The Annual Flower Show of the National Parks Trust attracted several floral arrangements and unique floral displays.

One of the winning pieces in the Art and Craft Competition.

One of the winning pieces which copped first place for best in its class. Photo: VINO

Brother and sister Anthony and Anjanique Cheltenham with their winning floral arrangements. Photo: VINO

Yesterday afternoon, Sunday November 20, 2011, many gathered at the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens for the annual event which featured displays of winning pieces from the floral competition and children’s art and craft competition.

The winning pieces were proudly displayed as curious visitors cast their own judgment of which they think were deemed the winners. Outside of the exhibition hall, National Parks Trust workers were kept busy at their plant sale where several types of plants were on sale at what employees said were very reasonable prices.

Presentations were also made to winners in the various competitions. Among the winners was Dora Harrigan-Chalwell, who was the winner of the Large Garden and Indoor & Porch categories. Mrs. Dinis Chalwell of Tarris Hill won the Small Garden competition while Victoria Jennings was named winner of the Specialty Garden. Kent Bernier of Jost Van Dyke was nammed winner of the Commercial Garden with his famous Guavaberry Farm.

Presentations were also made to the youngsters who participated in the floral competition as well as the Art and Craft Competition. Among them were a brother and sister, Anjanique and Anthony Cheltenham. They participated in the Floral Arrangement category for the 5 to 8 age group with Anjanique taking first place and Anthony second.

In the Craft Competition, Anya Ganeson copped first place in the 5-8 age group while Elea Abetel-Marion took second and Jahnia Harrigan placed third. They are all from Montessori school.

In the adult division, Margaret Pringle came first, Olivia Newling-Ward second and Carol Smith in third.

Meanwhile, the entertainment segment of the day’s event attracted more attention. The St. George’s Liturgical Dancers, Callaloo Poets and Purple Dragon were among the performers.

The Purple Dragon Karate School, with their usual brave displays, wooed the crowd as youngsters between the ages of 7 and 16 demonstrated their prowess through various moves, flips, kicks and coordinated technique presentations.

The evening wined down with the Razor Blades Fungi Band taking patrons down memory lane as the curtains came down on a full afternoon’s worth of events.

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The Annual Flower Show kick started the beginning of the silver anniversary celebrations of the National Parks Trust which continues this week with various events and culminates over the weekend of November 26 and November 27 with a Jazz and Blues Concert Series featuring UB40’s Ali Campbell and John Legend.

According to Director of the NPT Joseph Abbott Smith,the NPT is extremely proud and pleased to be able to offer and host the events at the gardens, which will then proceed to the Queen Elizabeth Park later in the week.

Speaking particularly to the NPT’s 50 years of existence, the director said, “It has obviously been a labour of love, and the actual achievements of the trust, we are extremely proud over a long term to declare 21 parks which really span natural as well as marine, terrestrial as well as historical sites.”

He said the NPT will continue to maintain, conserve and advocate for the protection of the environment in the broadest sense.

The list of winners in the various divisions of the Annual Flower Show as follows.