Once again the Anguilla Beautification Club (ABC) has come up trumps with the annual Flower and Garden Show, now in its ninth year, held in the grounds of Wallblake House over the weekend of 23 and 24 February.

Winning Garden Display

ABC Chairperson Ms Avon Carty opened the proceedings on Saturday and acted as Mistress of Ceremonies. Pastor Phillip Gumbs from the Church of God (Holiness) gave the invocation. Lady Josephine Gumbs, the show’s Chairperson welcomed those present to the show. His Excellency the Governor, Andrew George, referred to the good works undertaken across Anguilla by the Club in its quest to beautify the island.

Pepper Steppers in action at the Flower Show

The Honourable Kenneth Harrigan, speaking on behalf of Finance Minister, the Honourable Victor Banks, off island to attend a funeral, commented that ‘it is a pleasure to see a beautiful garden. I would especially like to congratulate the club on the excellent contribution it has made over the years to keep Anguilla beautiful. We should all try to make Anguilla a garden in the Caribbean.” Commenting on the involvement of Anguilla’s youth he said, “The club encourages young people to participate in this event... to get them involved at a very early age. I really look forward to seeing the work of the children who are taking part in their school garden flower competition.” He further commented, “More and more Anguillians are taking an interest in landscaping their property even though nowadays landscaping is almost as expensive as building a home. We are therefore extremely happy that organisations like ABC are ready to help to make the island a more pleasant environment for residents as well as visitors.” To the ABC he pledged, “I promise to continue to support them in every way that I can. Please be assured that the government and the community appreciate all your efforts to make Anguilla a great and better place.”

One of the floral arrangements on display

Mrs Hyacinth Hughes, ABC President, thanked the guest speakers and former Chief Minister, Sir Emile Gumbs for his support of the Flower Show. She acknowledged the membership of ABC who were “generous in time and talent in making this a must see event.” She commented that ‘It is important to encourage home owners to beautify their homes and turn yards into gardens. This year’s best home garden competition had a record 14 entries.” The ABC ran the Best village competition, which “got off to a slow start, slow because it was difficult to get villages to participate.” 6 Villages competed and Sandy Ground won. Mrs Hughes pointed out the need “to look at the long term and to get involved if we are serious about beautifying Anguilla.” Ongoing projects are in hand around the island, which include landscaping and the provision of items such as benches.

The Club presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Amelia Vanterpool –Kubisch, Director of the Anguilla Tourist Board, who officially opened the show in a short ceremony.

Central Christian School’s display

Coloured Place Ribbons abounded and the quality of the competition was very high. The winner of the Best Home Garden was Elsie Phillips. In other categories, Vincia Gumbs won for her arrangement of flowers picked in Anguilla and her arrangement of flowers depicting a sunset, which won Best in Show. Irma Richardson won the category for an arrangement of fresh flowers in a vase or bowl. Marjorie McClean won for her arrangement of foliage without flowers and Stanley Reid won twice for his displays of cacti and succulents. The Central Christian School took first place for the fourth year in a row for its garden display entitled ‘Animals in Paradise’, complete with ceramic goats. Once again displays and artwork by schools throughout the island were of exceptional imagination and design.

Display of work by Island Harbour Primary School

ther award winners were Roselyn McKenna and Catherine Rieman in the flower arrangement category, Estelle Richardson, Judy Huzzey and Anthea Roach in the plants in a container division and Shinelle Proctor, Marion Abbott, Sierra Richardson, Tanasha Duncan, Natalie Richardson and Molly-Grace Storm in the under 18 flower arranging section. In the under 18 container section Jacob Parles, Natalie Richardson and Javal Hodge were all triumphant.

Jerry Browne of the Anguilla Garden Centre and Esther Ruan won in the garden categories, whilst in the Schools art section Morgane Zaharia from the Teacher Gloria Omolulu School and Verlyndah Rogers from the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School were winners.

Entertainment on Saturday was provided by members of the energetic Pepper Steppers skipping display team, which has enthralled audiences across Anguilla in recent months. The show was enhanced by numerous stalls selling plants and garden accessories, as well as handicrafts, art works, refreshments and sundry other items.

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