WINNING both the champion pot plant and orchid at the Biggenden Show was just another feather in the cap for Mia Forster.

But it's not all about winning according to the keen Didcot gardener who has been exhibiting in the horticulture section for 41 years.

"It's about being able to show your plants and looking at the other exhibits,” she said.

To get all her plants to the show is a bit of a challenge.

Mrs Forster said the passenger seat goes back as far as possible.

"One maidenhair fern is put on the floor and then the other on the seat with the seat belt holding it secure,” she said.

"Then I drive very carefully, the half hour drive from home to the show hall.

"Fortunately I've never had to stop in a hurry.

"When I get to the hall there is no shortage of helpers to unload.”

Mrs Forster said she was influenced and encouraged by the McKenzie family to enter her first show back in 1977.

"I didn't think my potted plants would be good enough,” she said.

"Imagine my surprise when the McKenzies phoned me after the judging to tell me I had won some prizes.”

In those days life was busy: she had the school bus run and was the offsider to her late husband Graham with their grazing enterprise.

Since that show, Mrs Forster has never missed a year and has collected many champion ribbons along the way.

Exhibiting led to becoming a steward under the guidance of Esme Grambower.

Once she retired, Mrs Forster carried on the task each show.

"When I came here 51 years ago there were two big houses on the property along with two fig trees and a frangipani,” she said.

"I started up the back of the house and, over the years, kept extending, included a couple of bush houses and today it's huge.”

And it is not in the bush houses where she keeps her champion maidenhair ferns.

They have pride of place under the tank stand.

"I don't do anything with them but they do need plenty of water,” she said.

"They are a bit touchy so I don't molly coddle them,” she said.

"But in the hot weather if they don't get water they collapse before your eyes.”

She was quite chuffed to also win first prizes for her mango chutney and eggs.