Champion Thame gardener speaks of ‘strange’ happenings in the flower bed

THE winner of the Thame In Bloom competition has today spoken of some very strange effects of this summer’s weather on his garden.
Show gardeners everywhere have been struggling against the wettest conditions for years, and some are blaming global warming for observable changes in the way their plants have grown this year.

Mr John Johnson, who lives in Churchill Cresent, Thame, was the overall winner of the annual Thame in Bloom contest, for the fourth time since 2002, but told ThameNews.Net today that his garden should have looked even better.
“Although my flower beds may look a picture to you,” he said, “I know that there should by now be much less green and a whole lot more colour.
“Some things have romped ahead and grown tall, but there hasn’t been enough sunshine to make the flowers bloom.
“Also, there are other plants hidden in among the Marigolds, Geraniums and other things that should be taller by now but are hidden by the massive amount of growth of the other plants around them.
“Everything gone weird this year, with some flowers as much as six weeks behind of what they should be.”

But retired lorry driver, Mr Johnson, whose other hobbies and interests include Thame’s history, said that he is not down-hearted, and with his wife Lyn, is already planning for next year’s competition.

Photo: By Mr John Johnson, of his winning garden in Churchill Crescent, Thame.