Programme of Events 2010

March Newsletter from your Chairman

March has arrived together with the sunny weather how long it will last remains to be seen or felt! Hopefully spring is just around the corner because when we do have a bright sunny day the evenings are certainly drawing out just ready for the clocks to go forward and plunge us back into dark mornings.

Talking of spring here’s a gentle reminder that our first Show of the year will be on Saturday 20th March in Janet Phillips Hall of Yapton and Ford Village Hall. As mentioned in the January newsletter, there are various horticultural classes and sections for Floral Art, Domestic, Photography and Children. Do you know the difference between a Daffodil and a Narcissus, large cup or small cup? well all this information can be found on the green pages in the centre of your schedule. How about a pot plant or cactus these are the things we look after all year round and do not give them a second thought, bring one along and see how you do, the Committee are always on hand to show you how to display your exhibit. We are coming to the end of winter and vegetables do tail off but not to be beaten there are four classes for you to consider entering. A sunny sheltered spot does lend itself to the natural forcing of rhubarb so don’t forget to visit the clump to see if any sticks are ready. For show purposes the sticks should be of the same length, straight and the same colour. I am sure most of you grow some herbs and as for seasonal vegetables the list is as long as your arm with leeks, parsnips, brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli to name a few.

Moving on to the Domestic classes I know there are a lot of very good cooks out there so why not enter and give some of the regular exhibitors some competition. Our resident expert Carol is only a phone call away should you need any advice, but she will not cook for you.

Now for members with children or grand children, nieces and nephews, I think you know where I am coming from, there are children’s classes such as a garden in a seed tray which is always popular as is a sample of handwriting but no rude rhymes please and don’t forget to hard boil the eggs before decorating them.

Finally, the photographers amongst you should have plenty of pictures to exhibit in the Winter Wonderland class after the recent cold snowy weather and lots of reflections as the rain fell and the snow melted, as for flowers how about taking a picture of the flowers before you pick them to enter in the horticultural classes.

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Barn Dance on Friday 9th April and not 13th March as printed in the Schedule, with Ian Kirby and a live band. Tickets are available from Roy Phillips on 01243 552 822 or Tricia Ford on 01243 552 054 priced at £8 including a Ploughman’s. Other refreshments and a bar will also be available.

The recent talk by Mr. Paul Templeton on the basics of gardening was well received and over 30 members enjoyed an entertaining evening learning about the basic principles of starting and maintaining a garden. I am sure some of our more experienced gardeners also learnt a thing or two but I don’t think that they will admit to that. The excellent raffle and teas as well as David’s famous cakes rounded off the evening with many members asking questions to the speaker.

A reminder that annual subscriptions are now due and these may be paid at the forthcoming show or by filling in the form sent out with the last newsletter. Alternatively contact Carol on 01903 725009 for further details. In the past we have asked members for their views on what you would like us as a Committee to do i.e. organise coach outings, quiz nights etc. Carol has noticed recently particularly with new Members that they have all asked “What do you do, do you have regular meetings?” Apart from the Shows, a Barn Dance, and the Yetties performance, we do have two Members’ Meetings is this enough would you like us to organise more, the talks do not always have to follow a strict gardening theme, they could be about wildlife, to even life in the 1960’s or 70’s. let’s have your views and we will try to deliver.

Last time I spoke about some of the summer bedding you could sow in the greenhouse over the coming weeks but if you do not have these facilities or you have forgotten why not make a note in your diary to come along to the Plant Sale on Saturday 8th May from 10 a.m. until 12 noon when we will have a large selection of summer bedding as well as a few herbs and vegetable plants, hanging baskets and patio tubs for sale at very competitive prices with all profits going to the Society funds.

As I mentioned at the beginning Spring is just around the corner and the grass will soon be growing at a pace, so if your mower is still in the shed just as you left it last autumn it will need to be given a service now, so that it is in top condition to give trouble free operation over the coming season. While you’re in the shed check to see if any other tools need a service or even replacing, shears and hedge trimmer are two that spring to mind. When the ground begins to dry out give the flower borders a light fork over to break up the soil that has been compacted by all the recent heavy rain, should the grass be frozen keep off it and find something to do in the warmth of the green house or potting shed.

Best Wishes, Roy Phillips

Yapton and District Cottage Gardeners Society.
Autumn Show Report October 2009.

The Autumn Flower Show of the Yapton Cottage Gardeners Society was particularly well supported, with an entry of 273, markedly better that in 2008. Of the 42 exhibitors who staged, 8 were appearing in Yapton for the first time.

The horticultural judge enthused about the how well the Village Hall looked with the array of cut flowers and pot plants: the classes of fuchsia and Busy Lizzies florets were notably well contested and the best in potatoes and tomatoes were beautiful, as were the apples and pears.

Pride of place went to a pumpkin staged by 13-year-old Jack Etherington, all 350 pounds of it, and the marrows were mightily massive too.

Once more the flower arrangers stage quite excellent exhibits; both men and women entered thisThe afternoon saw excellent patronage by the general public. After viewing the competitive displays for those with section, as they did in the cookery classes, again very competitive and impressing the judge with the quality of the exhibits set before her.

The Photographic images provoked discussion, and the adult handicraft section gains a little momentum each year. The picture of ‘My Home’ from David Day was wonderfully executed. Three children entered the classes specifically designed for them, for those with money to spend; the side stalls offered cakes and bread, bedding plants, handicraft and raffle. The tea bar did business almost from the start of the afternoon.

The close of the afternoon saw the Cottage Gardeners Chairman Roy Phillips, presenting the Awards.

Malcolm Paradine retain the VILLAGE CRIERS TROPHY as most successful exhibitor in the horticultural classes in the seasons four shows, although for the Autumn Show, it was Alan Humphrey who topped the points totals for the EDITH GODFERY TROPHY. He also took silver and bronze medals presented by the NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY. The best vegetable exhibit, five onions, was staged by MICK MINTON for the DEEGAN SHIELD, and the highest points total for fuchsias in two shows netted VAL O’NEILL the JOAN WADDINGTON MEMORIAL TROPHY.

The Flower arranging trophy with the mysterious little ‘W.R.’ returned, after an absence, to JOAN JACKSON but it was no hollow victory; next year someone else may claim it. Yapton committee member EVA PENDRUICH is a rising star, both with a camera for the CHAMPIONSHIP VASE, and the wooden spoon for the cookery and handicraft NEIL BAXTER MEMORIAL TROPHY.

The year round JUNIOR VILLAGE CRIERS CUP was presented to 12 year old Olivia Lisle, who entered the four shows this year, but a newcomer, 7 year old ELEONORE GRIMWOOD took the JUNIOR AUTUMN CUP with three first prizes.

The next events in the Yapton Cottage Gardeners calendar will be a visit by PETER COLLETT to demonstrate the preparation of produce for exhibition on October 28th, followed by the annual visit of the YETTIES folk musicians on November 13th.

First Prize Winners:

Shirley July, Judith Stemp, Val O’Neill, Peter Maynard, Julia Smith, Roy Phillips, Joan Stubbings, Joan Jackson, Mick Minton, David Donovan, Mike Millis, Nadia Tomic, Malcolm Paradine, Jack Etherington, Debbie Lawrence, Katharine Horwood, Eva Pendreich, Alan Thew, Dorothy Jessup, David Day, Terry Booker, Geoff Hihnam, Eleonore Grimwood and Olivia Lisle.

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Yapton and District Cottage Gardeners Society.
Annual Flower Show August 2009.

The 2009 Annual Flower Show of Yapton Cottage gardeners Society had its best public attendance for years . Over 400 people passed into the marquee erected on the recreation ground to view the 460 entries submitted by 54 exhibitors materialize into fine quality flowers, fruit and Vegetables, Quite superb display of flower arranging and well contested sections for photography, cookery, wines and beers, handicrafts and children’s creations.

The big draw for many people must have been the steam traction engine, which advertised its present on the evening before the show by chuffing its way around the village. .

It was joined on show day when the weather was perfect, sunny and a light breeze, by a scale model steam tractor engine and 3 agricultural tractors organized by Reg New: and 20 classic vehicles brought by members of the DOUBLE L-L CLUB.

The adjacent village hall housed a model railway layout and farming models, also offers cream teas from the kitchen.

On the field, the great variety of stalls sold many types of comestibles, books, jewelry and raffle tickets, and the ice-cream van was well patronized as was the climbing wall. It was a fine day for the community.

The Cottage Gardeners President, Sue Phillips who formally opened the event, remain to close the show when she presented the awards.

Malcolm Paradine, a regular exhibitor at this show staged a collection of vegetables for the V. H Snell trophy, easily amassed sufficient points in the member’s classes to take the George Harrison Trophy, and also won the Banksia Medal for most prize money received.

However, in the open horticultural sections, the most successful exhibitor was Mick Minton, who staged both vegetables and flower for the Booth Cup. .

The other awards were well distributed. Jeff Haine supplied the best vegetable exhibit in the Members section for the Warmere Cup, Christine Fry staged the best runner beans for the Charles Millyard Trophy and took the Bronze Medal for Dahlias, Tony Bishop not only brought the best pot plant in the show for the Tony Butcher Trophy, but also took the Wine and Beer awards, the Phillips Trophy.

The Stevens Cup went to Alan Humphrey for the best cut flowers in the member’s exhibit in the member’s classes, bringing dahlias, with the equivalent award in the open classes going to Mick Marshall where one vase of dahlias provided both the Woodard Cup and the National Dahlia Society Silver Medal. Mick then continued with the Binns trophy when his shallots were quite excellently staged. .

The trophy for fruit went to David Donovan; taking the Ivor Smith Fruit Bowl, while the grower novice exhibitor, Eva Pendreich, took the Mapletree Trophy. Her talents also encompassed photography and cookery, where her skills provided the Collier Cup in the latter discipline.

Joan Jackson regained the Pannell Trophy /for flower arranging against tough opposition, (from the men!) and Shirley July, who only began exhibiting this season, brought the best item of handicraft, an oil painting, for the Stagg Trophy.

The three-exhibit Leslie Crowther Trophy commemorating its donation by the Society’s late President to encompass the whole show was won by Katharine Horwood.

Katharine’ relation, 12 year old Olivia Lisle, was quite the best of the child exhibitors, taking the Margaret Trophy for handicraft, the Frost Senior Cup for a miniature garden submitted by 8 to 12 year olds and the Belmont Trophy for most points. Her sister, Emma Lisle aged 14, put in one entry which gave her the ‘Teens’ Trophy’ while Eloise Horton, aged 5 brought a garden in a seedtray for the Frost Junior Cup.

First Prize Winners:

Malcolm Paradine, Christine Fry, Jimmy Neale, Alan Humphrey, Jeff Haine, Val O’Neill, Mick Minton, Debbie Lawrence, Roy Phillips, Terry Booker, Shirley July, J. Pay, Tony Bishop, Stella Whitelock, Eva Pendreich, Katharine Horwood, Diane Booker, Mick Marshall, Jack Etherington, Kent Kressner, David Donovan, John Whitelock, Anne Hollis, Rose Dunmall, Christine Hickman, Peter Maynard, Judith Stemp, Joan Jackson, David Cole, Julia Smith, Joan Barham, Carol Humphrey, Alan Thew, Olivia Lisle, Eloise Horton, Amelia Neville, Emma Lisle.

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Yapton and District Cottage Gardeners Society.
Early Summer Show 20th June 2009.

The Yapton Village hall was the venue for the Early Summer Flower Show on Saturday 20th June staged by the Cottage Gardeners Society
The 240 entries were accommodated in the main body of the hall, and on the stage, which provided a considerable visual impact to those entering the premises, and generated much approval from visitors.
Some 40 exhibitors were in competition, of which two were newcomers.
The Buttonhole rose class 1, had 8 entries, while the best of the cut flowers was among the vases of sweet peas, with an exhibit of Alan Humphrey meriting the judges commendation.
Other cut flowers from the open garden included some splendid alstroemerias, while among the pot plants were some first-rate cacti and succulents.
The fruit and vegetable garden was represented, and in considerable variety.
Going through a purple patch at present, the flower arranging section was spectacularly fine.
And men and women competed on equal terms.
There were about 20 items for the cookery judge to assess, and staged close by, the photography section created much discussion among the visitors.
Only two children competed in their section, but two or three of the younger element of exhibitors did compete against the more mature showperson. Fortunately, the weather was agreeable, and about 120 people came to see the display during the afternoon.
Once the competition area had been perused, various side stalls tempted the onlooker. There were summer bedding plants, cactus seedlings, books, raffle and cream teas for the inner person.
This most enjoyable event was brought to a close when the Cottage Gardeners Chairman, Roy Phillips, presented the trophies.
Stan Crouch retains the Godrey Challenge Cup with his rose exhibits while Jeff Haine was the next successful grower of sweet peas for the Hawthrone Trophy. Anne Adams took Bill Payne Memorial Trophy with her entries of cacti, while the two exhibiters in the children’s classes, Eloise Horton and Olivia Lisle shared the Junior Flower Cup.

Other Winners

Mrs V O'Neill, Mrs C Pardi,Mrs D Booker, Mrs C Hickman, Mrs K Hemsley, Mrs S July, Mrs D Lawrence, Mrs J Barratt, P Maynard, M Paradine, Miss C Fry, D Donovan, D Cole, Mrs J Jackson, Mrs C Humphrey, Miss F Crowley, K Kressner and Mrs K Horwood.

The Yapton Cottages Gardeners next show will be on the August 8th, held in the marquee on the recreation ground, agricultural tractors and classic cars, and various side stalls have been invited.

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