THE array of brightly coloured umbrellas very nearly, but not quite, matched the exotic display of floral exhibits at Malvern's Spring Gardening Show. But that didn't stop the first national outdoor extravaganza of the summer being a horticultural hit.

Extended for the first time to four full days, the event on the Three Counties Showground coincided with a break in the weather after six dry weeks.

"If it's like this next year, I think we'll have a Best in Show for umbrellas," said show press officer Sharon Gilbert. "We've had rain every day and on Sunday it just tipped it down. But it's good for the garden, isn't it?"

As surprisingly large crowds trudged through the downpour yesterday in waterproofs and wellies and the Teddy Bears trad jazz band and a Caribbean steel band did their best to raise spirits, Nick Vincent, chief executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, which organises the show in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society, was able to take a whole list of positives from the weekend.

"If you look at the development of the show over its 22 years, where we are now is quite amazing," he said. "It's nice to be compared with Chelsea and very flattering.

"The quality of exhibits continues to rise and this year there were a record 41 golds awarded in the RHS marquee, which would have been unthinkable even a few years ago.

"We're absolutely thrilled. It is the biggest gold medal haul ever and proves the show is growing all the time.

"In fact, 70 per cent of the awards in the Malvern Floral Marquee were either gold or silver gilt, the highest two categories, which was tremendous.

"Also we had two golds in the show gardens, which we have never had before.

"The weather is bound to have affected our attendance figures, although I am sure they will still be healthy, but numbers through the gate are only one measure of a show's success.

"This was the third year of our interactive design theatre and events in there were very popular. The launch of Chris Beardshaw's bursary scheme to encourage new garden designers will also point the way forward, for Malvern has always had a reputation for supporting new talent.

"The future for the Spring Gardening Show looks very bright and a few rainy days won't alter that."

Watch it on video - click on 1st link at bottom of page

To see gallery of the show click on the 2nd link at the bottom of page.