New Event: Kendal Show 15th March 2014

[veteran vet]

Continuing on with Dionysia and Class 8 I photographed the three entries so the remaining two were
Dionysia 'Ludwig Jahn' Ian Kidman (
Dionysia viscidula x freitagii Mark Childerhouse (
Elsewhere
Dionysia bryoides Derek Pickard (58) had several on the bench all in very nice condition
Dionysia 'Manuella' from Ian Kidman (59)
Dionysia lycaena from Tony Stanley (114) also caught my attention

[veteran vet]

I suppose that if you take pictures you are bound to take a few of your own plants so here is a selection
Anemone caucasica (20)
Iris winogradowii (73), I took a large pan and a small pan, both got red stickers was pleased as they had been in flower for over a week and still looked good

[veteran vet]

Not quite sure what happened there but
Crocus vernus albiflorus (26) nearly got left at home but there was just enough space to jam it in, glad I did now

[veteran vet]

Happened again!!
The Primula allionii small pans in the Open section were fiercely contested. Geoff Rollinson won the class (53) three pan with the following
Primula allionii 'Mrs Dyas'
Primula allionii BB98-1-1
Primula allionii 'Lepus'
Primula allionii 'Lacewing' was one of my 3rd placed three pan.
An oldie but goody
Primula clarkei came from Tom Green in (50)

[veteran vet]

One of the Farrer Medal candidates was a massive (I know I carried it up for inspection)
Saxifraga 'Coolock Gem' shown by Mark Childerhouse (23), was awarded a Certificate of Merit however I was particularly impressed with
Saxifraga georgeii from Geoff Mawson (23), has to be one of the best I have seen
Tommy Anderson made the most of not having far to travel, winning the most points in the Open Section and also both six pan classes, examples from him are
Corydalis 'Frodo' (1)
Pulsatilla vernalis in his small six entry (45)...I thought that this plant opened up very nicely for him during the judging as early in the morning the flowers had a little way to go
Primula bracteata ssp dubernardiana from Peter Hood (50)

[veteran vet]

Two from Cyril Lafong
Dionysia aretiodes T4Z (3)....I know I have already posted another aretiodes but this does differ from the other when you see them in the flesh
Iris pamphylica won the Rare in Cultivation class (sorry its a really poor picture but could not get it right on the day) and went up for the Farrer Medal...quite why, with the benefit of hindsight it did not therefore win the best plant in an <19cm pan I cannot explain

[veteran vet]

Last but by no means least
Narcissus bulbocodium conspicuous from Jim McGregor
Narcissus alpestris from Alan Furness (72)..he had hard luck with this entry as by the end of the day it was fully in open flower when it had not been during judging.
Hepatica japonica from Brian and Shelagh Smethurst (62)

All in all a very fine show, much enjoyed by exhibitors and the paying public, next year I think the Nursery folk will need to bring more plants in bigger vans such was demand.

[Maggi Young]

Great photos form the show.

Sandy Leven's report of the Medal plant is online now -  see  it here