July 2008 Newsletter
‘It’s been a funny summer so far Granville’ as Arkwright might say in Open All Hours. It certainly has. A very dry May and most of June, with cold winds. Since then a great deal of rain with little sunshine. However vegetables, fruit and flowers are now reaching their peak ready for the Show.
The Annual Show - Saturday 16 August 2008
We had an excellent response to our request for more entries in our Spring Show. I hope this can be continued for this, our main show. By the time you receive this newsletter the show schedules will be available in the village shops and library.
N.B. You can see this years schedule by clicking on the "2008 Summer Show" tab to the left.
Do please have a go, you will really enjoy entering and who knows? You could win.
Last year in the classes for roses there was only one entry. The village is ablaze with roses this year. I’m sure we can all find one rose that will be at its best on show day. I hope you, like me, will have a go this year.
Could I ask that all trophies won last year are returned to Alan Haigh or any committee member at least two weeks before show day. Thank you
Eric Johnson
Primary School Potato Planting Competition
In May I visited Addingham Primary School to give the pupils a talk on growing potatoes in buckets. I went through the process of making holes in the base of the bucket otherwise you end up with a bucket fill of water! I explained why you need pebbles or crocks, for drainage, at the bottom of the bucket; that you place 3–4” (sorry 8–10 cm) of compost on top, then the potato on top of that, then cover it with another 3–4” of compost.
Numerous questions were asked and it was stressed that even though it may rain the potato would still need watering as the foliage would act as an umbrella and keep the compost dry.
The session was very enjoyable, even though for me it was more nerve-wracking than speaking at one of our monthly talks!
After school, at 3.30 pm, Sue and I set up a table in the playground and gave out approximately 130 buckets, each with a seed potato.
The whole idea behind this scheme was to encourage children to become involved in gardening and to try and increase the number of children’s entries at our Show. To this effect not only is there a first prize of £10 for the bucket containing the heaviest weight of potatoes but each entry will raise £2 for the school Gardening Club, courtesy of an arrangement between AAGA and Addingham Conservative Trust.
We hope to see many entries from children on show day, not only in potato growing but also in other categories. A letter will go out to pupils in July, before they break up for the holidays, reminding them about the Show, together with a schedule of children’s classes.
Bill Preston
Sweet Peas
Hopefully many members will have attended my talk on growing sweet peas or read my piece in the last newsletter on this subject. As the date of the Show approaches here is a helpful reminder of how to produce the best specimens.
1. Ensure the main stem is tied regularly to the supporting cane, especially if the weather is windy.
2. Cut off any tendrils and side shoots.
3. Cut flowers regularly to encourage more flowering.
4. If the weather forecast is for a wet show day cut the flowers on the Thursday or Friday and keep them in water.
5. Buy some oasis, on sale at the allotment shop on the first Sunday in August, to help in displaying the blooms.
6. Take an extra couple of blooms along on show day in case of accidents.
7. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF ENTERING
Good luck to all!
Bill Preston
Kerkenhof Gardens Visit
The trip to Kerkenhof Gardens in April was a great success! Everything went well with the coach. Steels did a wonderful job of organizing the ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. The overnight crossing was smooth, thank heavens, and Quells were not needed. There was plenty of choice of food and entertainment. After docking next morning we soon arrived at the gardens and luckily the weather was great.
The flower gardens surpassed all expectations with an absolutely gorgeous selection of daffodils, tulips in amazing colours, and a huge variety of other bulbs in full bloom. All were arranged in them most splendid displays.
There was a good variety of eating places at the garden.
The trip back to the ferry was quick and we were soon back on board for another smooth crossing.
All in all it was a great outing. ‘When can we have another one?’ was the question. Maybe in a year or so, perhaps to Jersey or the French gardens. Who knows?
Lesley Barrett.
Annual Spring Show on Saturday 12 April 2008
Despite Winter returning on Saturday morning the Memorial Hall had a definite Spring feel to it as Addingham Allotments & Gardens Association held their Spring Flower Show and Coffee Morning. Last year the show was suffering from scorching weather.
There was an excellent number of entries and exhibitors, up from last year, with a stunning array of Spring flowers, plants and floral arrangements. The Association does have children’s classes but this was very disappointing as no children entered anything at all. The hall was open from 8.00am to receive entries and for exhibitors to stage their entries and judging was carried out by Mr Rex Geldard from Skipton. His was the most difficult of jobs to sort out the winners from the 153 exhibits, the Best in Show was won by Mr John Bottomley, with a vase of 3 trumpet Daffodils.
The venue was then open for coffee and viewing of the show at 10.30 with very encouraging support from people visiting the event. There was the usual raffle and an excellent Bring and Buy cake stall (the Association would like to thank all who contributed to this).
The Show was rounded off by the Chairman Bill Preston thanking people for supporting the event and he took the opportunity to introduce the Association’s new President Mr Donald Smith, who presented the trophy for Best Exhibit in the Show to John Bottomley.
For a full list of all the winners and to view images of the show please click on the 2008 Spring Show link on the left.
Association Retains Village Quiz Trophy
We are proud to report that for a second successive year our quiz team captained by Chairman Bill Preston has won the FAPS annual village quiz.
Our team also included John Bottomley, Richard Allen, Sue and John Tolan, Sarah Adams and Mark Preston.
A delighted Bill Preston commented that "whilst I may not have actually answered many questions myself, I nonetheless take great pride in the fact that victory was ours due mainly to my inspired leadership!"
Our Proud Chairman Shows Off the Winners Trophy