| My
Chrysanthemum Story - part two by Doris Joyce
The Conclusion
to My Story ....
Well here I am
again . I am sure many of you that read Paul's page will be wondering
how I went on for the rest of the year growing and showing my
Chrysanthemums.
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I'm sure many
will be thinking I just had a lucky break. As you will recall Ivor
Mace had answered my plea and was teaching me how to grow
Chrysanthemums the Ivor Mace way.
I think
everyone will agree after reading this I didn't have a lucky
break I was fortunate enough to have a very talented teacher. I
thought I had done well to win and gain the rosettes plus
certificates of merit for best blooms in the Novice Section.
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Doncaster
Late Show
The Doncaster
and District Flower and Vegatable late show held at Markham Grange,
Doncaster was coming up and I had some really good Trident in bud. I also
a couple of Gigantics. The weather had been really mild and the
dehumidifiers were getting the moisture out well at night, then the
weather changed. The rain came day after day and the temperature dropped.
Problems
with damping
I went into the greenhouse and noticed the lovely large buds that had
started to form into large blooms had started to show some brown petals.
Damp was the problem. Panic set in as more and more petals showed signs of
damping off on all the Japs. I went through everything
possible with Ivor looking for a possible cause for the damping. I had the
dehumidifier running , I had used my meter to keep a check when to feed
and water so I knew they hadn't been overfed or over watered. I was
devastated. Then Ivor noticed I hadn't put my heating on in the
greenhouse. I had made the mistake like many Novice growers thinking that
the dehumidifier was sufficient in the greenhouse. It never entered my
head they needed heat as well. It cost me dear and I lost all my Tridents,
Gigantics, and one Jessie Hapgood.
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Not all doom
and gloom
I did manage to
save a cream Duke of Kent and a Primrose Jessie Hapgood which were a
little bit behind the others .These I entered into the show and to my
delight I won 1st and 2nd prize with the Primrose Jessie Hapgood and the
Cream Duke of Kent. I also entered 2 vases of 3 cultivars in the Novice
Section which were 3 White Fairweather and 3 Fairweather and 2 vases of 3
cultivars of 3 Yellow Fairweather and 3 Fairweather in the Intermediate
Section.
Left:
large exhibition blooms at Doncaster |
I also entered
a single bloom of Yellow Fairweather in the Intermediate Section. I won
1st prize with all my entries plus best blooms in both the Novice and the
Intermediate Sections .I was awarded the Silver Sherrifs Trophy for my
blooms in the Novice section and the Silver Doncaster & Doncaster,
Chrysanthemum Society Trophy for my blooms in the Intermediate section. I
was very pleased!
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My
incurve blooms at Doncaster Late Show
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Northern
Group Show
The big
Northern Group Show which again was also held at Markham Grange was coming up on
the 22nd November and I knew this would be a real challenge. Its one thing
winning in a local show but I was very nervous about entering into a show
with people like John and Allyson Peace. I remembered what their beautiful
blooms were like in the early show and believe me I wasn't looking forward
to this Northern Show. I had achieved so much success with what I had already
shown I was scared to say the least. Once again Ivor Mace stepped in and
gave me the encouragement I needed to enter the last of my blooms which
were Fairweather.
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| I entered a
vase a 3 Fairweather and a Charm I had been growing. I didn't win with my
Charm but I did win 1st prize with my vase of 3 Fairweather. |
I would just
like to say if someone of my age can start growing Chrysanthemums and get
such satisfaction winning with them and anyone has been inspired with
"My Story" and thinks they would like to have a go at growing
these beautiful Blooms go ahead I can recommend it.
You are never
too old to learn!
Regards,
Doris
Return
to => My
Chrysanthemum Story - Part one
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