Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2010

[Maggi Young]

Now isn't that a happy gang of friends, eating, drinking and being merry?

And what about that birthday cake?!!??!! I was impressed with Alan's Rhodothamnus but this creation knocks even that sideways!
A triumph of the cake-making gardener's art.......superb work...... was the "almost" birthday boy pleased?!!

[Lesley Cox]

A great cake all right. Just about every species recognisable. Shame to eat them, really.

[Lori S.]

Remarkable plants and a remarkable cake!  Are those brown bits sponge toffee, I wonder?  (If so, mmmmm!   )

[Diane Clement]

Remarkable plants and a remarkable cake!  Are those brown bits sponge toffee, I wonder?  (If so, mmmmm!   ) 

They were the "rocks" and made of cinder toffee and definitely mmmm 

[johnw]

I was impressed with Alan's Rhodothamnus but this creation knocks even that sideways!
 

  Maggi, how could you?

Was that a chocolate cake underneath?

That Rhodothamnus was out of this world.

johnw

[JohnnyD]

Birthday boy & girl were extremely moved by Mandys gift. It was fabulous. How the judges could NAS it is beyond us all.
There was one slight worry though

While making the cake the following conversation apparently took place between Mandy and her daughter:

Daughter - Who is the cake for?
Mandy - The bloke who keeps winning the minigarden class.
Daughter - The chap who keeps beating you then.
Mandy - Yes.
Daughter - So what are you putting in it?

Aaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Mandy, it was a great surprise and made a great day even better.

JohnnyD & Clare

[Peter Maguire]

I didn't take many photos at the Harrogate show yesterday - there's too much else to see, and I look forward to the opportunity to stock up on hosta, Clematis, Acers, etc which I don't normally see in such variety locally. However I did take some pictures, fighting off the post lunch lethargy induced by an early start and a splendid pork pie, so here goes.
 - Primula bella (John Richards) in 'new and rare' (?and also extremely difficult). Apparently grown form Jurasek seed as Primula nanobella, the hairs in the throat of the corolla are apparently correct for P. bella according to the grower, and he did write the primula book. I didn't have a hand lens with me so couldn't verify this....
- Rhododendron 'Wee Bee' (part of a three pan entry from Carol Kellett)
- Rhodothamnus sesifolius (Alan Furness). The Farrer medal winning plant.
- Hymenoxys lapidicola (paret of a three pan entry from George Young). I liked the way that this plant, which tends to sprawl easily, had be prepared for the show.
- Calanthe striata (Valerie and Dick Bathe). They always have wonderful Calanthes at Harrogate, no one else seem to do as well as they can with them.

[Diane Clement]

Just a few pictures from me
Minigarden from master cake makers, Mick and Mandy McLouglin
Detail from same

[Diane Clement]

Ipomopsis aggregata shown by John Bunn
Trillium ovatum hibbersonii shown by Rod and Shirley Johnson
close up

[Diane Clement]

Primula 'Blairside Yellow' shown by Joan Bradbury
Cyclamen rhodium peloponnesiacum shown by Trevor Harding
close up of same

[Diane Clement]

Three pan Primulaceae shown by Geoff Rollinson
close ups from the same 3 pan

Androsace vandellii
Primula bracteata

[Diane Clement]

Saxifraga 'Bridget' shown by Chris Lilley
Arisaema amurense shown by Don Peace
close up of same

[Diane Clement]

Foliage entries
First prize was the line up on the left, from Shelagh and Brian Smethurst
Large entry for the 6 vases of cut flowers, won by Pat and Fred Bundy (front right)

[Diane Clement]

I think this is Fritillaria crassifolia, but the pot had lost its label, shown by Trevor Whitaker

[Diane Clement]

AGS medal for the Large 6 pan by Ian Kidman
Primula 'Hythe Buttermilk' also shown by Ian Kidman
close up