By Press Release
The IW Observer’s gardening columnist, Darren Everest, and his wife, Dawn, have just won a Silver Gilt Medal at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show.
This was their first time exhibiting at the prestigious event and, despite many challenges, they put up a magnificent display of the sweet pea blooms.
Darren is recognised for his prize-winning dahlias, but also grows sweet peas, and for many years has exhibited at shows across the south and south-east. He said: “I’ve always wanted to exhibit at Chelsea, but, until I moved to the Island, never had the time or space to be able to grow enough plants under cover to be able to do so.
“I also had another reason to want to exhibit there. I surprised Dawn, on our wedding day in 2012, by having a new variety of Sweet Pea named for her!
“Cold nights leading up to the show caused many buds to fall off and I had several sleepless nights with the worry and stress as to whether we would make it in time.
“Just two days before the show, I still wasn’t sure if they would bloom in time. Fortunately, with the weather finally on my side, the sun shone down for a few consecutive days and I was able to cut just about enough blooms to put on a display to wow the judges and visitors.
“We couldn’t have done this without all the help from family and friends, so thank you, all.”
Isle of Wight Observer