ABERDEEN SHOW 2007 -
Light and bright. Is it the folk or the radioactivity?

Report by Sandy Leven


The sun shone in Aberdeen as usual for the SRGC show. Having left dull wet weather behind in Central Scotland, w found that the closer to the North-East we got, the better the weather became. The show hall is easy to find, being just off Anderson Drive as you approach from the south. If you come from Inverness, you get to see much more of the granite city on your way to the hall.


Ruthrieston Church. The show is held in the church hall

Like all Scottish cities Aberdeen has always been linked by trading and commerce with countries overseas. How fitting it was then, that the one of the judges on Saturday was Australian Fermi De Sousa. Having spent time at the Prague conference, Fermi came to Aberdeen to see one of our shows. His arrival was even written about in the Diary column of The Press and Journal. Fermi is the third person with the middle name of De or Di to feature in this year's show reports. He has eyes like a hawk and is very knowledgeable about plants. I can't say if this has anything to do with his being Australian or if he learned a lot in Prague.


Fermi enjoys tea and scones with Julia and John after judging at the show

Despite the fact that many of the plants we would expect to see at Aberdeen had already flowered and been exhibited at earlier shows, there was still plenty left to delight and fascinate visitors. I f you look carefully you can see that there was a rainbow inside the hall.


Show Hall Aberdeen 2007

Cyril Lafong won the Forest medal with his superb Silene hookeri bolanderi.


Silene hookeri bolanderi

Cyril had other plants in the running for the medal and we judges discussed the merit of two pots of fabulous Cypripediums [Cypripedia?]. I favoured Cypripedium parviflorum and other the hybrid , C. 'Sebastian' ( C. montanum x parviflorum). Both were awarded Certificates o Merit. Still when it came to the vote or the Forrest, the decision was unanimous in favour of the Silene. This insight into the judges is privileged so don't tell anyone.


Cypripedium parviflorum in front of C. 'Sebastian' ( C. montanum x parviflorum).


Cypripedium parviflorum


C. 'Sebastian' ( C. montanum x parviflorum)

Stella and David Rankin's Polemonium pulcherimmum was in fabulous condition and it too gained a Certificate of Merit.


Polemonium pulcherimmum

Stella and David had a great day. Their Primula 'Postford white' was judged Best Primula and altold they had most points in Section won and so took home the Walker of Portlethen Trophy.


Best Primula 'Postford White' at the back of Sella and David's winning entry.

I want to make special mention of their pan of Primula cockburniana 'Yellow Form' which they have been breeding true from seed for several generations. P. cockburniana is normally bronze orange in colour.


Primula cockburniana 'Yellow Form'

Since the show was held in a church hall it was not surprising that from time o time the light of heaven shone on one particular plant or another. When it did, I photographed it. Especially favoured by divine light were Lewisias. Primulas and a fabulous Tiarella in Section2.


Lewisia 'John's special' on the right.


Sunny Primulas


Sunny Tiarella behind sunny saxifrages


Although lit by flash this Lewisia cotyledon of Bob Maxwell's pipped the above specimen for the first prize.

Stan de Prato exhibited a nice collection of ferns and Hostas in a fish box trough and Brian Hammond excelled himself with a fine collection of Sedums all carefully annotated with interesting details. Brian's exhibit was awarded an SRGC Silver Medal.




Brian Hammond's exhibit of Sedums

Some plants are Aberdeen regulars. One of these was Ian and Carole Bainbridge's Zaluzianskya , a species which usually opens its flowers in the evening. This form keeps its flowers open all day long. It was recommended for an AM by the Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee. Carole told me 'they' dropped it when they got back home. I wonder which of then she meant?


Zaluzianskya

Several here seemed to be a lot of Phlox 'Chattahoochee' about. Jean Wyllie showed it in Aberdeen years ago and she still grows it well. Why do the rest of us lose it?


Phlox 'Chattahoochee'

A plant does not have to be rare or difficult to grow to look good. Here is humble Erinus alpinus looking as good as an Androsace.


Erinus alpinus

…and sometimes you come across a plant say, 'I used to grow that. Where is it now?'
Penstemon roezellii is one such. I bought it 30 years ago from Jack Drake and grew it in my garden in Inverness…. And left it there. The folk who bought my house built a garage on to of it. So I know where it is but that does not help me much!


Penstemon roezellii, an old friend.


Dodecatheon meadia with white flowers. A good garden plant with wonderful marking on the flowers.

Brian and Maureen Wilson showed more fabulous Gesneriads. This time a favourite was Ramonda myconii alba. Here it is winning the Grown from Seed Class.


Ramonda myconii alba

And how about their fabulous Connie? No. Not the won playing Maria in the sound of Music but Haberlea Connie Davidson.


Haberlea Connie Davidson.

Briggsia aurantiaca x Ancyclostemon humilis gives a sumptuous hybrid seedling called x Briggostemmon, [think Brig o' Doon with Penstemons!] The notes say the cross was made in May 2005, the seed sown July 2005. It was kept frost free and this is its first flowering. Well done B & M!



And if you think that's good, What about this cross made in 1996? It is x Ramberlea 'Inchgarth'
Ramonda myconi x Haberlea ferdinandi-coburgii


x Ramberlea 'Inchgarth'

I mentioned Penstemons and here is a great wee wonder, Penstemon absarokensis


Penstemon absarokensis

Lots of good plants to see. Thank you to all the exhibitors. Just before I finish, What do you think Cyril is saying? I think it might be 'I don't see any unopened flowers'
Here is Cyril surrounded by his wonderful plants.



As judging proceeded Bob Maxwell kept count of the points and when judging was finished and the points counted there were lots of Award cards for the judges to sign.



You probably won't see this picture on the Bulb Log because Ian is photographing a Leucogenes!


My personal thank you to John Lupton or giving me this fine pan of Rhodohypoxis 'Margaret Rose'. I wrote last year that I did not know this clone, so John gave me the panful. Generous people up north! Incidentally I don't have most of the species I have written about in this report!


Generous John Lupton

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