IT has been another ?blooming? good week for the Bowden Hosta Nursery in Sticklepath, who picked up their second gold medal of the summer at a prestigious gardening show.

Since Tim and Rose Penrose took over the business earlier this year, they have won two gold medals plus a silver gilt medal at the recent Chelsea Flower Show.

The couple are the daughter and son-in-law of Ann and Roger Bowden who launched the nursery, which now houses the 1,000-variety-strong National Hosta Collection.

The latest success came at the Gardeners? World Live exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham, where despite very high standards, the hosta display stood out enough to win one of the select gold medals.

Mr Penrose said this year the nursery had gone for an original design on its stand, incorporating driftwood, which seemed to have grabbed the judges? attention.

The nursery also introduced their new exclusive variety, ?Ice Lemon?, which proved a big hit with visitors.

The couple are hoping to follow up their success at the West Country Garden Festival at Westpoint, Exeter, this weekend, before travelling on to the Hampton Court Show.

Ann and Roger Bowden are about to set off on a trip to share their passion for hostas with stateside aficionados.

The couple are flying to Des Moines in Iowa, for the American Hosta Society convention. The convention is held every year, but this will be the first year the couple have had time to attend.