardening Club annual flower on Saturday proved that dedication and expertise in the form of the famed green fingers can help plants cope with the heat we’ve experienced this summer.
Those high temperatures and the drought have mean that plants and vegetables struggled to survive. Many of the summer blooms had faded far too early and some have not yet bloomed, but the dedication and expertise of our members of the club, as well as the many non-members who participated on Saturday, came up with a spectacular display of flowering plants, roses, shrubs, baskets, window boxes, potted plants, fruit, vegetable, herbs, as well as outstanding displays of floral art, to make it a successful and enjoyable day.
It was a free event and many people sauntered in for a chat making it an event worth remembering for summer 2026.
The gardening club year begins in March each year. Meetings take place on the third Friday of the month at the Belvedere Bridge Centre, Dublin Road, Mullingar at 8pm and new members are always welcome.
The next meeting is on Friday September 18, when Helen Butler will give a talk entitled ‘Looking at the garden with new eyes’.
In October Beech hill bulbs from Tullamore will present a demonstration on bulb growing and will have some produce for sale as well.