Otford Gardeners’ Society Newsletter August 2013

Otford Gardeners’ Society Newsletter August 2013



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All men reap what they sow – except Amateur Gardeners. Anon
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The days are about to get shorter and darker but before that we will have the enjoyment of our annual colourful

AUTUMN FLOWER AND CRAFT SHOW
On
SATURDAY
7TH SEPTEMBER

We have had very hot and very damp days over the past few weeks but your Committee are sure that you will all have nurtured your Flowers and Vegetables ready for the show, as well as Fruit and Crafts.

The staging of entries will, as usual take place from 9.30 am and we would kindly ask you to vacate the hall by 11.30 am.

Your entry forms, together with entry fees, can be left at the Parish Office (by kind permission of the Parish Clerk) and also at 34 Willow Park, not later than Thursday 5th September.

The pièce de résistance of the vegetable classes is the trug, basket or tray of undressed vegetables for kitchen use. This is an Open Class to be judged on overall quality and appearance and the valuable money prizes have been kindly donated by the Otford Allotment Association.

If you are not a vegetable grower then there are over twenty Flower Classes plus the Dahlia and Chrysanthemum classes, for you to enter. And let us not forget the Flower Arrangements, Preserves and Cookery, Photography and all those Handicrafts which are going to turn this show into a feast of what the Otford Gardeners’ Society members have to offer, for the benefit of the village.

Do please TRY to put in at least one, two or even three or more entries to add to the display and give pleasure to our members and visitors.

The Flower Arranging Classes are:
Class 62. ‘Golden Days’
Class 63. ‘Candlelight’
Class 64, Novice class – ‘An Arrangement of Autumn Flowers’
Please see Schedule for full details.
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The Preserves and Cookery Classes are:
Class 71. Parkin
Class 72. Cheese & Walnut Loaf
Class 73. Coffee & Walnut Fudge Cake
Class 74. Rhubarb & Date Chutney
Class75. Raspberry Jam
Please see Schedule for full details.
The Photography classes are:
Class 76. ‘A Close-up of a Rose’
Class 77. ‘Holiday Memories’
Class 78. ‘A Clock’
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Have you a hobby that can be entered into our HANDICRAFT Classes? See Schedule for details

The Challenge Tankard will be awarded for the best exhibit in Classes 79 to 85 and the Dickerson Art Trophy will be awarded to the best exhibit in Classes 86 to 87.
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Before our AUTUMN FLOWER AND CRAFT SHOW we will have, on 3rd September, at our evening meeting, a presentation by Janine Doulton, a RHS and Daffodil Society Judge on ‘Growing and Showing Daffodils’. This talk will be very useful for all our members who like to show at our Spring Show.
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Future evening meetings will be on 1st October when we will have Robert Canis, a professional photographer, giving a presentation entitled ‘Bob’s Best of Year’.
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Our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SEASONAL SHOW will be held on Tuesday 5th November. If you have an item that you would like to see on the Agenda would you please contact Janet on 523760 at least 14 days before the date of the AGM.
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On Tuesday 4th December we will have our Annual Fun and Quiz Night – A social evening to round off the gardening year.
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We now have a discount card for Provender Nurseries in Swanley. This card entitles us to 50% off their very extensive range of plants and 10% off sundries. Janet has the card and it can be collected and returned to her by arrangement.
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Kent Federation of Horticultural Societies is holding their Autumn Show on Sunday 22nd September at Ditton Community Centre in Aylesford.
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Great Dixter is holding a Plant Fair on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th October. There will be nurseries from the UK and European countries taking part.
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Details of all the above three items will be at our September meeting or by contacting Janet.
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At the Autumn Flower and Craft Show there will also be a presentation for the Best Front Garden Competition, organised by the Gardeners’ Society on behalf of Otford Parish Council’.

See you there.

Doug Dickerson, Chairman.