PICTURES: Lockdown gardeners blossom in Black Isle Horticultural Society online challenge, overcoming disappointment over show cancellation

By Philip Murray

Published: 17:00, 15 August 2020

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Jon Palmer's boat before he upcycled it into a sitootery.

DELIGHTED members of the Black Isle Horticultural Society have praised the public’s response to a series of lockdown growing challenges.

The society had been due to hold its annual summer show last weekend, but was forced to cancel it earlier in the year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But despite the blow, the society decided to host seven online challenges, with the winners being announced on the same day that the show would have taken place.

Jon Palmer won the upcycled item challenge with this 'sitootery' made from half a boat.

The winners included Jon Palmer of Cromarty in the upcycled item class, with a spectacular conversion of half a boat into a Sitooterie, and Fortrose’s Ruth Davidson, whose close-up photo of a rose beat off 16 other challengers to win the Colonel Irvine Cup.

Graham Sullivan, Secretary of the BIHS, said “We’ve had lots of people participate, and it’s been great fun. We’d like to thank everyone who entered. We’d also like to thank our judges and everyone else who has helped.”

Gallery1

Challenge 1 -Pick and cook's winner was Mary Rhind with her entry, a Chocolate Courgette Loaf.

Dawn Finch's "Sassy carrot" won the peculiar fruit or vegetable challenge.

Laura Tulloch's 390mm entry won the challenge to produce the longest runner bean.

Annabelle Raistrick won the challenge to produce a decorated flower pot (under 14 years).

Scott Lindsay was the runner-up in the challenge to produce a vase of annuals.

Mary Rhind won the challenge to produce a vase of annuals with this entry.

Challenge seven was a colour photo of any horticultural subject (close-up composition). Ruth Davidson claimed first place, and the Colonel Irvine Cup, with this entry.

Lynne Mackenzie was a very close second in the close-up composition photo challenge with this entry.

The summer show will be back in 2021. In the meantime, it will be posting more garden-related content online this autumn and winter.

Visit www.spanglefish.com/blackislehorticulturalsociety for details.

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