Discussion Weekend, Peebles 2017

[DaveM]

We look forward to welcoming members to a return visit to the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Spa in Peebles for the annual Discussion Weekend, Friday 13 until Sunday 15 October, 2017. Bookings are now open.

We were unable to include the full programme in The Rock Garden, for which we apologise. However, here it is - for you all to enjoy:

Friday 13 October
The Jim Archibald Lecture: Rod Leeds 'The winter wonderland of bulbs'
Small bulb exchange

Saturday 14 October
Morning: optional activities; Show; Plant sales
Afternoon:
The John Duff Lecture: Sid Clark 'European Primulas'
Henrick Zetterlund 'My time at Gothenburg'
Magnar Aspaker 'Our garden under the midnight sun'
Harry Jans 'Around the world with alpine plants'
Gala Dinner, presentation of show trophies, and plant auction

Sunday 15 October
Morning:
Martin Gardner 'The unique flora of Chile'
Jean Gabriel 'The Lautaret Alpine Botanical Garden'
Afternoon:
The William Buchanan Lecture: Tony Hall 'The central and southern Asian juno irises'
The Harold Esslemont Lecture: Harry Jans 'Flowers of the Incas'

We look forward to receiving your booking and to welcoming you at the weekend.
John Mitchell, Mike Hicks, Elspeth MacKintosh, Struan Harley & Dave Millward

Note added 31/03/2017: we are sorry and sad to announce that Henrick Zetterlund is unable to join us this year.

[Maggi Young]

For convenience, here is a pdf of the booking form for the  SRGC Discussion Weekend 2017

 SRGC-DWE booking form 2017.pdf (182.02 kB - downloaded 116 times.)

[DaveM]

Plants from under the midnight sun and much much more ......

Our speakers at this year's event in Peebles offer a wealth of knowledge and experience of alpine plants to inform and entertain you.

We are delighted to welcome Magnar Aspaker to our group of speakers. He will be talking about his garden 'under the midnight sun'. Magnar lives and gardens in Harstad, Norway, some 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. Forum members will of course know Magnar and are familiar with the wonderful images on this Forum of plants he grows. This will be a great opportunity to meet him and hear his story.

Rod Leeds will start our programme off on the Friday evening. Rod needs little introduction to the Club - he is an expert grower, particularly of bulbs, author and accomplished speaker. We look forward to his tales of 'The winter wonderland of bulbs'. The Lautaret Alpine Botanical Garden is one of Europe's finest altitude rock gardens, set at 2100 m, near Grenoble in France and Jean Gabriel will talk about the many delights that grow there. The juno irises are a favourite of many of our members and Tony Hall is the expert in this group; we look forward to hearing about how best to grow these tricky plants.
Sid Clarke is a regular at the Discussion Weekend and since retiring from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has been travelling Europe in search of Primulas. He is a superb photograher and we look forward to hearing about his travels. Martin Gardner, author of a recent book on the Chilean flora, will bring to life the wonderful plants of this region, many of which grace our gardens. Last, but by no means least, is Harry Jans, an alpine gardener, field botanist, inveterate traveller, tour leader and photographer. His two talks will be a kaleidoscope of amazing plants from his travels, and a journey to the land of the Incas will give us a glimpse of the plants from this region that are little known here in the UK.
Surely, this is a programme of talks that is not to be missed. Do join us in Peebles. Mike Hicks will be pleased to receive your booking - do hurry, so as not to be disappointed. We look forward to welcoming you!
John Mitchell, Mike Hicks, Elspeth Mackintosh, Struan Harley and Dave Millward

[DaveM]

Two months to go now to the Discussion Weekend. We are putting the finishing touches to what promises to be another fabulous weekend. As the 'Dryas' magazine and journal were a little late this year we are able to extend the deadline for bookings until Monday 28th August.  SO, if you haven't booked and don't want to miss this event, then please do get in touch with Mike Hicks.

The booking form is enclosed in 'Dryas' and has been posted below by Maggi.

We look forward to seeing you in Peebles!

John, Mike, Elspeth, Struan, Petra and Dave

[Maggi Young]

New "Dryas" booklet - including Discussion Weekend booking form ....
http://files.srgc.net/journals/SecPages-DryasSummer2017.pdf

[PeterT]

Is there a timetable for each day, please? and is non residential attendance allowed?

[Maggi Young]

It is indeed possible to attend on a day to day basis Peter. All possibilities are mentioned in the booking details .
 In the booking information in the booklet mentioned in my previous post there are approximate timings - morning, afternoon, evening - etc  given for the weekend, as given by David Millward  earlier on this page .
 If you need  further information I suggest contacting Mike Hicks   via  mikeh3@tiscali.co.uk

[PeterT]

Thanks Maggie, I had referred to a different link, with fewer details.

[DaveM]

I'm sure Mike Hicks would be delighted to hear from you Peter. Look forward to seeing you in Peebles!

[PeterT]

Thanks Dave, I might make a day trip - hopefully... but building bulb frames is pretty urgent just now

[DaveM]

Just a few days now to this year's event. So looking forward to seeing everybody in Peebles next weekend.

Do please bring plants for the show, plants for sale and surplus bulbs for the small bulb exchange. There are also two photographic competitions. Please see the show schedule and send Dave your entries by email please. There will be three nurseries: Jacques Amand Intl, Waddow Lodge Garden (Peter Foley) and MacPlants.

Have a safe journey and hope you enjoy the talks, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

John, Elspeth, Struan, Mike and Dave

[annew]

Alas, can't go this year. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Will there be any labels for sale, and if so, would anyone be prepared to get me some and post them to me? All expenses will be paid of course.

[DaveM]

I'm hoping that there will be labels, Anne, though the person who has the stock is not a delegate this year. However he said that he would make arrangements. Send me a pm with requirements and I'll get it sorted for you.

[Maggi Young]

For any unable to source the labels directly from the SRGC at a show etc, the labels  formerly sold for SRGC by Glassford Sprunt are  available  here :
Anglo-Scottish Packaging
21 Montrose Avenue
Glasgow
G52 4LA

This is their web address :
http://www.angloscottish.net/
 A range of colours is stocked : http://www.angloscottish.net/horticultural-labels-34-c.asp

[annew]

Thanks, Maggi. They are a bit pricey that way - £10.42 +VAT +£12 postage for 500 labels.