BLACKPOOL 2008 THE UK'S YALTA!
report by Sandy Leven




The great thing about our joint SRGC AGS shows is that they let members mix and chat three times a year. They also give our presidents the chance to exchange ideas and plan for the future. Ian Christie and Frank Tyndall certainly get on well!


Jack Brownless, Frank Tyndall and Ian Christie


They are both Plantsmen and each is member of the other's club [society]. So that although the shows are run by both SRGC and AGS the members who do the work are members of both. For local SRGC members this is their show. Past SRGC President Eric Watson of Wideopen near Newcastle, conceived the idea of the joint shows before he became president and several years later Wilf Kirby followed by inaugurating the first Morecambe show [now moved to Blackpool]. Cooperation is our watchword and we save the competition for the show benches. This year Past SRGC president Ian Bainbridge and his wife Carole took the top award.

The winning plant this year, Corydalis popovii, was awarded a Farrer medal as the show was held under AGS rules. It is a remarkably upright form of the species. Second in its class was Corydalis Solida 'Craigton Red' raised by Ian and Margaret Young.


Corydalis popovii and with Craigton Red behind it.

Don Peace from Yarm won the open three pan class with Saxifraga oppositifolia, Corydalis malkensis and Primula whitei, 3 plants which need quite different conditions.



CUSHIONS
Cushion plants are always in good form at the early show in Blackpool and there were lots of spectacular specimens to drool over.


Geoff Rollinson's Saxifraga 'Coolock Gem'


Androsace idahoenis formerly a 'Douglasia' named for Scottish plantsman David Douglas. I demand a parliamentary inquiry into this blatant change of name from a proud Scottish one with a distinguished heritage to one more associated with European and Himalayan plants.


Androsace Idahoans e with Primula 'tranquillity' and Dionysia freitagii x microphylla


Geoff Rollinson's Androsace lehmanni from the Rocky Mountains was awarded a Preliminary commendation by the RHS Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee.


Don peace's Androsace muscoidea 'Schacht's Form'


John Richards 3 pan Saxifraga


Saxifraga 'Karel Kapek'

PRIMULAS


Geoff Rollinson's Primula 'Broadwell milkmaid' reminding us of the great nurseryman and plant raiser Joe Elliott.


Tony Lee's Primula 'Aire Mist'

It was nice to see the Turkish Primula sibthorpii in the same show as its British cousin Primula vulgaris


Primula sibthorpii and Primula vulgaris

Primula expert, John Richards showed some rare petiolarid Primulas among them Primula moupinense ssp moupipnense and Primula nana


Primula moupinense ssp moupipnense and Primula nana

Tom Green included the delicate Primula marginata 'Holden Clough' in his prize-winning 3 pan European Primula entry. I am sure Peter Foley of Holden Clough nursery was delighted to se it in such good form.


Primula marginata 'Holden Clough'


Primula allionii 'Anne' also from Tom Green


Primula allionii 'Pink Aire' from Frank Hoyle
These North of England growers know their Primulas and how to get the best out of them!


BULBS & CYCLAMEN which are bulbs in the SRGC but not in the AGS!


A fabulous pan of Colchicum szovitsii

Mike and Christine Brown had the best Cyclamen - C.pseudibericum

Cyclamen pseudibericum

Ivor Betteridge showed two pans of Anemone biflora. The larger was the more untidy but was quite fascination. The buds flowers are deep blood red, fade through orange and the faded flowers are yellow. Either that or there were 3 corms in the pot!




Anemone biflora


It's a while since a good Ranunculus Asiaticus turned up to reflect the sun like this wee dazzler.


Tristagma [often called Ipheon] uniform 'Rolf Fiedler'


Narcissus 'Twin Stars' from Jean Wyllie


Iris suaveolens, not a bulb but absolutely fabulous!


Corydalis macrocentra is well worth seeking out.


A wee forest of miniature conifers

ORCHIDS


Darren Sleep's prize-winning Pleione 'Eiger'


Dactylorrhiza roamana

OTHERS


Alan Spensley's great pan of Trillium rivale


PEOPLE


Ian Young preparing for another Bulb Log?


Ex AGS Secretary Michael Upward with ex SRGC Treasurer Iain Aitchison and his wife Christian are regulars at Blackpool


Robert Rolphe and Ian Ypoung discuss Corydalis solida 'Craigton Red'


Margaret & Henry Taylor discuss the show


There were lots of wonderful plants but I can only choose a selection of my favourites. F you want to now more you have to go to the show.

^ back to the top ^