Alpacas at the North Devon Show
Yesterday we had an early start. Very early.
Mike wanted to be there first thing. I was shaken awake with threats of duvet being ripped away. Again. And despite my protestations that the 8.00 a.m. doors opening was meant for the animals, not us.
In the end we left home about three quarters of an hour late. We pulled into the showground car park to be directed across a very large field. In the dim distance I could see about one row of cars. As it turned out, we were among the first to arrive.
Alpacas seem such gentle animals, even if they can kick. And spit.
They tend to be nervous and need the company of others, these two particularly so. In the presence of any ‘threat’, a screaming kid or even Mike’s camera, they would retreat to the back of their pen and twine their necks in the most endearing way.
A gorgeous Jersey calf, difficult to photograph with a very protective Mum
Fluffy faced sheep
Couldn’t miss these guys. Indian Runner ducks
Peafowl, doing their best to hide in the decorative backdrop to their pen.
The leaves were also providing some shade. It turned out to be quite a hot day.
Plenty to watch in the arenas… tractor pull
Show jumping
Duck herding
Food halls groaning with produce and other locally produced fare.
Mike made a beeline for these..
It took a while..
I retreated back to the alpaca tent.
Awww…
I found a local supplier of alpaca yarn. It is so unbelievably soft. If that doesn’t get me back to knitting I don’t know what will.
.
By the time we left, that very large car park was filled to the back.
95% of the visitors had arrived later than us and yet more were still coming through the gate.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron was among the early spectators too. I’d have looked out for him if I’d known. But I didn’t. And anyway, by then I’d already found the flower tent.
Ooops.
Fantastic, they are so cute! I’ve never been to the North Devon Show, only Devon County Show in May, which is not far down the road! So glad to see that you were tempted with some lovely flowers, we never come home without a few tucked away somewhere.
For some reason we missed the Devon show, not sure why. Next year for sure. Especially if it too has a flower tent!
The Alpacas are cute, but I love those Indian Runner Ducks. They always make me smile. You came home with a lovely selection of plants – flower tents are always hard to resist, aren’t they?
They are. But then, the plants are usually cheaper than a garden centre so I’m saving money???! Runner ducks are such characters. If I get brave enough to have animals again it will be some of those. Along with the geese..
What do you mean, “oops” at the flower tent? Those are clearly in shades of blue!
I was worried I may have overdone the blue now. So, as you see, I’ve upped the ante on the white and pink as well..
I like the carrots best! But yes, the alpacas are adorable.
Better than any carrots I’ve ever grown..
Lovely weather for a lovely day. The alpacas look so huggable – but looks can deceive, I know:-)
If I had some Janice, hugging them would be difficult to resist. The little wining sounds they make pull you in as effectively as the purring of a cat. But I’ve also seen one kick.. ouch.
What a lovely day for you both-and the garden!
It was! A lot of planting to do now though..
Must put that show on the calendar for next year. Looks like it’s well worth a visit; and probably worth getting up early for?!
That or the Devon Show, which I suspect is bigger. It is worth the visit, but don’t be fooled into thinking you have to be there when the doors open… take the extra hour in bed. This will be note to self for next year..
I’d have given the tractors a miss and would have been in the alpaca and flower tent with you!!!
Quite right. Cars and tractors are highly overrated.
I love the alpacas – I always take lots of photos of them at Woolfest (I wonder if they are the same ones?).
I couldn’t believe how soft their wool (?) is. And great for people who can’t wear sheeps’ wool apparently because it’s hypoallergenic.
aww they are lovely but it’s the Jersey calf I love and the Indian Runner ducks – gorgeous
There’s something about Jersey cows isn’t there? They looked especially refined next to the huge breeding bulls of the heavier breeds.
My MIL likes the county shows and we often “do” them – last year we did 4 I think. Loved the alpacas – often think about keeping some on the paddock but think better of it…….hmmmmm but they are lovely!
They are. I’d be sorely tempted if I had the space. Perhaps it’s just as well that I don’t.
I have a friend who keeps a small herd and they are gorgeous. Hers aren’t very friendly though. Know what you mean about the motor section…..interminable. Nice plants!
I spent a while (whilst escaping from the motor section) talking to one of the alpaca owners. Apparently what you watch for is their cheeks filling up. If they really have something against you their spit is regurgitated..
Awww….those alpacas look gorgeous. I love the calf and the runner ducks too but I loathe an early start to anything.
Lol….do I see a splash of pink in your purchases???? xxxx
Yes, pink is there. It’s tall too.. 90 cms. I’ve no idea where it’s going.
You are a big disappointment!! I thought you were going to bring home a couple of Alpaca’s!!!!
Oh I wish! They might be a bit sniffy about living in the garage though.
Thank you for taking us to the show with you. I love the jersey cow and her calf. Such beautiful faces. Is the blue blossom a salvia? It is one of the favorites in our garden.
It is a salvia. I was a bit unsure about it, because it is tender in our climate. Best thing is to dig it up and overwinter under cover. I’ll probably risk it and pile a layer of mulch on top. Maybe you can take cuttings as insurance?
Lovely pictures. Those alpacas are absolutely wonderful. I’m wondering if I could fit a couple into my back garden. Probably could.
Save mowing. But they might nibble more than the grass…
Looks like you had a super day out, it’s hard to resist an alpaca especially when they are beautifully clipped like those little guys. Great pics.
I love the way they leave the bouffant bit on top of the head..
It looks like a balanced purchase to me.
Yes, you can take cuttings on the salvia. Is that taller blue, agastache or a lavender?
Looks like a nice day out for sure.
It is Nepeta nervosa. The butterflies and bees are loving it.
Luckily we have no cats.
I will have to look for that variety here. It’s nice and upright. I wasn’t sure from the photo if it could be a type of lavandula stoechas, with the funny little “bee” like blossoms. Then I figured out how to enlarge the photo.
I couldn’t remember the species name, so last night I went out with a torch. It was after midnight and hurling it with rain… you’d have laughed!!
I also love Alpaca’s. They always look so very friendly but I must admit, since we’ve been to Wales, sheep are high on my list of lovable animals now as well. They were everywhere every day and so friendly.
Last year, apparently, there were 8.62 million sheep in Wales.
We lived for a while on a sheep farm and I got to love them too.
Love the blue plant on the far left, and the Runners, and the Sheep.
It’s a real electric blue that salvia. It will be worth all the overwintering trouble it will cause. I hope.
Wish I could fit an alpaca into the garden,,,
Two… one would be lonely!
Whenever I look at an alpaca I see a cute face, and yarn, lots and lots of yarn. I knit with the stuff all the time, you’ll love it Jessica … can I ask who you bought from?
So far I’ve just got a business card. It will be a winter project and I need to find a pattern first. http://www.dartmooralpacas.co.uk. I have no idea how it rates in terms of quality, but when I picked up a ball it felt like heaven! I can’t imagine anything cosier than knitting with that when the snow is coming down outside!
It would be so tempting to have a couple of alpacas like the dark brown one and the cream one, they look so adorable.
I heard that they spit only if you get too close to them, invade their space, which we don’t like either. A bit of spit and a kick is all they have the defend themselves.
It is definitely worth digging up or protecting the beautiful salvia, but what a glorious shade of blue.
Spitting is also a way of maintaining rank within the herd, apparently.
I had a very similar salvia called ‘Cambridge Blue’. Needless to say I lost it, I should try harder with this one!
I wish I had a fluffy top knot like alpacas! And those eyelashes, too! Looks a lovely county show. Our one in Kent is okay but has, in recent years, been overtaken by loads of stalls containing what can only be described as as ‘tat’ plus a very loud, unnecessary and expensive fairground doo dah.
Wish it would return to yesteryear when it concentrated on animals and crafts and local food. Sigh…
There was a bit of that, but not too much. It should have had goats though. And I realise my other omission was a failure to photograph any chickens. Of which there were plenty!
Must have driven past you as we headed home from N Devon back to Herefordshire! Love the alpacas too. I read somewhere they are great for guarding tiny lambs from foxes. Apparently they stamp their feet and frighten the foxes away.
I’ve read that too.. they look very gentle but their feet can pack a punch. Hope you had a good time down here.
That looks like such a fun show to visit although I am not at all sure about the early morning…
Alpacas are really cute and I love your pics of them 🙂
No, I don’t find early mornings very easy!
Aren’t they beautiful. I’ve never knit with alpaca but it’s wonderfully soft so I can see how it would tempt you back to knitting. It looks like a great show with something to interest everyone.
Last year it was cancelled because of the weather, so it was nice to go this year.
Top marks to the flower haul, and I have never in my life seen such artisan animals. Can ‘artisan’ be applied to animals?
They are pretty animals aren’t they. Certainly the products made from the fleece could be termed artisan.
What a lovely day out with lots to see and those Alpacas are just sooooooooo sweet looking. Do try knitting with it. I’ve used it and love it for its softness. Thank you for the pictures, which are of a very high standard.
Thanks Oma. Some of the pictures were taken inside tents where the light was not good. But on the whole, we were pleased with how they came out.
I tried to comment on this post a couple of days ago but WordPress just wasn’t having it – it shows what a loyal follower I am that i have come back to try again, haha! Your photos of the alpacas are just lovely, it looks like the weather was kind to you and you had a good day – I love these shows with lots of lovely things to see (and buy).
I’m so sorry Elaine. If it’s any consolation WP is now starting to drive me mad too. From what I read Blogger is as bad, otherwise I’d switch.
The trade stands are so tempting aren’t they. I was looking for some wellies to replace my leaky ones, didn’t find those so had to make do with plants 🙂
Aww, thank you for the virtual day out. Love those Alpacas, such sweet faces and huge innocent brown eyes.
I was a show-jumper in my early years, so shows like this, was something I spent many an hour engrossed in.
Is there anything more entertaining than a county fair, filled with all those sweet animals, beautiful flowers and produce, and side-splitting silly games to make you feel like a kid again.
Awesome pictures !
~Jo
Thanks Jo. Do you have anything similar in the States?
Going shopping for wellies and coming home with plants – sounds like something I could do! Great choice of plants, and only 5 pots as far as I can see, no too bad for a whole day out 🙂
I love alpacas and I have seen them and petted them up-close once (didn’t get spat at!), if life was rather different I would have loved to live on a farm and have alpacas!
The trouble was, that was the second outing in a week that resulted in the purchase of plants.. But I’m doing a major sort out of part of the garden at the moment, so I do need some to fill in the gaps.
I love the little humming noise that alpacas make, combined with their cute looks they are just gorgeous.
glad to hear that your needles might come out of hibernation!!!! I love knitting with alpaca….soooooooo soft, but also so incredibly warm! and what a nice memory when done; I have some alpaca I got at a farm…..and it’s named from the animal who contributed! I think I only have some of Ben left…..hmmmmmm. Need to get him out…..
Lovely story Steph! That’s one of the great things about buying from a small local supplier.
Splendid photos! 🙂 I adore old tractors. And I have a friend who calls alpacas “mutant llamas”, but I think they’re so cute.
They do have many characteristics in common with llamas. Including the spitting, unfortunately.
Duck herding?! And of course you do realise that next year, when you are trying to get a later start, it will be pointed out how good it was to get in ahead of the herd… Looked like fun though – and love those Indian wotsit ducks. And the “oops” plants…
There are maybe too many ‘oops’ plants. But there are so few opportunities down here, I get them in when I can! I always intended to visit Crug Farm plants in my travelling days, sadly haven’t got there yet.