Garden Visits 2012

Private visits to some stunning local gardens. Well worth the effort !

Thursday
2pm 10 May 2012

West Green House
Entry £8 each (free to National Trust members)
plus optional introductory talk with coffee at £7 each

Wednesday
2:30pm 11 July 2012

Hosta Garden in Lindford.
(As it is a private visit they ask for a donation to cover the tea and biscuits.)

Wednesday
15 August 2012

Tylney Hall Hotel £3.50
(Tea/coffee and biscuits after the tour round the garden for an extra £4.50.)

General Note on Garden Visits

It would be appreciated if you could let one of Derek/Sue/Patrick/Brian/Carol know if you intend to come so that we can make appropriate arrangements with our hosts and notify you of any changes.

A most successful show was held on 16 July 2011
despite the rainy morning and showery afternoon

NEXT SHOW DATE

Saturday
21 JULY 2012
PILCOT FARM, DOGMERSFIELD

Show Volunteers

We need volunteers to help with Society stalls at our Annual Show. If you are willing to help for 3 or 4 hours on the day please ring Sue Smith on 01252 850900.

We also need more volunteers to help us set up the showground on the Friday before the Show & Fete (13th July) and dismantle it on the Sunday morning (15th July). Just come along to the showground after 9am (lunch provided on Friday).

HOW TO WIN PRIZES

by Jim Hawkett, a judge of vegetables and flowers

• Read the Schedule carefully. The judges can only assess exhibits against stated class requirements
• Cut flowers a day or two before the show, immediately plunge into deep water, then put into a shady place. Always cut more than you need
• Lift root vegetables at least three days before the show. Handle as little as possible
• Remove all soil from eyes and small indentations, place a sheet or two of damp cloth or paper towel over roots
• Leave as much tap root as possible
• Lift onions and shallots well in advance of show to allow time to ripen
• When fully ripened cut off most of the leaves, leaving sufficient neck to bend over and tie with natural raffia or fine twine
• Pick beans, peas and brassicas no earlier than the day before and wrap in damp kitchen paper
• Some root should be left on lettuce and other brassicas
• Remove all signs of pests
• Remove all badly eaten or damaged outer leaves back to the stem root
• Pick peas, beans and soft fruit with scissors and avoid holding them, place on soft tissue to protect the bloom
• Place vegetables on a black cloth in a black wooden tray for maximum effect

The full version of this talk, which was given after the AGM on 15th March 2006, is available from Brian Leversha. It is nine pages long and goes into great detail about exhibiting in classes 1–55 according to the Schedule. This will be an invaluable tool for those new to exhibiting and even experienced prize winners and exhibitors will find some useful pieces of information.