Seasonal Celebrations -- At the Fair

My "Tea Time" Shelf Display with zinnias took a blue ribbon at the fair.

We love to celebrate the end of summer by attending our local fair. It is a week-long event that has everything a country fair should have, including farm animals, tractor pulls, country-and-western bands, rides, all sorts of vendors, plus vegetable, fruit, and flower competitions. Most important, the local churches and fire departments have food stands offering delicious food which is the best reason for going to the fair. H.H. has looked forward to the West End Fair every year of his life, even though when he was young its arrival meant that a new school year would soon begin. As a transplant, it fascinates me because  there was nothing like it where I grew up in England.

Last year, for the first time, I entered a few of my flowers, vegetables, and herbs. I blogged about it here. I was ecstatic to be awarded some ribbons, so I entered more items this year. It was a lot of work, but my ten-year-old grandson helped and we were rewarded with five first-place ribbons, six second-place ribbons, and several thirds and fourths!

My grandson prepared the jars for transporting flowers and herbs to the fair.

I entered yarrow, butterfly bush, marigolds, lemon balm, nasturtium, verbina, and coleus to name but a few. There are specific rules for the type of container and the number of flowers in each. My grandson enjoyed filling the jars with water, covering them with foil secured with rubber bands. The rules require one, three, or five specimens of each flower, herb, or veg. depending upon the plant.  My grandson picked beets and chose the best five. I told him last year I was a awarded a blue ribbon for my beets. He was hoping for a repeat performance.

In addition to submitting specific plants, I entered a floor display and two shelf displays.  I picked zinnias for two of my displays and globe amaranth for the other.

I grow zinnias from seed every year. They are my favorite annual.

When we arrived at the fair, my grandson helped me arrange my displays.

"School Days" Floor Display

The misspelling on the the label made it look more authentically written by a young child.

 

The label says "For Techer" - spelt wrong intentionally by my grandson.

"School Days" shelf display.

Globe Amaranth

When we finished arranging the displays and registering flowers, we headed over to the building where vegetables and herbs were to be judged.

My grandson arranged the beets to the best advantage for the judges.

We set up all the entries on Saturday, the buildings were closed Sunday for judging, and we had to wait until Monday noon to see if we had won any ribbons. We arrived at the fair as the gates opened and my grandson ran from entry to entry looking for ribbons. I took a blue ribbon for the floor display and for "Tea Time" (pictured at the beginning of this posting) and a red ribbon for the "School Days" shelf display!

All my other entries, except two, received ribbons. Here are just a few ...

Yarrow Achillea ptarmica "The Pearl"

My marigolds were awarded second place.

Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii (often spelled Buddleia)

To my grandson's great delight, 'his' beets took first place! He was so excited and phoned his mother immediately with the news. I think we have a budding gardener there!

Our West End Fair is a tradition, since 1920, marking the end of summer. This community event provides an opportunity to celebrate the results of a summer's hard work in the garden and to welcome autumn.

I am joining Donna at Garden's Eye View for her Seasonal Celebrations meme. Do go over to her blog and see the wonderful fruits of her labor.

As Donna says, autumn is knocking on our door here in the northeast United States, so I wish you a very happy fall in your garden!

Pamela x

~~ I love reading your comments. I hope you leave one so I’ll know you visited!

I look forward to visiting your blog in return.