Author Archives: Alan Pewsey

Posted on by

Our Summer Show 2017

The Summer Produce Show for the Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society on
Saturday 19 th August proved to be one of the most successful held in recent
years. There were many concerns on the day before due to the continuing rain
and winds that were playing havoc with the setting up of tents etc. However, the
day itself dawned much brighter and sunnier and continued to be so as the day
progressed.

The Society prides itself on holding one of the remaining few traditional
produce shows in the area, as many others have become village fairs. The
principal attraction was the bountiful main marquee full of a range of the best
produce Bovey Tracey could find. This included both flowers and vegetables
and a very popular domestic section which seems to grow in popularity every
year.

Judging taking place at the Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society 2017 Summer Show

The picture shows the domestic judges hard at work finding the best cooks in town!

Normally most gardeners will tell you what a difficult season it has been with the weather – never quite what you wanted or expected. However, this was easily discounted with the large number of flower and vegetable entries. Magnificent carrots, enormous onions, perfect potatoes were in plentiful supply, and the judges had a difficult time in deciding the winners.

A fabulous variety of entries at the Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society 2017 Summer Show

The afternoon was serenaded by the Torbay Brass Band and the Newton Bushell Morris team also provided colourful entertainment with their traditional music and dances. There was an ever popular dog agility display and a flower arranging demonstration showed how flower arrangers can work their magic. For the first time there was even a Beer Tent together with a selection of other local stalls which provided a wide range of interests for people to enjoy.

A re-arrangement of the field proved to be popular, and over 600 people came along to enjoy not only the wonderful display of produce, but the tea and cakes as well in a very well attended tea tent!

A Society spokesman explained how relieved they were with the weather after a very wet event last year, and said they will be hoping for similar success next year.

Posted on by
1

January

The one thing I have learned over the years with gardening is that there is always something to do! Even in January! Once the excesses of Christmas are over and life returns to whatever you regard as ‘normal’, then that is the time you can look at your garden and start to think about what can be done.

Then of course there is the digging! If you haven’t started already now is the time to bend that back and start turning the ground. I have a friend who keeps horses and now is the time I pay her a visit to bag up some of that well-rotted by product of this occupation. Being well rotted is the key as it a lot easier to dig in, and believe it or not it doesn’t smell when you bring it home in the car! It won’t be that long before you start to think about your early planting, and it’s always good to have soil turned and weathered when you make that decision.

Leeks in January

Continue reading →

Posted on by
Reply

December

I offered to write a column for the new Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society website explaining each month what I was doing in my  and the frost make it impossible to work with the soil, and it’s probably best to sit in front of the fire with next year’s seed catalogue and make a few lists. Continue reading →