Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => SRGC Shows Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Maggi Young on March 10, 2010, 09:57:56 PM
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Who's going to Blackpool Show, at the Collegiate High School , Blackpool Old Roa, Blackpool FY3 7LS this coming weekend in pursuit of a Farrer Medal?
Not me, I'm sorry to say, but it looks like the weather may be reasonable for travelling (if the Met Office has it right!) so I hope that lots of you are going to be there, enter your plants and have a great day out!
It's and "even" year so the AGS rules apply. I expect that Show Secretary Lionel Clarkson and his merry band will be kept busy with lots of entries and fingers crossed that someone takes their camera to share the day with us later!
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It's an "even" year so the AGS rules apply.
So if the year is uneven, do no rules apply? ???
Just kidding! I wouldn't want you to think I couldn't se the Forrest for the trees! ;D
cheers
fermi
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Just back from Blackpool 2010 and our thanks to Lionel Clarkson and his team for another wonderful show. The long winter and a late spring resulted in a smaller than usual entry, but the lack of quantity did not necessarily mean a corresponding lack of quality. The Farrer Medal for the best plant in the show went to Mike and Christine Brown (does that sound familiar?) for their magnificent Cyclamen coum.
A few images to start the thread...
Mike & Christine Brown - Farrer Medal winning exhibitors (yet again)!
Farrer Medal winning exhibit
Cyclamen coum - Farrer Medal winner - Blackpool Show 2010
Large six-pan exhibit - AGS Medal winner - John Richards
Close-up of Saxifraga 'Louis Armstrong'
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WOW!!!
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... and that goes for me too. Beautiful Farrer and not a blemish on it.
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Just a few more images this evening ... time is short to process any more.
Crocus 'Ruby Giant'
Saxifraga iranica
Primula allionii Richard Burrow
Mandy McLoughlin's lovely prize-winning mini-garden
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Cliff, many thanks for your speedy work at bringing us a start to the show.... some super exhibits .... Mandy's garden is a little cracker!
Jean Wylllie is home safe and very pleased that her Narcissus 'Betty Mae' was awarded a Certificate of Merit.... she was just so thrilled that it was taken out to contest for the medal and she hasd told me about how stunning a plant the winning Cyclamen is.... and I now I see for myself that those clever Brown's are losing none of their Cyclamen skills, even while developing winning ways with Dionysias! 8)
A superb plant of C. coum, bound to win any medal.... look at the glow on the foliage, if you can tear your eyes away from the flowers..... the whole plant if bursting with health. Many congratulations to Christine and Mike Brown for another great win!
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A few more for this sunny Mother's Day morning - dedicated to all the wonderful Mums out there.
Dionysia 'Monika'
Dionysia 'Ewersley Theta'
Dionysia F2 Hybrid
Eranthis Guinea Gold
John Dower's super prize winning mini-garden. Another lesson from the master!
Primula allionii Anna Griffith
Primula nana
Primula Tantallon
Saxifraga 'Louis Armstrong'
Saxifraga Karel Capek
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Cliff, thats an unbelievable plant of Karel Capek - do you know who the grower was?? I was one of the nurseries in attendance but too busy (good) to get to see the show (bad), so many thanks for posting these images.
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Cliff, thats an unbelievable plant of Karel Capek - do you know who the grower was?? I was one of the nurseries in attendance but too busy (good) to get to see the show (bad), so many thanks for posting these images.
I think Cliff's gone for his breakfast. The grower of Karel Capek was Mark Childerhouse - no surprises there - as he is an excellent sax grower!
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aha ...... should have known it was a plant from Lincolnshire - Mark lives about 5 miles north of here.
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Many thanks Diane ... I only tend to take pictures, not notes! :D
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Cliff, thanks so much for your fabulous photos of Blackpool Show it has made my Mother's Day!
Terrific plants - Saxifraga 'Louis Armstrong', Dionysia 'Ewersley Theta' and Primula allionii Anna Griffith are my favourites but the standard altogether is so high and I love the miniature rock gardens :D
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Many thanks Diane ... I only tend to take pictures, not notes! :D
And if I remember, I take pictures of the notes :D
so here we go ...
General view
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Cyclamen alpinum shown by Dave Riley
Colchicum luteum x kesselringii 'Jeanne' shown by Robin Pickering
Anemone biflora grown from seed and shown by Ivor Betteridge
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One to set the Galanthonuts hearts beating
Galanthus 'David Shackleton' shown by Mike and Christine Brown
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The benches were a bit lighter than usual, due to the unusually cold winter and still cold weather into March, but it meant there were lots of crocuses still to be seen.
There was some discussion about the differences between Cc vernus, heuffelianus and scepusiensis and a comparison between the forms exhibited. Here they are for comparision:
Crocus vernus shown by Jean Wylie
Crocus heuffelianus 'Brian Duncan' shown by George Young
Crocus scepusiensis (my system failed me here, and I didn't get the exhibitor's name - possibly Ian Leslie - can anyone confirm or not?)
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Well done to our Scottish friends for making the long journey south to support the show - Henry and Margaret, Jean and Glassford, Ian and Carole, Sandy, and the Glasgow contingency - Sam, John and Bill, and maybe some others I don't know.
Here's Gymnospermium albertii - a magnificent pot shown by John Lee - not so easy to photograph, so here's a close up
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I don't know how many plants Jean brought - but it was a lot ;D ;D
Here's a small representation of Jean Wylie's exhibits:
Crocus corsicus
and the fabulous pot of Narcissus Betty Mae - cyclamineus x asturiensis hybrid winning a certificate of Merit.
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Cyclamen alpinum shown by Dave Riley
Colchicum luteum x kesselringii 'Jeanne' shown by Robin Pickering
Anemone biflora grown from seed and shown by Ivor Betteridge
What a super variety in plants in just these three beauties.... thanks, Diane.
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John Richards won an AGS medal for the large 6 pan class
included in the entry were
Primula moupinensis
Primula nana
Primula 'Arduaine'
Saxifraga 'Louis Armstrong'
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'Betty Mae' is looking fantastic! Isn't she just a sweetie? I hope her New Zealand "family" see these pix and are as pleased with her as Jean is!
I think I spotted that Gymnosperium in the bench view.... a really good potful.... thanks for the close up. I must tease John about such a good plant from him that is NOT an Iris ;D ;)!!
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There were several hepaticas on the bench, but the one that caught the eye was this unnamed Hepatica japonica with silver edges to the petals shown by Shelagh Smethurst
The plant was part of a 3 pan, also with the second picture of a white Hepatica japonica
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Diane thanks for your view of the Blackpool Show with great photos and notes - good to see the whole bench of plants as well as the individual exhibits. The crocuses are really lovely and, as you say, well represented in their peak because of the cold weather.
Many congratulations to Jean on her stunning:
Crocus corsicus
and the fabulous pot of Narcissus Betty Mae - cyclamineus x asturiensis hybrid winning a certificate of Merit.
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The small 3 pan bulb class was won by Ivor Betteridge,
second place is the one I am not sure, with the Crocus scepusiensis in the centre - possibly shown by Ian Leslie
Yes, Maggi, the Gymnospermium can also be seen at the back of the second photo
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A huge potful of Iris winogradowii shown by George Young
and a couple of wonderful primulas shown by Don Peace
Primula 'Tantallon'
and Primula nana alba a personal favourite that I struggle with as it fizzles out after a couple of years with me
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That's all I've got, perhaps the Veteran vet and others have some more pictures.
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Thanks Cliff and Diane for bringing the Show to us. What a gorgeous pot of Iris winogradowii and had I been judging a Farrer would have gone back home with George. How long has it taken to work your pot up that standard George.
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As you say Diane, others do have more pictures. There will be some repetition but good plants can bear looking at from different angles so
Iris rosenbachiana 'Harangon' Peter Bland
Androsace ochotensis Geoff Rollinson
Anemone biflora Ivor Betteridge
Callianthmeum kernerianum Lionel Clarkson
Cochicum szovitsii Diane Clement....nice and short in stem this
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Corydalis popovii Ian Leslie...I always find this difficult to do justice to in the show hall buit it gives a good idea
Corydalis schanginii Kather Rimmer...same goes for this plant, shown in the same class as C popovii
Crocus angustifolius Ben Nottingham
Crocus heuffelianus 'Brian Duncan'...I think this came from Ruksans years ago, not sure who Brian Duncan is but is a nice plant
Crocus tomasinianus 'Ruby Giant' Frank Dobson
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I think Corydalis can be very tricky to photograph at the best of times; the colours are so odd in real life, never mind through a lens! Two good plants there, for sure.
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not sure who Brian Duncan is but is a nice plant
George, Brian Duncan is the Northern Irish Narcissus expert and breeder, former head of the RHS Daffodil committee .
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3337334/Growing-for-gold.html
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Crocus kosaninii Ian Kidman, best crocus in show
Crocus kosaninii...a different view
Crocus scepusiensis Dave Riley, not seen this name before, looks v like C heuffelianus as I exhibit it
Crocus scepusiensis Dave Riley...different angle
Cyclamen alpinum Dave Riley...this was a lovely plant, my picture does not do it justice
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Warm and grateful thanks to all who posted these super images of such fantastic plants. The Iris rosenbachiana does it for me but so do many others.
The mini gardens intrigue me. Obviously they're not planted up the day before the show. How long does it take for them to establish and grow to show quality and how long can they be maintained at this level. Are they dismantled soon after and replanted with smaller plants for a later occasion? I was delighted to notice the little single flower of the blue Houstonia in the front of Mandy's. :D
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The Farrer medal plant cyclamen coum from Mike & Christine Brown
C coum again, the Farrer plant from a different view and using flash
Cyclamen coum again this time from Robin Pickering
Eranthis tubergenii 'Guinea Gold' from Tommy Anderson, one of many he had on display
Iris rosenbachiana 'purple' Peter Bland
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For the Dionysia lovers
Dionysia afghanica cross EGW-MK 01-01-7 Ian Kidman
Dionysia archibaldii 'Tora' Robin Pickering
Dionysia bazoftica Ian Kidman
Dionysia monica hybrid MK 94-2 R&S Johnson
Dionysia monika F&B Hoyle
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Fritillaria alburyana Jean Wyllie...she was as pleased as punch with her first with this lovely frit
Narcissus 'Betty Mae' Jean Wyllie, never mind in NZ, how about over here
Narcissus 'Betty Mae' close up
Narcissus 'Ellie Grace' Terry Mitchel...its first flowering from a cross that he made, lovely thing..saw it being carried in and thought 'thats nice'
Narcissus asturiensis Colin Wibberley...still takes a lot of beating on the Narcissus front as long as Betty Mae not around
Narcissus cyclamineus...sorry did not get the exhibitors name....Keith Lever had lots of this for sale at the start of the show, all gone by early afternnon
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Slowly getting through my pictures, we were there by 8.00am as Ian Kidman, who was driving, likes an early start. As a result plenty time to take too many pics
Primula allionii 'Peter Burrow' Brian Burrow
Primula allionii 'Elizabeth Burrow' F&B Hoyle....this is a lovely cultivar
Primula allionii 'Anna Griffith' M&C Brown
Primula petelottii K&R Lever, you do not see this too often, had it once when I exhibited it at Harrogate...was dead two weeks later
Primula megasaefolia Ben Nottingham
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Iris 'Katherine Hodgkin' Alan Spenceley...as big a pot full as I have ever seen in pristine condition
Primula nana alba Don Peace
Primula nana Hazel Nottingham
Ranuculus asiaticus red, sorry that I did not get the exbitors name who also exhibited the yellow form next --it's Darren Sleep!
Ranunculus asiaticus yellow
Tecophilia cyanocrocus Mavis Allanson
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I think I am nearly at an end (you will be pleased to know)
Saxifraga 'Allendale Grace' Tommy Anderson
Saxifraga burseriana 'Gloria' Margaret Pickering
Saxifraga iranica Edward Spencer
Saxifraga 'Karel Kapek' Mark Childerhouse...as large a specimen as I have ever seen. In my opinion this is a high quality saxifrage, difficult to present in a pristine condition, seldom seems to catch the judges eye when faced with other hybrid domes, perhaps they should try growing it!!!
Saxifraga 'Louis Armstrong' John Richars...a massive potfull and I thought it was newish in cultivation..really good colour
Saxifraga Paul Rubens Mark Childerhouse...as soon as I saw this on the bench it was on my 'want' list, for once the picture does the plant justice
Iris winowgradowii G Young...I see the question as too how long...no real idea...original bit came from Eric Watson, tried in the garden...where it does fine...but like it too much so dug some up and just kept on doing well in a pot so thats where it stays. The bits in the garden are now 'gone' (swamped by a shrub) so I am glad that I salvaged my bit many years ago. It was no where near a Farrer plant Cliff (but thanks all the same) as there was some bulbs that did not produce flowers at the right time. Robert Rolf gave me a 'bollocking' for a) putting a nn in winow and b) for not watering the plant all over to achieve an even flowering....suitably chastised
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Lesley, troughs can either be quite old or 'done up' for the show. Although I did not photograph it at Blackpool the Open section troughs had a trough that had to have been done for years as there were cushions etc that were of a size that indicated age/been there for a long time. Other exhibitors try a different tack and have 'holes' in their tufa...very commonly used in exhibition troughs...and slip in plants from small pots into each hole to make a complete trough 'in season', skilled growers can do this and it is difficult to guess that that is what has been done. Over the next few shows I go to I will try to take pictures for you and ask the exhibitor the relevant questions
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Over the next few shows I go to I will try to take pictures for you and ask the exhibitor the relevant questions
Both exhibitors of mini-gardens at Blackpool are here on the forum and I am sure that will join in the discussion!
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Ranuculus asiaticus red, sorry that I did not get the exbitors name who also exhibited the yellow form next
Ranunculus asiaticus yellow
The Ranunculus asiaticus yellow and red were exhibited by forumist Darren Sleep
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Thanks George, that would be of great interst to me.
Narcissus 'Betty Mae' was bred in New Zealand so it would be reasonable to expect a few bulbs to be around among local growers. I don't know of any but then the "centre" of alpine growing is Christchurch and I'm a bit isolated down in Dunedin. She is certainly a delightful hybrid but should be easy enough to duplicate the cross for similar results.
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Lesley,
There is an old thread from 2008 here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2591.msg59268#msg59268
That shows Mandys gardens in their earlier stages. New material is added as plants get too big and to add interest. Some of the plants in Mandy's gardens are rooted directly into the tufa.
They stay outside all the time, except night before the show when Mandy has titivated them and dressed them up. They were all under 2" of snow about 4 weeks ago.
That where a lot of my smaller seedlings go if I don't hide them from her. There is also some evidence of bulbs that were inserted last year starting to show.
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The Ranunculus asiaticus yellow and red were exhibited by forumist Darren Sleep
Thanks Diane, I hope the ever watchfull Maggi will be able to ammend my post re the Ranunculus asiaticus as I always feel to have let the exhibitor down when I fail to record them
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Mandy's lovely miniature garden at Blackpool Show.
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Cliff, this last mini garden photo is not the same as the one you ascribed to Mandy McLoughin in this post on page one.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5144.msg141683#msg141683
.....I'm confused? :-\
Is there a class for a trough as well as a mini garden or did she enter in sections A and B? (B & C?)
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Maggi,
Mandy had 2 gardens entered, she likes to give them an airing whenever possible. As we're still new to this showing thingy, we can still show in section 'B' where there is a miniature garden section as well as with the 'big boys & girls in Section 'A'. Not every show has a miniature garden class in section 'B' though. I think there is one show that has one in section 'C' as well so last year she entered all 3. I remember cos I'm the one who has to carry them back and forwards to the car, and woe betide me if there's any sign of damage.
Mick
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Hee Hee! Good for you, Mick, you're doing a great job for Mandy, who in turn is making a grand job of producing her wee treasures... she'll have Johnny Dower quaking in his boots! ;)
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Maggi,
Mandy had 2 gardens entered, she likes to give them an airing whenever possible. As we're still new to this showing thingy, we can still show in section 'B' where there is a miniature garden section as well as with the 'big boys & girls in Section 'A'. Not every show has a miniature garden class in section 'B' though. I think there is one show that has one in section 'C' as well so last year she entered all 3. I remember cos I'm the one who has to carry them back and forwards to the car, and woe betide me if there's any sign of damage.
Mick
Beautifully explained Mick ... thanks for that!
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Many more images on my memory cards ... just a selection of those not already covered.
Anisitome imbricata var. imbricata
Asplenium
Bolax gummifera
Crocus
Cyclamen persicum
Cyclamen rohlfsianum
Eranthis Guinea Gold
Hepatica
Leucojum vernum
Meconopsis paniculata
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Wonderful pics everyone.
What an excellent show with a lot of beautiful plants! Thanks for showing.
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Next batch from Blackpool Show 2010.
Primula Tantallon
Romulea atranda
Romulea atranda 2
Saxifraga oppositifolia M.Kammerlander form.
Sunlit show bench
Superb Iris
Ypsilandra thibetica
Frank Dobson & Brian Russ
Paul Street & Brian Russ
Ivor Betteridge & Brian Russ
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So much wonderful plants, what a dream it must be to be able to grown plants to that standard.
I keep looking back at them, amazing.
Angie :)
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Thanks for the link Mick. I remembered Mandy's gardens from previously but as usual, my searching was in vain. She's a real artist I think.
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Anyone see JoF at the Show?
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John was certainly present at the show David but, unfortunately, our paths around the show benches never crossed. Hopefully he might travel across to Whitworth for our East Lancashire Show on Saturday. :D
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What a superb report !
Thanks a million Diane, Cliff and George for taking the time to post all these ! :-*
What a wealth of wonderful plants - despite the harsh winter !
It only makes me look forward even more to next Saturday's Kent show !! ;D ;D
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Altogether a real treat to see so many wonderfully grown plants and connect them with the Exhibitors/Forumists whose efforts are so appreciated and also the Photographers whose great photos provide an insight into how to grow these beauties for top performance; thanks to all :)
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John was indeed at the show but I only got to see him briefly as he was manning the computer with my better half. They were kept very busy by disappearing cards etc.
It was also my first attempt at stewarding and I'll not be in a hurry to repeat the experience....
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Darren.... what did they do to you to put you off stewarding?!!
You need to come up for the Aberdeen Show to work with our Gang..... I bet you'd love it!
In Sandy Leven's show report on the main website ( coming VERY soon, when Fred has time to load it) you will se a nice photo of JoF, also known as John Forrrest with John Richards and John Good..... Sandy calls them the three musketeers but I think the Three Amigos is more like it! :D
(by the way, Early Bulb Day report is here : http://www.srgc.org.uk/shows/earlybulb/index.html )
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It was also my first attempt at stewarding and I'll not be in a hurry to repeat the experience....
Darren,
Stewarding is always the one job that I never have any problem finding volunteers for at Hexham - I can't concieve of it being anything other than pleasurable. The quiet time after all the frantic preparations to get plants on the bench, the good banter, free coffee, a chance to admire the plants in relative calm and the occasional amble across to the computer table with a batch of results. What's not to like!
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I always enjoy stewarding and am generally available if wanted. Never had any difficulties.
Note to Self: don't offer at Hexam - they only offer coffee!!!!!
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As Peter says is quite a pleasant job, however I do recall once at the Harrogate Show when the general public were hanging around to buy the exhibits at the end of the show (as happens at eg Chelsea) and they got somewhat upset when told that this was not the case at AGS shows, did make for a fraught few minutes
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Stewarding is one of the best jobs there is, passes the most tedious hour or two of the show day before Pudsey pig practice commences!
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Note to Self: don't offer at Hexam - they only offer coffee!!!!!
We also have biscuits! :D
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And Cheese Scones if they are lucky.
Jean
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And Cheese Scones if they are lucky.
Jean
...now you've made me hungry!
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I guess I don't like feeling like I haven't a clue what I'm doing. Except at work where this is how I usually feel. ;)
Susan ( a stewarding veteran) tells me it would be much less stressful a second time. But then so would plan B, which was spend the dead time sitting in the car with a book. Or plan C - as plan B but substitute car with pub.
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Give it another go, Darren, I am sure that you will find that Susan is right next time.
Hexam is sounding better and better all the time, Peter. ;)
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Note to Self: don't offer at Hexam - they only offer coffee!!!!!
We also have biscuits! :D
Can I volunteer ;D
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You might be needed making the coffee, Martin..... Brenda Newton has broken her arm! :P
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Oh dear! If I'm making the coffee I'll also be eating all the biscuits
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I'm assured that everything in the catering department in under control and I'm not to panic, but they said that to Captain Mainwaring.
(apologies to our overseas readers for this reference to a 1970s British TV comedy progamme!)
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Hey Peter, some of us are old enough and British enough to know what you're talking about. ;D Have just bought some DVDs of "Best of the Summer Wine." the only renums I've been tempted with, apart from Morse of course, and that mainly for the lovely episode when he and Lewis went to Italy. Love "Turandot"
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Sandy Leven's Blackpool Show Report is online now : http://www.srgc.org.uk/shows/blackpool/2010.pdf
Thanks Sandy and Fred. :-*