ONE winner at the Maldon and Heybridge horticultural society show can identify the moment he fell in love with the world of horticulture.
Michael Shrimpton, who is president of the society, says he took a shine to the Alpine flowers he saw in the French mountains when he went to see the Tour de France as a young man.
The Maldon and Heybridge Horticultural society summer show brought together the best in vegetables, baking, flowers, art, handicrafts and photography.
"I came back from the Tour de France and all I was talking about was the Alpine plants that grow there, I knew I had found something that I really loved.
"My speciality is Alpine plants and I'm pleased I won the prize but I don't do it for the awards," said Michael.
Michael, a retired gardener, has also named a plant after his late father after he mixed together a plant from Patagonia with a plant native to the Falkland Islands.
"It's a great show and there have been a lot of strong entries this year. I became president not so long ago and the show is really important for people to come in and look around, and hopefully get involved," said Michael.
With first prizes being £1, second prizes 75p, and third prizes 50p for some entrants winning up to 20 categories the cash can add up.
Event organiser Gillian Coppen said: "It has been a particularly well entered event this year and the winnings are not to be sniffed at. Honestly though it's all about our passion for baking and growing, I don't think people enter for the money, and I'm just pleased that everything has gone well today.
"There's a lot of work that goes into the organising of a day like this and we all pull together to make it the best possible day it can be."
The show has existed in one form or another since before 1900.
