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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 2, 2023 20:08:16 GMT
Thank you Grindle I went to Whitefield this morning to finish staging my flowers.I didn't think it was worthwhile coming home so I stayed while judging was taking place.I took my lunch and my Garden News to read till the show opened this afternoon. Martyn and Heather came and brought Rosemary and my sister and her daughter came so we had a family get together.I put in 37 entries and got 10 firsts, 9 seconds and 4 thirds. I won two trophies, one for the most points in general flowers which I won easily and one for the second highest points in the veg classes.I will show you some pictures now  Basket of vegetables  The longest two runner beans  Two vases of three gladioli  Three single blooms Dahlia "Taratahi ruby" 1st,zinnia 2nd rudbeckia "Indian summer"3rd  ' Vases of any flower not mentioned Statice 1st and rudbeckia "marmalade"2nd  Top vases |
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 2, 2023 20:25:31 GMT
There were nine entries in the class for a vase of mixed garden flowers and I came first and second but I can't find that picture to show you.
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Post by grindle on Sept 3, 2023 3:47:32 GMT
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 3, 2023 19:33:24 GMT
Thanks again, Grindle
A lovely day today.We went a walk this afternoon then we just sat in the garden for a while.Mowed the lawns after and did the edges this evening.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 4, 2023 19:43:46 GMT
Went to the allotment this morning,mainly to cut some dahlias for the house but I dead headed and disbudded all the dahlias.We went a walk this afternoon ,then I side shooted and disbudded the chrysanths and dahlias.I had a box full of runner beans which I cut last week.Some contained large seeds and I think that when they have got to this stage, the pods will be tough to eat. I sorted these out and put them on top of a cupboard in the kitchen to dry out and I will remove the seeds and keep them for sowing next year.
This evening I sat under the car port dressing the large onions,removing all the loose skins.I then washed them at the kitchen sink and left them to dry.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 5, 2023 19:34:49 GMT
First of all I fed my baskets, tubs, tomatoes and cucumbers again. I intend entering three more shows this year but I have not much florists foam left so I went to Country Baskets for a new box.This should last me a few years. Had a bit of time on the allotment this afternoon .I put the final blanching collars on the leeks and staked and tied up a few more gladioli.Went back this evening just to water my carrots.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 6, 2023 19:59:03 GMT
I am showing at Tottington on Saturday which is at the other side of Bury from where I live and I started making some preparations today.Went to the allotment this morning and picked the runner beans and a few climbing French beans and three marrows.Put the runner beans in a wet towel.
We went for a walk this afternoon and after, I removed the bloom bags from the chrysanths to see if any would be ready for the show and a few looked O.K. Put the bags back if I didn't think they would be ready.I don't have a show the following Saturday, the 16th but one on the 23rd so I should have a lot ready for that one.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 7, 2023 21:36:13 GMT
There is a class at Tottington show for a vase of wild flowers.When doing the wellbeing walk at Blackleach this morning I took my secateurs with me and collected wild flowers as I went along and put them in a bucket of water when we got back to the visitor centre. There is also a class for a vase of perennials and I cut the flowers for that this afternoon from the border alongside the visitor centre. This is where I grow all my perennials. This evening I have sorted my veg out for the show and made up a shopping basket of veg.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2023 19:48:26 GMT
48 plugs of Universal pansies came from Thompson and Morgan. Transferred them to cell trays. Thought I had better get them done because I am out all day tomorrow and most of Sunday.Spent the rest of the day cutting flowers for Tottington show from my allotment this morning and my garden this afternoon.There is no Friday evening staging at this show so I will have to get up early and go in the morning. This evening I have loaded the car ready for tomorrow.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 9, 2023 21:23:01 GMT
Did quite well at Tottington show.Put in 36 entries and got 16 firsts, 11 seconds and 4 thirds.Won four trophies
1)Runner up for most points in show (the same person beat me into second place at Whitefield last week)
2) Most points in dahlias, 3) Best exhibit in chrysanths, 4)best exhibit in begonias.I also got a special prize for the best exhibit in the general flower classes(my vase of mixed garden flowers)
I will show you some pictures tomorrow
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 10, 2023 19:47:44 GMT
Before going to church this morning,besudes watering, I just had time to cut some more dahlias for the house. It is Martyn's birthday today, four days before mine. He wanted us to go out somewhere so he took us to Astley Hall at Chorley. It was in the grounds of the hall where Chorley flower show was held a few weeks ago that we went to. We went for a meal this evening to celebrate his birthday. I am now going to show you some of my winning exhibits yesterday  Ball dahlias L'Ancresse 1st ,Jomanda 2nd  Best exhibit in chrysanths Gilette (incurve)  Six fuchsia florettes "Swingtime"  Spray chrysanths  Vase of mixed garden flowers .Best exhibit in general flower classes  Vase of dahlia "Garden friends  Two vasws of waterlily dahlia "Taratahi Ruby |
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Post by grindle on Sept 11, 2023 3:17:01 GMT
a good weekend for you @derek well done
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 11, 2023 22:01:49 GMT
Thank you again,Grindle
I had the morning in the greenhouse. I had some plants of sprouting broccoli and winter cabbages still in 3 inch pots so I potted them on into larger pots. They will be planted out probably in October to overwinter.I then potted all the rooted dahlia cuttings into three and a half inch pots (about 25) and fuchsias into small custard pots (about 45). When potting up the fuchsias ,I realised that I hadn't any Swingtime (the one I showed you a picture of yesterday)so I took some cuttings of it.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 12, 2023 19:22:44 GMT
It was raining this morning so I stayed in and wrote my next article for Garden News.It dried up a bit this afternoon so I just did some tidying up in the garden, mainly what I call the utility area in front of the shed .There is ivy at the back of this area and it creeps all over it if I allow it to. I cut all back that was creeping.There were pots needed emptying and putting away and boxes putting away.
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Post by derekbrooks on Sept 13, 2023 19:40:13 GMT
A fine day today. This morning I fed my baskets, tubs, tomatoes and cucumbers again. I then harvested the potatoes from six bags that I grew alongside my greenhouse. I tipped each bag into the wheelbarrow and picked out the potatoes then shovelled the compost back into the bags. I washed them all this afternoon. They are Charlotte, a salad potato.I really grew them for Tottington show because there is a class for six salad potatoes but I hadn't time to harvest themm before the show and there weren't any entries in the class.
I went out for a bit this evening and did some disbudding of the dahlias
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