Long Sutton and Holbeach 'Bloom' teams go for gold ... while Spalding fades away
Bloom teams in Long Sutton and Holbeach hoped to strike gold as eagle-eyed judges yesterday toured magnificent displays.
There's a spirit of optimism in both towns, with Long Sutton aiming to better last year's silver gilt and Holbeach aiming for a fourth gold in a row.
Results won't be known until September.
In Spalding there is disappointment as the town's gold run ended with no one willing to lead the 2019 Bloom effort.
Spalding pub landlord Pete Williams, who with wife Steph helped with past displays, said no more could be expected of Coun Angela Newton - who led the campaign for many years and stepped down in 2018 after five successive golds.
The Williams won a top regional Bloom award for their Punchbowl garden last year but they were too busy to lead a whole town effort this year.
Pete said: "Angela did her shift and she did her shift well. We were actually looking to get a body of people together that could take it on and there has been no response whatsoever.
"It may be that it needs taking away before everybody realises what they are missing and want to come together and start again.
"Sometimes you don't realise what you have got until you haven't got it."
Long Sutton In Bloom chairman Kay Jenkinson said: "A lot has happened in the last year and one of the major things is that the parish council has planted throughout the public parks 100 indigenous trees, which is quite an achievement."
Another new feature is a D-Day 75th anniversary display by the primary school in the West Street car park.
Holbeach In Bloom chairman Graham Rudkin said theirs is a "whole town effort" because so many people get involved.
"We have had lots and lots of positive comments this year," he said.
He describes the churchyard as particularly "stunning" with floral tubs in shades of apricot and orange.
Previously ...
Golden cheers for South Holland
Golden day for Spalding and Holbeach
'Judgment day' for Spalding in Bloom
