Apart from Cinderella, few people are likely to consider an after-dark encounter with a giant pumpkin an exciting prospect, but the Royal Horticultural Society are out to change all that. In a revision to the normal schedule, the RHS London Harvest Festival Show opened late on Tuesday, treating members and their guests to an evening of carrot carving, apple bobbing, foraging masterclasses and, of course, prize-winning fruit and veg.
Long standing followers of The Frustrated Gardener will know that the RHS London shows are favourites of mine. They are gloriously old fashioned, so much so that one can imagine Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham sending his best grapes down on the train from York, or Sherlock Holmes inspecting the entries with his inscrutable eye. The show must appear now very much as it did in the 1920’s and 30’s.
The competition for heaviest pumpkin may be a little light-hearted, but other classes certainly are not. Gardeners and growers who exhibit here know their onions, their leeks and their parsnips. The highest standards are called for and judges take no prisoners. However, in the new spirit of transparency adopted by the RHS at other shows, a table is laid out explaining what the defects are that exhibitors will lose points for. Heaven forbid one’s cauliflower should have a lumpy curd or one’s leeks be slightly kinked. It’s a level of perfection, indeed artifice, that very few strive for nowadays, but wonderful to witness.
The first thing I do every year is check out which Duke has won first prize for his grapes. This year the Duke of Devonshire came out tops in both classes for white grapes, going head-to-head with the Duke of Marlborough. I imagine their noble rivalry must be something of a friendly tradition and, like the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, I’d like to imagine it will continue in perpetuity.
In an area ambitiously dubbed the ‘Wild Wood’, master forager Claudio Bincoletto was on hand to give advice about hunting for your own food. Asked what he thought about British truffles, he kindly described them as ‘tasting like wet hazlenuts’ and offered a jar of the real thing to sniff. Woodsy and wonderful. He didn’t look like man you’d argue with.
The catering at these events is a big attraction; nothing too corporate, just a handful of well chosen suppliers offering quality food and drink. Hiver beer from the Real Ale Company always goes down a treat, as do the little gyoza prepared by The Garlic Farm. If I were a coffee drinker, I’d have dived straight for the espresso martinis served from the back of a Piaggio Ape by Word on the Street.
Through the evening we were serenaded by Robin Grey and friends, playing on a banjos, ukeleles, guitars and percussion. They were lucky to be heard over the din created by ‘Can You Dig It?’ and their carrot recorder making workshop. I regret not having a go, as participants seemed to be having a lot of fun, even if the resulting cacophony almost made one’s ears bleed.
Ending on a more serious note, opening late does seem to be helping the RHS attract a more mixed audience, without who’s interest I suspect they might struggle to continue these venerable London shows. This part of Westminster is hardly buzzing at night, so it’s a fun diversion for locals and office workers alike. As for me, I’ll keep going for as long as they continue, making the most of a living, breathing piece of England’s horticultural heritage.
Categories: Flower Shows, Food and Drink, Fruit and Veg
I never did get to see a London show – or any other than Chelsea, for that matter… oh, and I do enjoy your title! 😀
Well, I wouldn’t make a special trip for a London Show, but surely you have another Chelsea in you? The title is better than Leeky kinks, which is what I have in my garden hose!
When I was in my twenties (and the youngest member of our hort society), I had a rivalry going with a 90 year old man, and a retired teacher on whose delphinium, and peony would win that year. It was very sad when they died. The competition died with them. There is no one to replace them. I can just imagine the Dukes battling it out every year. It gives you something to strive for.
What a poignant story, thank you for sharing it. I looked back and the Duke of Marlborough got the 1sts last year so I bet the Duke of Devonshire is feeling very happy with himself (or his gardener is!).
Ohhhh, how good is this! Luv it, Luv it, luv it… Wish my leeks looked as pristine as these!
Wish London was more accessible for these shows but good a mixture of people are attending.