Well, the New Forest Show is over for another year.
We had grown all the vegetables in troughs constructed from pallets
and crates, had fruit in pots and containers, a terracotta planter and
lots of smaller pots of herbs, plus lots of pretty flowers which are
useful as companion plants for the vegetables and to attract pollinators
for the beans and peas, etc. We started sowing in March and went through nightmares with really hot weather and drought, deterring pests and protecting everything.
I borrowed a plum tree from MacPennys nursery and a rusty chicken from Jenny. Trehane nursery sent a beaut' blueberry bush and William forged a garden fork. Sue Moss helped me crochet a robin for the fork handle. I made a sign for the watering can, "It would have been a wonderful place to hide, if it hadn't been so full of water", as well as lots of info on companion planting and other pest "remedies". We cooked some of the vegetables and made salads, chocolate brownies and carrot cakes and Charlie made marzipan "carrots". I was very proud of my beetroot, kohl rabi and particularly Florence fennel, but all to no avail... Result - a 'Silver-Gilt' - sadly not another 'Gold'.
However, there were major problems in setting up and a huge panic to get it all done in time, but they judged it very early before we got there on the morning the show opened and we hadn't added all the finishing touches - partly because of deer on site and also the risk of attracting rats with the picnic food, which was all cooked fresh the evening before. The valuable/ borrowed items were also in the Art Tent until we were allowed on site on Tuesday morning.
I guess "Silver-Gilt" isn't too bad. Already planning for next year.
Now for some time afloat...
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