This isn't just any old village fair, it's the Kew Horticultural Society's 61st Show and as such there was even a jazz band on hand. While the show is primarily horticulture based (more than half the entries and classes were for vegetables, fruits, flowers and flower arrangements) there were classes for cookery (and some really nice looking jams and chutney, photography, art and handicrafts.
This is a very heavy picture posting today, because I took lots of pictures, primarily of the winners but also some of the 2nd and 3rd place winners. For anyone (like me) who grew up in the big city, the end of summer fairs can be really fascinating... I mean who would had thought that you would go through all that trouble to 'present' vegetables?
Vegetables
First up, were the vegetables. Interesting to note, that the bulk of the entry were by men. Men seem to grow vegetables and women seem to grow flowers.
First the onion... always a favourite of mine... you need a lot of onions to make a good onion soup grantinée.
Shallots are another popular category. The judges seem to look for good colour, size as well as presentation. I was interested to note that the shallots were displayed in sand.
Even Bugs would had approved. Now I know that carrots are sometimes grown in pipes to encourage them to grow long and straight...
Marrows are judged on regularity, size and colour.
I want to know the secret of growing cabbages, since all my cabbages are severely slug eaten, especially on the outside leaves. These cabbages look divine.
There were loads of potatoes in the show. These were some of the best examples.
And then the beans... there were lots of beans.
Fruits
There were loads of fruits as well. Obviously these growers manage to control their squirrel population better than I do.
Arrangements
Fruit and floral arrangements is a very competitive category. You can only arrange that which you have grown. It was so crowded that I couldn't get through to take more pictures.
Cookery
A few photos from the cookery classes. I decided to not take photos of the jam jars because they all looked a like and well, you need to taste it to find the winners. I wonder if these goodies were all made the morning of the show. I just have images of bleary eyed women getting up at 3am to cook up their entries.. what happens if you run out of eggs at that hour?
Crafts
Finally, the crafting section... you know you were waiting for this.
Inspired by Ann's Tennessee State Fair, I prepared myself for humilitation and entered a few of my goodies.
I also entered Tina in the knitted article category.
Well done Polly! Tina definitely deserves the red ribbon. Maybe you can start a wall of honour at home - who knows how many you could win next year! I loved the fruit and veg shots too.
Posted by: Mary at September 5, 2005 04:01 PMCongratulations! And thanks for all of the pictures. When I was a kid I showed lots of vegetables in our local 4-H fair. It was great to see the differences in how various fairs/cultures display their vegs. Brought back memories of getting up early to pick, scrub and display the veggies.
Posted by: Amy at September 4, 2005 03:13 PMA hearty congratulations to you on your first and third place wins.
Tina is stunning.......simply stunning you should be so proud.
Wonderful blog entry. Loved the pictures of the fair and a well deserved congratulations!
Posted by: Sandy at September 3, 2005 06:10 AMDearest Oikkt, I'm so proud of you.
Posted by: Tessa at September 2, 2005 08:29 PMFabulous! What are they on about, "flat seams"? Nutso, they are. ;-D
Posted by: Norma at September 2, 2005 06:16 PMCongratulations, Polly! Tina up close is a great example of such even stitches. And all the fruit and vegetable entries are great. I wish I was there!
Posted by: MJ at September 2, 2005 06:12 PMOh, well done, congratulations!! Your work is beautiful, and the win very well-deserved.
Your fruit & veg pictures made me all hungry ... think what a delicious salad those would make!
Posted by: Ruth at September 2, 2005 05:52 PMexcellent! but what is up with all those typos from the judge of the baby sweater?
Posted by: Kathleen at September 2, 2005 04:01 PMOh, I love all of those fruit and veggie shots!
And kudos on the First Prize...well deserved!
Brilliant!!!!! Polly, I was already gobsmacked and in tears at the sight of those shallots. Oh, the humanity contained in those plates of potatoes.
But once your tale took a turn to the handicraft department, well, I was on pins and needles until the perfect denouement. And, like all perfectly told tales, the end was obvious once I heard it.
Perfect! O! The drama! Congratulations from Nashville!!!!
Posted by: Mason-Dixon Ann at August 30, 2005 12:44 AMCongrats on your placings and the first prize. Wow. I wanted to enter our local one, but it was held during the week we were out of state. Maybe next year...
Posted by: K. Anne at August 30, 2005 12:25 AMWhat beautiful pictures! Although I do suddenly find myself hungry...hehe. Your knits are gorgeous. Congrats on the ribbons!
Posted by: Michelle at August 29, 2005 04:32 PMSo now I'm singing, "Our state fair is a great state fair, don't miss it, don't even be late. It's dollars to donuts at our state fair, it's the best state fair in our state." I just loved that Musical.
What a fantastic post. I'm hungry now, after all those splendid fruits and veggies! But the best part, of course, was Tina. Congratulations on your prize! Well deserved, I'd say. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. at August 29, 2005 03:58 PMCongratulations, Polly. Too too wonderful. I find County fairs hysterically funny, too. We have weirdest looking vegetable and fruit contests, too. Thanks for all the lovely pictures.
Posted by: Daisy at August 29, 2005 02:48 PMabsolutely astounding and well deserved.
Congrats Polly :)
Wow, you never fail to astound me. How come you hadn't mentioned this before. I am very proud to know you - and am now off to research flat seams. I hate to think what they would think of my knitting if they can be so critical of yours. A. x
Posted by: Amelia at August 29, 2005 12:52 PMHurray for you and Tina, but of course they'd have been unable to find anything more lovely. I grow vegetables, but have never seen such straight and uniform beans in my garden.
Posted by: Linda at August 29, 2005 11:24 AMWell done indeed, Miss Polly! Can you enter it for the Tennessee State Fair next year? I loved reading all about the Fair, whoevere said that London was a collection of villages got it right.
Posted by: Jill at August 29, 2005 10:05 AMMazette! I'm impressed, but not suprised you won the 1st prize. Don't they give "special awards"? Because you should have got this one, too :-) You're the best!!!
Thanks for sharing, the pictures are all amazing.
OH how wonderful! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Stasia at August 29, 2005 05:53 AMWow, I love everything you entered! I thought the doilies had nice construction, but the colors were kind of eeeh. I'm a sucker for classic natural colored doilies.
And now, I have to go to my kitchen and find some veggies to munch.
Posted by: Jenn at August 29, 2005 04:19 AMCongrats Polly! A well deserved ribbon!!
Posted by: Debi at August 29, 2005 03:56 AMCongratulations for getting a first prize!!
Love the food pictures, especially the shallots, which look so much nicer standing up in a bunch like that than in mesh bags from the supermarket (that's how we get them here).
Posted by: joy at August 29, 2005 03:25 AMCongratulations!! I would definitely say it should be a triple first prize too :D)
Posted by: Siow Chin at August 29, 2005 02:09 AMWow! Congratulations on your well-deserved prize!
Posted by: Wendy at August 29, 2005 01:23 AMCongratumalations! Tina certainly deserved it. I love looking at the vegetables and baking displays as well. The onion tops are very cute.
Posted by: Margie at August 29, 2005 01:16 AMwell deserved! beautiful work - congratulations
Posted by: anna at August 29, 2005 01:03 AMWonderful news and well deserved.
Now I am even more homesick, I started thinking about new potatoes (Jersey's) and cooking apples. I have found neither in Maryland.
Thanks for sharing the lovely photos! Tina's first prize was well deserved YEH!!
Posted by: Jacinta at August 28, 2005 11:03 PMA well-deserved red rosette for you and Tina. I can't imagine what item could have bettered it. Congratulations.
I also loved the fresh looking yummy vegetables.
What a nice tradition.
Congratulations!! Tina is a magnificent piece of work and truly deserved to win.
Those onions probably are waxed, oiled, polished and caressed to the maximum judge appeal. I wonder at the tidy way their stems are folded down and tied. Then again I think the RHS has once published a book on vegetable presentation at flower shows.
Posted by: Thomas at August 28, 2005 09:11 PMWELL DONE POLLY.
Don't worry about the flat seams comment, I think thats a technique used by people who don't know how to mattress stitch.
When are you going to wear that red rosette.
Posted by: Diane A at August 28, 2005 09:03 PMStunning!
The fruit and veg photos will come in useful for my major project as well!
Posted by: Yvonne at August 28, 2005 08:36 PMCongratulations Polly! A first at Kew, I am very impressed! xx
Posted by: Wendy Peterson at August 28, 2005 08:26 PMTINA got FIRST PRIZE! WOOT!! Congrats!
Posted by: Kim at August 28, 2005 07:48 PMBrava! Well done. And happy belated birthday!
Posted by: KT at August 28, 2005 07:14 PMOooh, that much posher than our village fair. You're lucky if they've swept the floor from the kids party the day before!
Posted by: AmyP at August 28, 2005 06:54 PMWell done Polly!
I love the veggie photos - I feel like I've actually had a walk around the show myself what with your meticulous photography - pity my tomatoes (just typed tomotatoes, could be a new category...) and I are still having ripening 'issues' and did I tell you the slugs ate my one and only courgette? Little buggers!
Your shawl definitely deserved to win but I'm confused about the flat seam comment on the cardi; can we find somone to clarifiy? Ooh, maybe there's a judge out there in blogland that could help?
Enjoy the bank holiday!
Well done Polly - how fabulous to get that red ribbon. Such gorgeous lace knitting, it was well deserved. Loved the the pictures of the fruits and veg's too and the childrens vegatable art category. It looks like a fun day was had by all.
Posted by: carol at August 28, 2005 06:13 PMWell Done, Congratulations, your knitting is gorgeous.
Posted by: yvette at August 28, 2005 06:13 PMFirst prize? Go Polly! You really deserve it, Tina is fabulous. :)
Posted by: Kristel at August 28, 2005 06:12 PMcongratulations! I had no idea as I was reading the entry that it would culminate in knitting!
Love the tomatoes and red onions too!
Dawn:)
Posted by: dawn at August 28, 2005 06:12 PMCONGRATULATIONS! They were probably gobsmacked by your knitting abilities. I'd ask for a recount on the socks and Daydream...you'd still get my vote!
Posted by: Tracy at August 28, 2005 05:59 PMWooHoo! Hip, hip, hooray! And many congratulations on your gorgeous work!
Posted by: Kathy in San Jose at August 28, 2005 05:55 PMomg! congratulations! how cool is that! and much deserved as well. way to go, polly!
love the veggie pics as well. the tied onion tops are fascinating. i wish they'd do that in the supermarkets here ;-)
Posted by: kris at August 28, 2005 05:33 PMI loved reading about your fair and seeing all the goodies. It is also interesting to see that first place at your fair gets a 'red' ribbon, which is 'second place' at fairs in the US (first place is blue, second is red, third is white). Your ribbons are also much much fancier than ours.
I think your socks should have definitely won a 'red' ribbon...and I have no idea what 'flat seams' mean!
Posted by: kim in oregon at August 28, 2005 05:31 PMFirst prize for Tina? What do the judges know! It should have been absolutely triple first, best in show ever prize! Very well deserved, Polly, and congratulations too on the go with the flow socks and Daydream. Though they should have been first prizes too, in my opinion. And if you ever find out what the judges meant by flat seams, please let me know.
Thank you for all the photos of the fruit and veg entries, they all look absolutely gorgeous. I think all the entrants deserve a prize for producing such good, wholesome food that looks fabulous too.
Posted by: Louise at August 28, 2005 04:59 PM