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                                          NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS

FUCHSIA SOCIETY 

August 2017 NEWSLETTER 

Now that the two main fuchsia shows have been and gone, I can now concentrate on the garden.  Continual deadheading and tidying away dead leaves seem to be taking up most of my time. Although I hope to enter exhibits at Long Eaton Horticultural Society’s Autumn show in September, I am already beginning to plan for next year.  I particularly look at the flowers to see which ones I would like to see on the show bench (not necessary whether they are renowned for being good show plants - this could be where I’m going wrong!) I already have plans to work on a hanging basket using the cultivar Constance as this has done really well in a couple of my wall baskets and has a lapse habit and a lovely double flower. One of my favourite singles is a cultivar called Marcia, probably because it was the first fuchsia I ever received a card for.  I have taken cuttings this year as I would hate to lose it.  I will continue to study my fuchsias and decide which varieties to concentrate on next year. I will be putting in coloured labels on those that I feel stand a chance.  I will also review the Top Ten fuchsia list (an up to date copy is attached with this month’s newsletter) and see if I have any on this list.  I know that I have Ernie, Rose Fantasia and Border Raider.  Herald, a hardy fuchsia, has been very popular this year and as I have a couple, these too will be put to one side for next year. The next decision for me to make is which mini greenhouse should I use to put these potential winning exhibits in!  I find that the conditions vary depending where the mini greenhouse is situated – at the back of the garden, in the front garden or on the back patio near the house – Decisions! Decisions! 

I still want to enjoy the display in my garden for a few months yet, so I will be now heading out into the garden to water, feed and deadhead to keep those blooms coming! 

What is happening in the Garden: 

  • Fruit & Vegetables

Runner Beans – These have been very prolific this year, I am picking them regularly as I like them very young (and not when they are stringy!).  I have also been given some from a friend, so have also been busy freezing them.

Flowering Sprouts 50/50 success with these. Location seems to have made a difference here.  I positioned some in a pot on the patio which are showing no slug damage whereas those on a flower bed have been ruined.

Tomatoes – There are tomatoes on most of the plants but no sign of them ripening as yet and some are very top heavy.

Potatoes – We have tried some of the early potatoes, very white and tasty.  I need to continue to harvest these.

Sweet Peppers– There are now flowers on my peppers. A few plants made their way to the show and were sold on the plant stall.

Peas – very disappointing this year, only had a handful of pods, albeit the peas were very sweet and tasty.

Apples – I still have plenty of apples growing, but couldn’t stand the appearance of the tree anymore, so have pruned it, getting rid of all the diseased branches. 

  • Perennials/Garden Shrubs etc

I have done little with the herbaceous perennials, other than cut back the montebretia and pruned back the forsythia again at the front.  Just general dead-heading when I have time. 

  • Fuchsia Growing

Normal maintenance has continued.  I have been watering and feeding the fuchsias and turning.  I have many plants with buds, but not many that have overall flowers, Good job I could rely on my Bonsai fuchsias. 

Malcolm Beerman – Show Talk 

Malcolm began by sharing his concern about Fuchsia Gall mite.  It has now been reported in Norfolk.  To begin with, we were advised to dig up and burn any infected plants, however now the general consensus is to micro-prune and to cut right back in October.

Malcolm spent the rest of the evening giving us hints and tips on how to get a plant to show standard, thus getting it onto the show bench. 

  • Start with a GOOD CUTTING – there is a saying, BAD CUTTING, BAD PLANT. A good plant has equal number of leaves and is symmetrical.
  • Pinch out
  • Provide what the judge is looking for – a good cylindrical plant, with a good mix of flowers and foliage.
  • Pot up sensibly – 3” into a 4” pot, 4” pot into a 5” pot and so on.
  • Always read the schedule, whilst most Fuchsias societies tend to follow the BFS rules, there are a few deviations between societies, so please, please read the schedule carefully.
  • On show day, go to the show secretary’s desk on arrival and hand in your entry form, unless you have already done this (as stated above, different societies have different rules)
  • Pick up your envelope which should have your class number & Exhibitor’s number cards as well as your cultivar/Variety name cards.
  • Avoid spillages if possible
  • Look around the hall and familiarize yourself with the layout, making a special effort to locate the classes that you yourself will be entering.
  • Stewards – remember they are there to help
  • Don’t move anyone else’s exhibits or move the markers which divide the classes – call upon the steward to assist.
  • Toolbox – make sure you have the necessary tools you require to enable you make those final touches to your exhibit, i.e. scissors; tweezers and a small pea stick at least.
  • Check underneath the leaves for any signs of pests or diseases. 

Malcolm admitted that he had been showing fuchsias since 1997, but only achieved his 1st ‘Best in Show’ 3 years ago.  Therefore…. ‘Everything comes to those who wait!’ 

Once again, it has been a very successful show. Luckily for us, despite the days of torrential rain before the show, we were blessed with sunshine on both days.   It felt to me that the number of show exhibits were considerably down against last year, but as you can see from the figures, this was not the case: -

 

 

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Number of Exhibits

230

193

229

217

214

Number of Exhibitors

24

17

27

20

20

 

There were exhibits in all but four classes this year. The classes with nil entries are below: -

 

Class

Description

9

2 Plants, same cultivar to be judged as a matching pair – Max 90mm (3.5”) Pot

13

1 Plant single or double, any Bob Pacey cultivar – Max 152mm (6”) pot

16

Beginners Class: – 1 Plant, any cultivar – Max 165mm (6.5”) pot.

19

Children’s Class (Under 15yrs):  – 1 Fuchsia Plant, any cultivar, any size pot.

 

The most popular classes for number of exhibits this year were:

 

Class

Description

No. of Exhibits

22b

Begonia Rex 1 plant any size pot (max 7” Pot)

13

32

1 plant ornamental or variegated-leaved cultivar - Max 165mm (6.5”) pots

12

27

1 Plant, any cultivar – Max 140mm (5.5”) pot

11

20a

A fuchsia bonsai exhibit (must be in a bonsai style container)

10

30

1 plant of free cutting – max 165mm (6.5”) pot

10

31

1 plant any cultivar – max 90mm (3.5”) pot

10

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The cultivar of this year’s free cutting was ‘WENDY BENDY’

 

Plant Stall

The plants were again good quality from Jacksons Nurseries and the public were quick to purchase, which resulted in there being very few plants left to sell on the Sunday.  We were worried yet again about whether we would have plants to sell on Sunday. 

Luckily a few of our members had grown some fuchsias and donated them to sell.  This meant we did have some to sell on the Sunday, which was a great relief.  So thanks to those who donated plants, we really needed them again this year. So, once again, thinking ahead, please consider the following hints and tips and ways of donating plants to the society: - 

  • Free ‘NAMED’ Cutting – In February all members receive 2 cuttings: 1 x unnamed cutting and 1 x named cutting.  If everyone could take at least ONE cutting to pot on to sell at the show.  How great would that be!
  • Your Favourite Fuchsia – Everyone has a favourite; one that strikes easily for you.  Again, when you are taking cuttings, consider doing extra to donate to the society.
  • Top Ten Fuchsias – Look at the list of Top Ten fuchsias which Carol Gubler produces on an annual basis.  These are fuchsias which are regularly seen on the show bench up and down the country.  If you have one or two, try taking cuttings and donate to the society. (see attached list)
  • Winners Classes – Every year, I produce a list of Winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) of all the classes in our show (see attached document).  Review this list and if you have any of these cultivars, try taking cuttings and donate. 

Advertising - The weather was very kind to us this year which resulted in more than 300 visitors over the two days. This was largely due to our advertising campaign which was undertaken prior to the show: - 

  • Flyers through letterboxes
  • Posters displayed in approximately 20 Garden Centres across the County
  • Other Posters displayed in prominent locations
  • Adverts in local free magazines
  • Adverts online – ‘spotted’ sites and ‘what’s on’ sites (Thanks Bob – for spending time to post these on the relevant sites, looking at the results, we definitely benefitted from these postings!)
  • Word of Mouth; Friends and family 

Statistics have shown that by far, the most popular means of advertising is word of mouth and having the support of our family and friends! 

Thank you to everyone who helped over the weekend, from setting up; manning a stall; exhibiting and finally those who helped tidy up at the end.  Thanks also to all friends and family who helped us.  Their support is much appreciated. 

POST SHOW ACTIVITY 

Beeston Express

Luckily, Sheila Eden, editor of the local newspaper made time to visit our show and hopefully will be putting a glowing report together.. 

Article to be submitted to ALL Free Local Magazines

As normal, I will be submitting a report to the various magazines. 

Show Report to be submitted to Carol Gubler, editor of Fuchsia News (BFS)

Carol looks forward to reading annual reviews of the many shows that take place as well as receiving the various results, so she can collate data and produce the ‘TOP TEN FUCHSIAS’.

NEWSLETTER 

If anyone wants any item included in the Newsletter, please let me know, either at a meeting, or phone me on Tel: 0115 8758928, or email: jayne.daykin@ntlworld.com  I will gladly include any article or event in the Newsletter.  

Also, if anyone would rather I send them an electronic copy, please let me know. 

Remember: It is YOUR newsletter.   

 

Evening Visit at 60 Audon Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 4AW - 6.30p.m 30th August. (I first had considered the week before, but it clashed with other outings.  Hopefully this date will be more popular.) 

60 Audon Avenue or ‘The Bee Garden’ as it is more commonly known, is an interesting wildlife oriented garden featuring a range of areas, including bee hives.  There are themed borders; a stumpery and a dry planting area; a pond; a bug hotel as well as fruit and vegetable beds and a beach hut. 

I thought it might be nice to have a get together after the show, tea and cakes will be provided at a cost of £3.00 a head. Proceeds go to charity. Those interested, please let me know at this month’s meeting.  Many thanks. 

DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES – We are looking at holding another social evening to celebrate (hopefully!) another successful Annual Show.  The date booked is 6th October at The Nurseryman, 177 Derby Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 3AE.  The meal is booked for 7.30p.m. 

FUNDRAISING 

The easiest way for all internet users to help raise funds for our Society is simply by every time you search the Web you use easysearch. Easysearch combines results from Yahoo!, Windows MSN Live Search and Ask.com in one simple search, the address is http://nottsfuchsia.easysearch.org.uk  Please try it and encourage others too. Don’t forget if you make any purchases on the internet, to go through our webshop to make sure we receive commission from the retailers (currently over 2000 well known retailers), the address is http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/nottsfuchsia

                      

27 Aug

Beauvale Horticultural Show – held at Greasley Sports |& Community Centre, Dovecote Road, Newthorpe, Notts, NG16 3QN.  Show open to the public from 1.00p.m to 4.45p.m. For more information: www.beauvalehorticulturalshow.co.uk

30 Aug

Evening Visit – 60 Audon Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 4AW at 6.30p.m.  A chance to look at very colourful and wildlife-friendly garden, tea & cake provided, £3.00 Admission. Names to Jayne please.

9 – 10 Sep

Long Eaton & District Horticultural Society AUTUMN Show - held at the Coronation Hall, Portland Road, Toton, NG9 6EE. 2.00p.m to 5.00p.m on the Saturday and 10.0am to 3.45pm Sunday. ADMISSION FREE

23 - 24 Sept

RHS Malvern Autumn Show

 

26 Sep

Monthly Meeting: Jeff Bates on Colour in Winter

 

6 Oct

Social Evening – Meal at The Nurseryman, 177 Derby Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 3AE at 7.30p.m

24 Oct

Monthly Meeting: Eddie Munroe on Overwintering Fuchsias

 

28 Nov

AGM & Christmas Buffet