A NURSERY’S display of flowers was on fire to take home gold at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants based in Freefolk Priors, near Whitchurch, presented the unique Firestars Series of Crocosmia flower among a bed of other colourful delights, which gained top prize at the prestigious event run between July 3 and 8.

Nursery owners Rosy and Rob Hardy have been going to the show since it began and received their first gold award 25 years ago.

Rosy said: “Hampton Court has been one of our favourite shows to go to, we have been at every single one.

“It is a really good time for us producing herbaceous perennials, they are looking really great, full flower, which makes it much easier to put a really good display.

“It is always great to get on RHS gold that is the pinnacle, it is what we are aiming for.”

The green-fingered couple were particularly pleased to show off the newly bred Firestars series, of a yellow ‘Hotspot’ and orange ‘Scorchio’ created by hybridiser Paul Lewis, which they now sell at their nursery.

Rosy added: “A few years ago we were introduced to Paul and we looked at his Crocosmia and we were balled over by them.

“They were beautiful, they were completely different with different colour strains - until now they had been a single colour - not striped petals or different centres.”

This year the Hardys are also celebrating their 30th anniversary from first starting up their business, and also their 30th wedding anniversary.