Twenty-five members attended the Christmas meal at the Hix Academy at Weymouth College on 3rd December. This was a very enjoyable occasion with excellent food prepared and served by the students. The venue was superb and can be highly recommended.
Following the meal, the raffle was drawn for the Teddy Bear, kindly donated by Eric and Pat Manton. The lucky winner was Pat Honess.
Our Society entered this competition and the results have now been published. These two images, entered by Ros Gant, both gained third prize in their category. Well done to Ros.
The first one is entitled ‘Spied upon Gardener in Action’, you may recognise Ray Hayward labelling his exhibits at our Spring Show.
The second one, ‘Garden Friend or Foe’. is an entry in the Children’s classes at our show.
Full results can be found on the DFHS web-site ; dfhs.btck.co.uk/
The lunch arrangements are as follows;
Arrive at 12.30pm for 1pm start.
Our Chairman, Adrian, has twelve parking permits available for the main car park or the overspill at Lodmoor.
These will be obtainable in Reception from Adrian on arrival. However, if you would like one in advance, please ring Adrian on 813853 to arrange collection.
On arrival you will be given a name card with your menu choices before sitting where you choose. There will be three tables of six and one of eight at the far end of the restaurant.
The staff will then go round each table and take note of the choices so that each table can be served together.
Drinks can be purchased on arrival or after you have taken your seat.
We hope you have an enjoyable time.
Kay Townsend, a member of a long established family of Showmen, gave a fascinating talk on Fairgrounds during the war years. She told us that fairs were allowed to continue during the wars to keep up morale. There were restrictions on times and lighting but people could enjoy enjoy the fairs and forget their worries for a short time.
She has written several books on various aspects of the Showmen’s lives, having done a lot of research on the subject.
A very enjoyable evening !
The Harvest Supper held on 1st October was a success with 41 members enjoying a ploughman’s supper followed by apple cake and cream.
Martin Young, of Nectar Plants, then gave an interesting and informative talk on planting in shaded areas.
Our next meeting is on 5th November when we welcome Kay Townsend. She will be telling us about Fairgrounds during and between the wars.
Menus for the Christmas lunch will be available and places will need to be booked and paid for in advance. If you are unable to attend the November meeting but would like to come to the meal, please choose from the following menu and ring Adrian on 813853 or any other committee member. The cost is £17 to include gratuities.
Fifteen members provided 41 exhibits for the Inter – Society Show at Tarrant Keyneston on 20th September. We won 35 prizes including 15 1st, 9 2nd and 10 3rd ranging from vegetables and fruit, pot plants and flowers to cookery and preserves. Some of the prize winning exhibits are pictured.
The Society won three Special Awards ;
The Harry Dawes Trophy for Best Pot Plant Exhibit
The Joy Collins Cup for Best Cactus Exhibit ( A collection of three)
The RHS Banksian Medal for the highest points in the Horticulture class es.
We gained 3rd prize in a close competition in the Homecraft Collection of five exhibits, only two points less than the winner. The Damson Jelly scored 10 out of 10! Our theme was A Tribute to the Women’s Institute in their Centenary Year.
Members enjoyed an interesting and informative talk by Lucy from Poundbury Gardens for our first meeting of the Autumn.
She planted up a pot for Winter colour which was then included in the raffle. How did she fit so many plants in ? No doubt we will all have a go.
It was good to see several new faces among the more familiar ones and we look forward to seeing them next month when we hold our Harvest Supper, followed by a talk by Martin Young on planting in shade. The cost will be £4 to cover food.
Menus for the Christmas lunch will also be available during the evening to make your choices. This year we are going to the Hix Academy at Weymouth College on 3rd December and the cost will be £17 to include gratuities.
Another successful Show was held on 15th August in the Upwey Memorial Hall.
Entries were slightly up on last year although the dahlia entries were low. Forty-two exhibitors staged almost two hundred and fifty exhibits and the standard was high across the whole show.
The flowers, pot plants and floral art provided wonderful colour for visitors to enjoy. There were also magnificent vegetables and delicious looking cookery. The three photography classes attracted thirty-eight entries, a difficult task for the judge. The handicraft exhibits were excellent and the children’s delightful.
Well done to all who entered. 
SPECIAL AWARDS
National Vegetable Society Medal, Best Vegetable Exhibit – Mark Read
National Vegetable Society Runner-up to Best Vegetable Award – Mark Read
Silver Challenge Cup, Best Vegetable Collection – Mark Read
Charles Read Memorial Cup, Highest Points, Vegetable Classes – Bill Howarth
The Tomato Trophy, Best Exhibit, Tomato Classes – Mark Read
Upwey and Broadwey Produce Challenge Cup – John Morris
Garden News Shield, Lady with Highest Points in Vegetables – Gill Wilkinson and Jean Wyman
Springfield Cup, Best Exhibit, Fruit Classes – Bill Howarth
National Dahlia Society Silver Medal, Class 29 – Frank Newbery
National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal – Frank Newbery
The Beaton Challenge Cup, Highest Points Flower Classes – John Morris
Bincombe Cup, Best Exhibit, Cut Flower Classes – John Morris
Coronation Silver Challenge Cup, Best Exhibit, Pot Plants – Mark Read
Gladioli Award Best exhibit, Gladioli Classes – John Morris
New Broadwey Pelargonium Shield, Best Exhibit, Pelargonioum Classes – Mark Read
Begonia Award Best exhibit Begonia Classes – Mark Read
Upwey and Broadwey Memorial Amateur Produce Challenge Cup Highest points, Novice Classes – Dorothy Emblen
Pridham Rose Bowl Highest Points Floral Decoration- Brenda Woodsford
Sackville Hamilton Challenge Cup Best Exhibit Floral Decoration- Doris Flack
Novice Floral Award Best Exhibit, Class 80- no entry
The Howard Cup Highest Points, Preserves and Cookery in Domestic Section – Neil Coad
The Richard’s Trophy Best Exhibit, Preserves and Cookery – Neil Coad
Westbrook Cup Best Exhibit Handicrafts – Debbie Davis
Redlands Cup Highest Points, Photography in Spring and Summer Shows – Meg Rolfe
Cup for the Highest Points in Group 1, Children’s Classes – Tilly Gant
The Virgin Challenge Cup Highest Points in Group 2, Children’s Classes – Lizzy Gant
The Banksian Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society – John Morris
The efco Trophy Highest Points gained in Show – Bill Howarth
Our first meeting for the Autumn will be held on September 3rd. A speaker from the Gold Club will be telling us about Container Gardening for the Winter.
Remember to bring your geranium and pepper plants, supplied by the Gold Club in the Spring.
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Preparations are well in hand for our Summer Show on 15th August. We are hoping for plenty of entries so have a look at the schedule and see what you could do.
Full details on the Shows page.