Ivor Markman
If you were one of the speeding motorists caught off-guard by the "traffic cop" and his gatsometer radar gun as you entered Bedford from the Adelaide direction over the past weekend, don’t expect a ticket.
The "cop" was actually an entrant in the annual Bedford Garden Festival scarecrow competition and raised many eyebrows and laughs.
Appreciative visitors were spotted all over town stopping and taking photographs of the many imaginative creations.
The "cop" was the handiwork of Eaglehout factory employees and won first prize in the business category of the competition.
Organisers are hoping to hold the competition again next year.
An elderly gentleman wearing a tweed jacket and smoking a pipe won the garden category tor Squires B&B while "Sarah," made by the children of Bedford Primary, won the children’s category.
The farm school section winner was displayed at Eildon in the Baviaans River Valley. Their entry consisted of two scarecrows, a man beating a home-made drum and a dancing woman.
SCARECROWS
Not too many birds braved the streets of Bedford
FARM SCHOOL WINNER: Pupils at the Eildon farm school in the Baviaans River Valley came first in their category in the scarecrow making competition.
SPEED COP: Surprise! Many motorists slowed down suddenly when they saw this scarecrow checking them out.
BIG BOEP: Mr Scarecrow, who has consumed a bit too much alcohol,found an old tree-stump was the best place for a breather.
SIMPLE SUZIE: Watching the traffic flow past her home was Simple Suzie.
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN: This snazzily dressed squire won first prize in the garden category for Squires B&B.
FEEDING THE DUCKS: This clever scarecrow's dress was actually a bush growing next to the road. The duck appears a little wary though.
HARROD'S FASHION: This scarecrow was intent on scaring the birds away in style. Nothing more scary than a dress from Harrod's, after all.
DUTCH LADY: Lending a cosmopolitain air to the spirit of the Bedford Garden Festival was this lively scarecrow from Volendam, Holland, with clodhoppers and kamt (lace) hat.
TRADITIONAL HEADDRESS: A scarecrow dressed with a traditional Xhosa doek is carefully dressed by a Bedford resident.
SUNFLOWER GOGO: A tired looking gogo takes a breather on the balcony of a restaurant at the entrance to Bedford during the annual Garden Festival.
PEACEFUL MUSICIAN: A musician rests with his cello on the stoep between gigs at the Bedford Garden Festival.
MISS PIGGY: You'll never know whom next you'll bump into at the Bedford Garden Festival. Miss Piggy was spotted swinging from a tree in downtown Bedford.
SCARECROW MIMIC: Templeton High School pupil Bennito Bennett, 15, clowns around with scarecrow "Outa".
INKY WINKY SPIDER: A giant spider made of a black bag and other waste materials sits in wait for an unsuspecting victim on the fence of a house in Bedford.
MR BOJANGLES: Holding his own tin-can personalised mobiles, "Our Scrapman" dances as he waits for oncoming motorists to stop at his business.
WHITE WURKAH: With an upturned bowl serving as a construction helmet and a matching scarf, its no wonder this worker found something to smile about.
WORK, WORK, WORK: The gardener's work is never finished. This young woman was very busy scurrying around putting final touches to her garden display.
MOWER MAN: This bow-kneed gardener was a little over-dressed for cutting the lawn but you have to admire his clothing taste in matching trousers and shirt. Like the shades, Dude!
CHILLING OUT: Like the sign says, "Just chilling in Bedford".
FLOWERY HAMMOCK: This weary-eyed scarecrow decided to take a break and catch up his (her?) beauty sleep.
FASHIONABLE BEDFORDIANS: The fashions in Bedford reflect a selection which is bound to suit all tastes, from the traditional conservative to the latest mod hip styles.
SCARY LEARNERS: These two scarecrows were hard at work outside the Village Store.
GARDENER: This scarecrow was hard at work outside the Village Store.
