As I sit here sheltering from the worst of the weather of Storm Bert it is that time of year again where we review what happened. We met and made loads of new friends, customers, organizers and fellow traders. We went to several new plant fairs and shows, as Mike’s Hostas and some as South Hele Cross Farm, made improvements at both our Milverton and Clayhanger Sites, did things that I haven’t done for decades and remind us that we truely are a farm.
February was the big start to the season when we received our order of over 3300 Hostas to pot up. Luckily it wasn’t as cold as it has been in the past, but I weas still potting under cover due to rain. I think all told it took me over 2 weeks to pot that lot up, prioritizing the most important varieties first, down to the lesser varieties. I should say all hostas are important to us, and no hostas were harmed in the process. Next, we created a load of new tables at our site near Milverton to grow them on before the season begins.
We started the season off at the end of March at Burrow Farm Spring Fair. It was very wet and several of the other traders needed assistance from the tractors. We were exceedingly lucky to be placed on hard stand at the entrance to the field, and the public were lovely, and the organizers took great care in looking after us.
Then at the beginning of April we had the Spring fair at Forde Abbey in Somerset, where the wind and flooding meant that we were put around the back next to the walled garden. The Paul’s did a great job and we were lucky enough to be in an alcove next to the main house so were mostly out of the wind. We did a brisque trade as we had missed that Sue and Richard Proctor had been on Gardners World the previous night extolling the virtues of Hostas. As you could imagine we had to watch that program once we got home.
Next was Mapperton House in Dorset Spring fair in mid-April. The weather was much better, and we had no difficulties setting up. Becky and Rob did another wonderful job organizing, with many familiar customers and catching up with all the traders again.
At the end of April we attended the Dorset Spring Fair. The weather was not great, we had to skid and slide to get to where we had to set up. Robin was a great help in sorting things out for us here. Met some lovely new traders next to us here and had a wonderful time, the mud, however, was across between a wet Glastonbury and an agricultural show.
Finally, we made it into May and at the beginning of the month we attended Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival. The weather was not too bad. We were bracketed by 2 of our fellow friends and traders Tom and Giulia from Piccolo Plants and Cactus Dave and Jane from Coach House Cactus. We had a great time!
Mid-May and my absolute favorite plant fair at Yarlington House in Somerset. I don’t know why I just get a warm feeling here and relax the most. Rob and Becky did another wonderful job again. The weather was really good.
Next day the Devon Plant Heritage fair at RHS Rosemoor. A lovely venue, very relaxing to do as we are inside in a wonderful space. Jonathan, Gary and Janet did a great job. Janet also did some buying as she moved around. I normally don’t get to look around much, but Tegan insisted that I check out a few things in the garden.