THE owner of a South Petherton bulb nursery has got his sights set on gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next month.
Chris Ireland-Jones, of Avon Bulbs, will be travelling to London to exhibit at the prestigious event from May 20-24 and hopes to add to an impressive list of accolades.
The family-run mail order business has won a total of 19 gold medals at the show over their 21-year history and aim to replicate their success at this year's event.
Chris said: "We will be showing 100 different varieties of plants at the show, including tulips, lilies, dahlias and alliums, and are will soon be making our final preparations.
"Things are looking good at the moment and we have our fingers crossed for our 20th gold medal."
Chris and his wife Caroline established Avon Bulbs in 1987 in Bradford-Upon-Avon and relocated to Somerset in 1990 after severe gales destroyed one of their glasshouses.
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After being built back up virtually from scratch, the company has developed an enviable reputation on the show circuit and was awarded a gold medal at the 2007 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Chris said: "Winning 19 medals in 20 years is an excellent achievement, there aren't that many other nurseries that can boost such a good record."
He added: "In the past people would come to Chelsea to put in their bulb orders for the autumn but now everyone can do it over the internet we take about half the orders we used to.
"More and more specialist nurseries are struggling to make an impact at the event as it's so expensive - however winning at Chelsea remains a very prestigious honour."
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