Edinburgh and the Lothians 75th Anniversary Show -12th April 2014

[Maggi Young]

As the good folk of "Embra" are gearing up for the anniversary show this coming weekend - forum star Diane Clement has arrived  in the Scottish capital for her appearance tonight at the SRGC Group meeting.
Always supposing she manages to escape from the maze that is Waverly Station as it undergoes major refurbishment!

12th  April -  75th EDINBURGH AND THE LOTHIANS SHOW
Special Prizes best plants in classes 34, 75 and 81.
12th April 10.30 am to 4.00 pm (Doors and sales open 10.30,Show open 12.00 noon)
SHOW SECRETARIES: Drs Carole and Ian Bainbridge 3 Woodhouselee, Easter Howgate, Midlothian, EH26 0PG. Telephone 0131 445 3268 E-mail: bainbridi@aol.com
VENUE: Fairmilehead Parish Church, Frogston Road West, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh
LOCATION: At City Bypass, Lothianburn Junction, A702; go into city. Turn right at first traffic lights (Fairmilehead) and church hall is first left.
ENTRIES: To Show Secretaries by Wednesday before the show Late entries accepted until one hour before judging. STAGING: 6.00 - 8.00 pm, Friday before the show and 8.00 - 9.30 am, Saturday of the show.  JUDGING: Begins at 9.45 am PRESENTATIONS: Trophies will be presented at 3.30pm

[Stan da Prato]

local members setting up the show this evening

[Maggi Young]

Last year at Edinburgh the Forrest Medal was won by David Boyd with his beautiful plant of Hepatica  'Blue Jewel' -  pictured here by Stan da Prato


 
- who will be the worth winner this year?

[Maggi Young]

News from "Embra" - as the Scottish capital is known - the Forrest Medal has been won by a beautiful Ranunculus grown by Sam Sutherland -  I think it may be a form of Ranunculus parnassifolius - I'm told it is a "little piece of perfection" !
Congratulations, Sam!!

[Maggi Young]

MacPlants ready to go for sale at the show - tweeted by Gavin McNaughton
 


Hopefully see some of you at the Edinburgh show tomorrow - tweeted by Kevock

[Stan da Prato]

First Sam's Forrest wining Ranunculus parnassifolius-small but perfectly formed. Then  Cyril Lafong's winning class 3 enrt for 3 rare or difficult planst which carries the |Elsie Harvey Trophy. Cyril also  also received merit certs for his Erythronium and hybrid Trillium.

[Stan da Prato]

Cyril also received a merit cert for his Primula bracteosa which won  the Cooper Bhutan drinking cup for the best Asiatic primula. Bob Maxwell took the Corsar trophy for the best European primula with a large pan of Aire Mist -Bob also won the Tod Carnethy trophy for the best bulb with Fritillaria Canmore Park.
 Stella & David Rankin won the AO Curle trophy for class 5 for three plants raised from seed and the Mackie Quaich for best saxifrage.

[Stan da Prato]

Mike Dale travelled up from Northumberland to win the Henry Archibald rose bowl for three big pans of different genera in class 2. As this was the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh show a special prize went to the winner of class 75 for 3 plants from one county in this case Margaret & Henry Taylor for 3 from the French alps maritime. Your correspondent received  the Alf Evans Quaich for the best ericaceous plant other than rhododendron for an Andromeda and the Reid rose bowl for most points in section 1

[Maggi Young]

I'm told that Rachel and Keith Lever were at 'Embra' ( while their boy was winning a Farrer at Knowle )
Other nurseries there were Rumbling Bridge, MacPlants and Kevock, as mentioned already, Binnies,  and Ardfearn.With the Club plant stall as well, the opportunities for  retail therapy must have been well-covered.

[Stan da Prato]

..and photographic evidence will eventually be forthcoming but first section 2 which was well supported and where Sue Simpson did extremely well taking  the bronze medal, the Midlothian  bowl  and a merit cert  for best plant with a fine  trough of clematis and the Midlothian vase for the best rhododendron in the show, Bill Jessop brought  in a nice Androsace vandellii to with the prize  for a first time exhibitor

[Maggi Young]

My word, Sue is having a great year! What a fine range of plants she has. Will be giving the big boys a run for their money, soon!

The Rhododendron - is it megeratum? - is lovely.

Mr Jessop has scored a real winner with his first entry- well done Bill!

[Stan da Prato]

RBGE always put on a superb  display at the Edinburgh show and this year their exhibit was so good they received a professional Forrest medal as well as the customary gold award -though not the showiest plant on the display  the rare Hepatica falconeri aroused considerable interest

[Stan da Prato]

To mark the 75th anniversary a cake was on hand ceremonially  cut by Show secretaries Carole & Ian Bainbridge before being distributed among the exhibitors and helpers-more on the celebrations and plants tomorrow -it is now dinner time!

[jomowi]

I'm told that Rachel and Keith Lever were at 'Embra' ( while their boy was winning a Farrer at Knowle )
Other nurseries there were Rumbling Bridge, MacPlants as mentioned already, Binnies, Ardfearn and Kevock. With the Club plant stall as well, the opportunities for  retail therapy must have been well-covered.

Too true.  I bought 27 plants for my newly designed and landscaped garden!

[Maggi Young]

Crumbs, Maureen - that's beyond therapy - that's working on an Olympic medal  - what fun!