CHILDREN from Cheshire are being invited to go along to a garden centre to enter a competition to grow tulips.
Tarporley Garden Centre on Forest Road, Cotebrook, has 60 tulip bulbs to give away as part of its Spring Flowering Bulbs Week, which runs from Monday to Sunday, September 14-20.
Garden centre manager Neil MacWilliam said: “We’re going to give three bulbs to each of the first 20 children who come in and ask for them during the week. The youngsters can choose from Pinocchio or Red Riding Hood bulbs. They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, while stocks last.
“Each child, who must be aged between five and 11 years old, will also be given a competition entry form containing the rules. The entrants will be asked to create a photo diary about their tulips showing how they plant and care for their bulbs until they flower.”
They will be asked to bring their diaries back to the garden centre in May 2010 for judging. The winning child, who has created the most interesting photo diary, will be awarded a growbag and a tomato, pepper and cucumber plant, so they can have a go at growing their own vegetables.
Neil added: “We are hosting a Spring Flowering Bulbs Week for people who would like to find out how, where and when to plant bulbs to create fabulous colour in their gardens for next spring.”
Members from the garden centre’s team will be available throughout the week to answer customers’ queries. There will also be a free Spring Flowering Bulbs advice leaflet available for people to take home, while stocks last.
Neil continued: “We will be creating a market style display of loose bulbs and offering a ‘Fill a Pot’ option where people will be able to mix and match individual bulbs from a selected range by filling a two or four litre plant pot with bulbs of their choice.
“This will allow customers to have a go at growing different combinations of bulbs to create their own spring flower displays for their gardens.
“We will have a wide variety of bulbs available and as well as the individual bulbs there will also be packs of 20 bulbs and large sacks of daffodils.”
To find out more about Spring Flowering Bulbs Week call 01829 760 433 or visit www.yourgardeningclub.co.uk.