Show time in Spitalfields

On my way back from Columbia Road this morning around eight o’clock, I encountered an anxious man getting out of a taxi in Buxton Street with these Dahlias in boxes. Today is the Spitalfields Show and Green Fair. I can never resist this annual event, chiefly for the compellingly bizarre contests, longest runner bean, largest vegetable, weirdest shape vegetable, best head made from vegetables etc etc.

When I came back to Allen Gardens later, the fair was in full swing. Jill Cove, one of the helpers at the free give and take stall, invited me to take something away. So I offered to go home and find something to contribute, but “No” she begged “Please just take something, or I’ll get stuck with all this junk!”

Then, in the produce tent, I was assaulted by this image of perfection – the mathematically regular Dahlias that I saw earlier in the day, which were grown by Mr Burgess. He need not have been anxious because they won First, Second and Third prizes in their category. Congratulations!