Rows of flowers in vases are displayed on tables alongside baked goods, artwork, and crafts in a community hall with wooden walls and bulletin boards. Two people are seen arranging items in the background.

Kilsby Garden and Produce Association Annual Show

/in /by
What a wonderful show we had this year.   The standard is always high, but this year it was amazing.   We broke the records for the number of entries, and despite the difficult growing conditions this year, the produce and flower section did their growers proud.
The handicraft and cookery side had more classes this year, and that resulted in a very high number of entries and an equally high standard.   The judges were very hard pressed in many of the classes to select the winners.
A full list of all the cups won can be found in the Kilsby Kronickle (together with some more show photos), but we must mention the Best in Show : Kath McBirnie whose jacket earned a lot of praise from the two judges, and the winner of the Banksian Medal : Jan Odell.  Huge congratulations to you both.
Our next event is the AGM to be held in November, so look out for more details and join us for another enjoyable evening (not just the AGM bit, but the speaker and the nibbles!)
We hope that the autumn planting is going well, and that all those bulbs are going in for another wonderful flower display in the Spring.
Happy Gardening to you all.
Purple and white cyclamen flowers surrounded by green leaves and grass, with a few white snowdrops in the background.

Kilsby Garden & Produce Association February Update

/in /by

If we are to believe the calendar, then Spring Equinox is only a couple of weeks away.  It is easy at this end of the winter to become so fed up with the grey skies that it almost feels as though they are a permanent fixture.  But if we look at the spring flowers already blooming, and myriad bulbs already thrusting their way through the soil, then maybe, just maybe, we can believe the calendar and look forward to the wonderful colours of the new flowers.

Already, as we walk around the village there is so much to delight the eye, as our pictures show.   And just to remind ourselves that sometimes winter itself can be just as beautiful, we also have a couple of photos of those heavy frost days we had in January.

We already have lots to look forward to this year in the KGPA.   Our Gardeners’ Party is fast approaching on 28th March.   Kindly being hosted again by John and Annie Madigan – there will be the usual brain teaser of the quiz and the delicious buffet provided by the KGPA committee (many of the dishes being repeated year after year by popular demand!).

The annual seedling sale will be held on the Village Green at 10.30am on 10th May 2025. and there will be another Strawberry Tea in the summer – a different venue this year.  Details will be available soon.

Several visits are already in the planning stages – again we will send out emails (and update this page) when full details are available.

Garden and container judging will take place on Saturday 28th June and the NGS Open Garden scheme will be on Sunday 29th June.

The ever popular KGPA Produce Show will be on Sunday 7th September, and this year we have added more craft classes.  These are now:

40        Any Knitted article

41        Any Crochet article

42        Any Sewn article

43        Hard Craft – any article

44        Patchwork and/or applique

45        Cross stitch

46        Any Upcycled article

47        A blue colour-themed article in any medium

48        A Picture in any medium

49        Papercraft

50        You’ve made it – let’s see it!

51        A Photograph – A Gate

52        A Photograph – Water

 

So, plenty of advance warning to get those fingers working over the summer creating both in and out of the garden!

Unfortunately, at last year’s show we had no entries from children in the village at all.  So this year we had planned to try and hold something different in conjunction with the school.   This has not materialised as we had hoped and so for this year’s show there will be no children’s classes at all.   BUT …… do remember that children can enter ANY of the classes in the show (except for the gin class!).   They are not age restricted in any way.

Lots of things to look forward to in 2025 and you can become a member for only £5 per household per year.   And that entitles you to 10% discount at both Barby (plants only) and Whilton Locks nurseries.

Contact: Carol Chamberlain (carol@profitlinkgroup.co.uk) or Robin Nicholls (arjayen@hotmail.co.uk)

 

Cluster of white snowdrop flowers with green stems growing in a garden bed next to a cobblestone path. The small, delicate flowers have drooping petals and are surrounded by dark soil and a few bare stems. Two large metal sculptures resembling pine cones are set against a brick wall and surrounded by green vines. The sculptures are dusted with frost, highlighting their detailed shapes. A bronze rabbit sculpture with a dusting of frost on its ears and back is situated in a garden bed with frosty plants and soil, creating a wintry scene. A tortoise covered in frost walks on a rocky surface. The frost gives its shell and legs a fluffy, white appearance. Surrounding the tortoise are ivy leaves also dusted with frost.

A spacious hall with wooden walls featuring long tables filled with various flowers in vases, assorted produce, and baked goods. The room is well-lit with natural light streaming through large windows. Exhibition boards are visible in the background.

Kilsby Garden & Produce Association November Update

/in /by

Our most recent event was the annual Kilsby and Garden produce Show, held in the village hall, with an increased number of entries this year.  So many green fingers, and so much talent, in the village – great to see!

Our next gathering will be the AGM which is going to be held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 19th November, at 7.30pm.   Our guest speaker this year will be Suzy Lickman who is going to talk to us about house plants – something we might all need for a bit of greenery to get us through the winter.

This is always another very enjoyable occasion with mulled wine and nibbles after the speaker for some festive cheer.   Suzy will also be bringing some lovely house plants for purchase, so bring your pennies!

Next year we already some events lined up, starting with the traditionally excited May gathering, partly due to the gardening quiz and partly due to the wine!   A good spread is always provided by the committee to offset some of the wine.

Our annual seedling sale will take place on the Village Green where a huge variety of plants will be available – all grown in the village.   If you want to make a little money (and in these straightened times who doesn’t) or even donate to your favourite charity, then all members can take part in the sale.

There will also be a garden visit sometime in the Summer – in the past we have visited Batsford Arboretum, Sezincote House and gardens, Westbourne House, and lots of other lovely places to inspire our own gardens.

And we will soon be setting the date for the Strawberry and Wine evening (let’s hope for a good summer next year).

So already there are lots of lovely things to look forward to, and if anyone has any other ideas for visits we are always willing to investigate trips.

And just think, you can take part in all this for just £5.00 a year membership.

A display of cross-stitch artwork featuring a mouse with berries, a lynx in snow, a bee with tulips, a pillow with cats, and a motorcycle. The pieces are framed and presented on a wooden shelf.

A display of various artworks on a table and board. The board features photographs of trees and nature scenes, while the table showcases framed paintings and sketches. Bottles and small decorative items are also on the table.

A long table displaying various pies covered in plastic wrap at a community event. The table is decorated with colorful flowers and surrounded by chairs. In the background, there are photo displays on the walls.