Talking vegetables
A keen visitor to Fermanagh County Show and long time exhibitor at the event described this year's annual date as "one of the best shows" he can ever remember.
Robert McFarland, from Enniskillen, speaking on Tuesday night, felt it had attracted one of the biggest crowds ever.
A keen vegetable gardener, the sprightly octagenarian once again entered vegetable exhibits at this year's event and was rewarded with a number of prize-winning successes.
Robert says he enjoys growing vegetables and it was something that he became interested in through his father, Walter, who always grew vegetables.
"It's a great pastime," believes Robert, who has also got his son Walter and grandson William into vegetable growing - a passion which is crossing the generations of McFarlands.
"This season has not been as good," mentions Robert, who feels there has been "too much rain and not enough sunshine."
Working in a small plot at his home, among the vegetables he grows are onions, peas, beans, beetroot, some cabbage, early potatoes and parsley.
He has started growing celery and leeks which he says are great for soup in the winter time and prove easy to grow.
Visiting Fermanagh Show proves an enjoyable outing for Robert, who was accompanied on Tuesday by his wife Jean as they admired the various exhibits in the home industries section.
"It is something I always look forward to," said Robert, who acknowledged the "wonderful display of flowers and vegetables" on show and said he never saw the like of them.
Planning to keep on growing - and showing, he feels it is lovely to have his own produce and he finds it a pleasure being able to give any surplus to family and neighbours who live close by.
"More and more people have caught on to gardening in recent years," believes Robert, who is quite happy to share his knowledge when people often stop to ask him questions.
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Source: imparialreporter