|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 13, 2011 15:24:09 GMT
No marks at all on ryecroft rebel. Still looks good and firm 2 days after cutting. Those three came from one plant grown 6 up off side buds.Grown under covers. Dianes grown outside and they have survived the rain and wind......all the smalls are grown outside, no covers.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 13, 2011 9:24:50 GMT
and finally the smalls Marys Jomanda....miniature ball....First...perfect centres on these small decs, had lots of choice, could have done 5 blooms of 5 varieties. Eventually settled for this Winholme Diane........First Ryecroft Brenda T.....2nd.....Not easy to arrange as can be seen Sendoe Ursula....3rd....the blooms were cut a little bit over Ruskin Andrea....First Ryecroft Zoe...2nd and 3 vases of smalls From top Barbarry Cosmos, Winholme Diane and Barbarry Melody
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 13, 2011 8:02:42 GMT
Thanks to all for the nice comments. I couldn't do the show without help from my friends with the driving, and the wife for helping with the arranging........well she fills up the vases with water. It's the little things i struggle with as i'm suffering with osteoarthritis of the knee....i've had one replaced, waiting to have the other one done, and now ankles, so walking backwards and forwards filling up this and that is a major problem. Growing the things is a doddle compared to geting them to a show and arranging them
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 20:59:38 GMT
There is a small show in Leeds tomorrow, i could take 3 stems of dahlias but they are still in bud. I could leave a note for the judge next to the vase, explaining it was raining and the dahlias have refused to take their raincoats off. if you want a few get down here ASAP. Got about 150 blooms to choose from
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 16:40:51 GMT
The mediums Ryecroft Magnum.....First prize beating Dikara Moon....Third Susan Gilliott...First prize beating Stalen Condessa...2nd prize and my two entries in the 3 vases of 3 mediums The cactus ones came first, the decs came 2nd. Cactus from top Susan Gilliott, Pims Moonlight, Staleen Condessa The decs from top ryecroft Magnum, White Charlie Two, Ryecroft Rebel. They give a cup to the best exhibit in the medium decoratives, which i've won for the last 5 years. My wife now has that honour as the magnums were in her name I had to juggle all the blooms around to fill up the classes, but this would probably have won the medium decs easily. Yes, it's my one and only plant of Ryecroft rebel in all it's glory. Back bloom a day or two behind the front two but wait till next year
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 16:13:07 GMT
thanks for that, most useful
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 15:56:37 GMT
i'll be sorting out the 2nd flush this week so hopefully there may be a few out at that time.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 15:25:16 GMT
The Giants. 3 Blooms..2 Sir Alf Ramsey....these were grown without covers. One Alvas Supreme. Came 2nd 3 Blooms...Alvas Supreme. Came First. 6 Blooms...Fairway Spur. Came First. Deceptive these cameras as the back blooms aren't as small as they seem though they are quite young The original idea was 4 Fairway Spur and 2 Alvas, but my Alvas were particularly bad this year for dropping their petals. I cut 8 good blooms for the show and half started to lose their petals before i'd started I'd really love to know how to prevent this because on the plant they are fabulous.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 15:02:30 GMT
I was going to cut them tomorrow. I can take my entries up tonight or between 9 and 10 tomorrow. I think tomorrow is safest. I'll cut 4 & 5 now and put them in the wardrobe. First thing in the morning, just as daylight starts, is the best time. Alarm set for 5 am And tomorrow may be your best bet cause if your competitors see your winning blooms tonight they may accidentally knock your vase over after spraying it with bleach
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 15:00:18 GMT
I've had the same problem this year with that and a few other varieties that don't usually produce weak stems. The split green canes came in very handy.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 14:55:14 GMT
I'm not surprised they loved "Melody"....I've just put her on my list for 2012. What about Staleen Condessa?....did you manage to stage any? six went in, it got hammered by susan gilliott
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 13:50:06 GMT
Managed to sort out 16 entries this year, a bit less than last year, and most were of a reasonable standard which was pleasing considering the week we've just had. I don't think of the show as competition with other exhibitors, more a competition with myself to get them as good as i can grow them in time for the show , and if that means they are better than everyone elses then it's a bonus. I like to show as many varieties as possible which means i enter each class in mine and the wifes name, with the added bonus of getting us both free admission to the show Plus, the public get to see loads of dahlias that they wouldn't if i just entered myself. And she is my main waterer Anyway, by hook or by crook, i managed 9 Firsts, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds from the entries......from 9 different classes. In other words, 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd in each class. I also showed 17 different varieties, which was my most ever. Entries were down on last year, not only in dahlias.This lack of summer, followed by autumn gales in August, has a lot to answer for. In a way, i'm more pleased with this years entries than previous years. My blooms weren't quite as good as they should be, but because of the challenges faced growing them this year i think it's more of an achievement to have got the entries in that we did. Will post piccies later.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 12:35:38 GMT
A bit of feedback from the show, everyone is smitten by the shape and colour of Barbarry Melody. Same applies for Susan Gilliott. And they loved the Ryecroft Rebel. With a bit of effort, Melody could be a real show winner. As for Susan Gilliott, cannot fault it's size and shape and stems. The depth of the bloom develops in the last few days. Best med cactus i've grown in a long time.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 12:27:23 GMT
Good luck Scrumpy they all look fab more piccies once they are staged please Will sort out some piccies later. Started arranging at 10 last night, finished at 4 this morning, so from cutting to finish took 22 hours Heres the entry that won 3 vases small From top, Barbarry cosmos, Winholme diane, Barbary melody.
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 12, 2011 12:17:00 GMT
Well water situation was resolved at 4 o'clock, so it was then a mad rush to get them ready for transporting to the show. What i do is to use builders buckets, the ones with a rim at the top, split green canes, paper tie ups, elastic bungee rope, and a bit of string. I drill holes around the rim of the bucket...4 for giants, six for mediums, 8 for smalls. Then about half way down the bucket i drill 2 holes directly underneath the top hole. I stretch the bungee ropes around the bucket and tie them tightly, then the cane goes down through the top hole and is held in place by the 2 rings of rope. You can just about see it on the nearest bucket. It's then a question of placing the bloom...about 3 inches of water in the bucket....against a cane, cut the cane down to match the bloom, and secure the bloom to the cane with paper tie its. Then, you use string to go through the lower holes around the stem of the bloom, and when tied up this secures the stem, so it wont move at all. In all, i used 15 buckets, took 2 trips in my friends van.
|
|