State Fair wrap-up

I spent Saturday picking Dahlias in my mother's yard and hauling them to the state fair. Behind the scenes in the Ag-Bee-Hort building, the nervous tension was obvious. Contestants did not respond to my humor or politeness. They just kind of glared at me with a look that said "Don't you know not to talk to me?"

Perhaps it was my mother, though, that scared them. After all, she did walk through the door with 35 entries and two male helpers to carry everything. Her staging process took up a whole banquet table. I could feel the daggering glances towards our operation of labeling, sorting, and primping. What a serious lot!

Mum with some of her 22 first premium flowers

Mum's "court of honor" flower for the best-in-section.

So yes, we made it past the Fair and have just enough time to pause for a breath before the Dahlia Show at Bachman's September 16.

Then we go through the real work -- digging up all the tubers and storing for the winter, and replacing all the beds with Tulips and Hyacinths.

cheater! no just kidding, great job. mum was really proud...