Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Stan da Prato on January 17, 2014, 04:38:55 PM

Title: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on January 17, 2014, 04:38:55 PM: We intend to use materials from the 2013 stand again this year. Billy Carruthers has provided space for a storage hut at Binny Plants. Today some of us moved stuff from Graham's garage to the new store. Photos show the materials in their new home, Rob Graham pretending to be Oor Wullie on a bucket and Billy relaxing with four legged friends Bart and Barrah after unloading the van.
Title: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 07, 2014, 06:44:56 PM: Gardening Scotland (http://www.gardeningscotland.com/) - this major event takes place at Ingliston, near Edinburgh 30th May -1st June 2014

The SRGC display will be dedicated to the late Graham Wenham, who was such a hard-working member of the team.

Elsewhere in the forum there was discussion recently about a sad lack of availability in recent years of Primula reidii var. williamsii - Jim Jermyn, SRGC member and manager of GS has been tweeting (https://twitter.com/JimJermyn) that he think the plant, just coming into flower now and a favourite of his wife Alison, may well be for sale again this year at Gardening Scotland.

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Primula reidii var. williamsii

Jim has previously said that he thinks Primulas may well feature strongly at GS this year
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Jim has also tweeted about his recent visit to the garden of the former Fife SRGC Group Convenor Jim Thomson and his wife, Mildred - a fine example of a garden in Scotland!! ;)

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 07, 2014, 07:12:15 PM: More from Jim Jermyn's tweets :
"Often the first Meconopsis to flower, true M. grandis. The Mec Group will be offering seed to sell at Gardening Scotland "

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Gavin McNaughton of Macplants (http://www.macplants.co.uk) tweets that "This is Meconopsis 'Strathspey', first to flower with us - a selected grandis form"

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: mark smyth on May 07, 2014, 07:18:23 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on May 07, 2014, 07:12:15 PM
More from Jim Jermyn's tweets :
"Often the first Meconopsis to flower, true M. grandis. The Mec Group will be offering seed to sell at Gardening Scotland "

fab flowers
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 08, 2014, 05:18:35 PM: Rob Graham and I started checking through the stand materials at Binny Plants today where they have been stored. We will have another session next Wednesday to put it altogether then pack it for transport to the show later this month.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: robg on May 08, 2014, 11:19:45 PM: Quote from: Stan da Prato on May 08, 2014, 05:18:35 PM
Rob Graham and I started checking through the stand materials at Binny Plants today where they have been stored. We will have another session next Wednesday to put it altogether then pack it for transport to the show later this month.

What Stan didn't say was that we had to abandon the operation because we had 10 boxes for the base and there should have been 12 to make up the 3.6m square, and we had no idea which box went where and why there were two missing.

Not that auspicious a start, but one of Stan's pictures from last summer has enabled us to work it out. Thank goodness for the digital camera.

Rob

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Liz Mills on May 10, 2014, 07:02:30 PM: Every year, the Gardening Scotland display sets us new challenges - just when we think we've got ourselves organised. But I know Stan and Rob will solve the problem of the missing boxes. They've got a great team to help them build the stand while I'm traipsing around New York and I'll be fascinated to see the completed display when I get back. Good luck, you guys and dolls.

Not so sure that Jim's prediction of lots of Primula will hold good. The season is so early and the lovely Primula chunglenta that Stuart Pawley gave us last year are already in flower - as are pulvurulenta, chungensis, sieboldii and japonica. But maybe we'll be able to show P secundiflora, sikkimensis and auriantiaca instead. We'll just have to wait and see what the weather over the next 2 weeks has in store.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 14, 2014, 04:19:45 PM: Box situation completely under control. Today we put them in order and sat the base for the rock ridge on top then put stonework in place. Other stones are not fixed so will be added during the build. The stand will again will be on two levels. At the show hall six more stone panels will go in to cover the drop from the upper level. We have planned to make the floor level part up to 18 inches wider if enough plants come in. We plan to erect the stand in the show hall on Sunday 25 May
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 18, 2014, 05:00:15 PM: Being built at Chelsea - but soon to reappear in part at Gardening Scotland;
"These are snaps taken by Keith Jackson of the joint Fife and South-west of England's display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Britain in Bloom - a version of the
stand will then come to Gardening Scotland " - so says Stan who has passed me the photos.

"The wow factor complete with parsley the lion and Bayleaf the Gardener"

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 18, 2014, 06:02:32 PM: Such fun! The BBC TV programme on Chelsea this evening just featured the garden shown above - we got a better look at Parsley the lion on TV and the vegetables look just fabulous.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 18, 2014, 07:58:56 PM: Keith tells me a fox has already been through their wild garden section.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 20, 2014, 11:14:31 AM: Quote from: Maggi Young on May 18, 2014, 05:00:15 PM
Being built at Chelsea - but soon to reappear in part at Gardening Scotland;
"These are snaps taken by Keith Jackson of the joint Fife and South-west of England's display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Britain in Bloom - a version of the
stand will then come to Gardening Scotland " - so says Stan who has passed me the photos.

"The wow factor complete with Parsley the lion and Bayleaf the Gardener"

And how successful this display has been at Chelsea : The Diamond Jubilee Award for the best display in the Great Pavilion (which was introduced in celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012) was awarded to South West in Bloom for their display celebrating 50 years of RHS Britain in Bloom.

Mention was made in the BBC TV programme last night of the contribution by the Scottish children to the display 8)
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 25, 2014, 03:44:28 PM: Today Rob Graham and I took the stand sections into the show hall and started to erect the basic structure. We were the fist exhibitors on site. It was good to be under cover as a monsoon raged outside. We were able start work as soon as the joiners had finished bracing our stand - number 36. Only some of the rockwork is fixed. More rock is added as compost goes in. Tomorrow we widen the floor area, the main change from 2013, and it is then ready to stat planting
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 25, 2014, 03:52:17 PM: Promising start, Rob and Stan - I suppose this is the time when you hope the organisers have not got the stand numbers mixed up.........

What a shame that this hall does not have the white translucent roof of the Chelsea grand pavilion - it just looks so very dark by comparison.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 25, 2014, 04:36:40 PM: Stand number 36 for anyone coming in with plants or to help ..............if the lightning currently flashing strikes it might just develop a more open roof......
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 25, 2014, 04:47:24 PM: Lucky for you I cannot get down to help - I don't think my hiding under the stand during a thunder storm would be of much benefit. :-X
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ichristie on May 26, 2014, 08:12:49 AM: Hello all, just loaded the hire van with my plants for the SRGC display will leave for Edinburgh soon, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 26, 2014, 09:39:28 AM: Ooh it's going to look lovely...
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 26, 2014, 04:26:02 PM: Ian and that van load of plants has arrived at GS - and so, after a one hour wait for the #47 bus, did Al Elliot, who has tweeted these photos.......
"After that wait finally heading to gardening scotland to help setup Scottish Rock Garden Club show garden."

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cracking on with the stand

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Cornus canadensis

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Primula 'Postford White'

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Primula sieboldii

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stand coming on.....
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 26, 2014, 04:27:17 PM: Stand about one-third planted
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 26, 2014, 05:51:20 PM: Meanwhile at the show ground Rob finishes the front kick board which has been extended outward by 18 inches to give more room for plants. Ian C arrives with his van load of goodies and with Al Elliot and Peggy Anderson puts the first plant - Celmlsia semicordata - onto the stand. We have made Ian's excellent Celmisias the focal point on the rock ridge this year. We are also well on with one side with a variety of orchids, anemones, ferns, shrubs etc.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 27, 2014, 02:22:35 PM: From Al E. once again......

"On way to GardenScotland for another action packed day planting the Scottish Rock Garden Club stand. "

Arisaema /RBGE
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"More plants GardenScotland on the Scottish Rock Garden Stand"
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Meconopsis 'Barney's Blue' on Scottish Rock Garden Club stand.
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 27, 2014, 05:05:44 PM: Looks like good progress is being made - Al says "Almost finished the planting just one wee corner to do "

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 27, 2014, 05:13:37 PM: Good progress has indeed been made. One side finished off this morning so we could start putting small semp rosettes into rock cracks then set up and plant the other side which is for sun loving plants. Part of the lower level now has its mecs, hostas and large primulas. Finally a snap of the Tuesday team on a tea break
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 27, 2014, 05:14:51 PM: more

Having a well deserved cuppa- left to right, Alan Elliot, Stan Da Prato, Trina Rogerson, Peggy Anderson and Ian the Christie kind
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 28, 2014, 07:26:05 AM: Well done everyone!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 28, 2014, 03:16:36 PM: Today's report from Al :

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Just a wee team 3 of us finishing the Scottish Rock stand

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Ian finishing off Scottish Rock planting @ Gardening Scotland

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Finished! Tidy time - leave it for tomorrow's crew to fluff the plants. Meconopsis punicea Sichuan silk.

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Podophyllum delavayi and Meconopsis Hensol Violet behind - on Scottish Rock Garden Club Stand

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Salix x boydii
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 28, 2014, 03:34:27 PM: Our friends at MacPlants are busy getting ready for Gardening Scotland as well - these pix have been tweeted by Gavin McN.
From 26th May..... just arrived for set up at Gardening Scotland. Beryl and JimJermyn catch up before we start!
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Getting there with the display! at gardening scotland

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Meconopsis 'Mrs Jebb' in the Macplants display
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 28, 2014, 05:07:27 PM: The club stand is indeed finished- tomorrow others will add black material round the woodwork and do a final tidy ready for judging.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 28, 2014, 05:12:20 PM: You've made good time, Stan.
The hall is filling up nicely with other colour now too.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ichristie on May 28, 2014, 05:57:15 PM: Hello all, we have had a great time building the stand at G.S for SRGC just want to let you know it would not have happened without Stan and Peggy and Alan great work indeed plus the help of Trina Rogerson, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 28, 2014, 06:40:26 PM: Looking superb!!!
Great work!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: DaveM on May 28, 2014, 08:10:07 PM: Well done, the team. Will keep fingers crossed for the judging. :) :)
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Carol Shaw on May 29, 2014, 12:17:13 PM: Well done all of you, the stand looks fantastic now we simply have to await the judges deliberations ;D
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Richard Green on May 29, 2014, 12:30:53 PM: It is great to have an advance preview of the Stand, and see all the work-in-progress shots. It also proves just how much work has gone into the planning, logistics and execution.

I am looking forward to visiting tomorrow to see the good work for myself.

Huge thanks to all the team, and I hope that the Judges show their appreciation!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 29, 2014, 01:12:17 PM: Some of the other things happening with SRGC Folks at GS- on Saturday -

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In the "RHS Theatre" from 11.15 to 11.45 am
“Gardening with Alpine Plants – Overcoming the Challenge”
Ian Bainbridge and Ian Young

Saturday 12.30 – 13.15- in the "Story Tent"
An Audience with Ian Young

Artist, Photographer and Plantsman -
Ian is an Alpine specialist and a popular international speaker. He is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio Scotland. Interviewed by Frieda Morrison.
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Friday 30th May, Saturday 31st May Sunday 1st June
‘Tales of the Scottish Plant Hunters’

Global Adventure in the Search for Wealth, Beauty and Wonder.

David Mitchell + music from Steve Byrne.
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 29, 2014, 03:40:50 PM: At Gardening Scotland look out for the Meconopsis Group stand

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The Meconopsis Group is affiliated to the Scottish Rock Garden Club
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 29, 2014, 03:51:56 PM: Colin Crosbie, another SRGC member involved in the RHS Theatre (http://www.gardeningscotland.com/rhs-gardening-theatre/) Q and A sessions, along with Carole Baxter et al:
Quote
12.15 – 13.00 Q & A Session Friday
Lesley Watson (Chair), David Knott, Pam Whittle, Alan Delamore

Q&A Session 12.15 – 13.00 Saturday
Carole Baxter (Chair), David Mitchell, Colin Crosbie, George Anderson

Q&A Session 12.15 – 13.00 Sunday
Lesley Watson (Chair), David Mitchell, Guy Barter, Billy Carruthers,

.... has tweeted this picture of the display from Fife .... "Celebrating 50 years of Britain and Bloom at Gardening Scotland, well done beautiful Fife."

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Title: Hooray! It's GOLD for the SRGC !!
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 09:59:45 AM: [attachimg=1]

Great news from Gardening Scotland - the SRGC display has been awarded
a Gold Medal 8)

Wonderful news and a great result for the terrific gang of dedicated volunteers who have built and designed the successful display - well done Folks and huge congratulations to you all!
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: DaveM on May 30, 2014, 10:04:04 AM: Wonderful news Maggi. Many congratulations to all who put this together. And a fitting memorial to Graham.

I shall look forward to seeing it close to tomorrow.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 10:06:06 AM: Our pals at MacPlants have done well too- here's a photo of Beryl ( wearing her SRGC fleece!) and Gavin with their Gold Medal Card - many congratulations to them .......
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and Alan E. has retweeted Darcy and Everest's message that they've been awarded a silver gilt medal - but that's not what they've actually written ...... ::)
"Our Silver-Guilt display @GardenScotland " ;D ;)

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No more news of other awards just yet.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 10:07:43 AM: Quote from: DaveM on May 30, 2014, 10:04:04 AM
Wonderful news Maggi. Many congratulations to all who put this together. And a fitting memorial to Graham.

I shall look forward to seeing it close to tomorrow.
Indeed, David, I am sure that the team will be especially delighted to have done so well to honour Graham after his sad loss. I hope too, that Graham's family will find it some small comfort.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 10:17:50 AM: Tweeted by Colin Crosbie, Curator at RHS Wisley :
"The SRGC stand @GardenScotland looks brilliant, lots of plant gems on display. "
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 10:20:01 AM: Colin's pic of Glendoick display
"The Glendoick Nursery display of rhododendrons @GardenScotland is just overflowing with colour."
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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 12:57:43 PM: The Best in Show Award to a Show Garden at Gardening Scotland has been won by the Perennial Garden - built to celebrate the gardening charity Perennial (http://www.perennial.org.uk)by the team of Amber Goudy and Martin Crowley - read more about the garden and this very important charity HERE (http://perennial.org.uk/best-in-show-gardening-scotland-2014/)

Well done to them ! Here's a photo of GS manager Jim Jermyn presenting the award to Amber Goudy

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 01:06:21 PM: The Alf Evans Award - for Best Commercial Alpine Exhibitor - has gone to Kevock Gardens - Congratulations!!

Best Floral Exhibit - Beautiful Fife, 50 years of Bloom- well done to Parsley the Lion!

Best New Floral Exhibitor - Westbank Enterprises! Congratulations!

Don't know yet what happened in the pallet gardens competition- our man Snapper Stan is involved in those, too :D
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 01:14:20 PM: The students from the SRUC have won a silver-gilt medal for their garden for the NSPCC -
"Fantastic effort by SRUCStudents for creating this prize winning Garden of Childhood Adventure"

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Sandy Leven on May 30, 2014, 01:52:28 PM: Congratulations to the team on building the Gold Medal display!
I saw the stand on Wednesday before it was finished and it looked good then. You are showing people a wide range of plants and ways to combine them in modern gardens.
As usual the as SRGC is promoting rock gardening. It is not easy to combine plants into great display whilst making it aesthetic.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 30, 2014, 02:02:03 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 01:06:21 PM
The Alf Evans Award - for Best Commercial Alpine Exhibitor - has gone to Kevock Gardens - Congratulations!!

Best Floral Exhibit - Beautiful Fife, 50 years of Bloom- well done to Parsley the Lion!

Best New Floral Exhibitor - Westbank Enterprises! Congratulations!

Don't know yet what happened in the pallet gardens competition- our man Snapper Stan is involved in those, too :D

NBIB winner in groups section with gold medal no. 8 - the 17 sports in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The only snap available so far is from the NBIB website. There is a people's choice pallet award for the first time this year still to be decided.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on May 30, 2014, 06:49:02 PM: Well done our team, it looked a cracking display.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 30, 2014, 07:12:34 PM: Bravo! What a super display, I could see it was shaping up nicely....
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: John85 on May 30, 2014, 07:18:32 PM: I hope some nice people will post lots of pictures of Gardening Scotland .No Beechgrove garden this evening
In this area BBC satellite signal broke down AGAIN and again and again.......
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: rgc on May 30, 2014, 07:28:59 PM: Hi
Thoroughly enjoyed my day at Gardening Scotland. Thought the SRGC display was really beautiful. Had followed the building of the display on this forum and the final result was even better than expectations. Well done to the team that built it. Thoroughly deserved the Gold.
Bob
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 07:38:24 PM: Sorry to hear the satellite signal broke down, John, because the Beechgrove programme from GS was rather good. We got some nice comments from Carole on the SRGC display as well as seeing Liz Mills being very pleased to see the Gold Medal ticket on the stand!

Not mentioned by name, but well covered, was the Rumbling Bridge Nursery stand of Graeme and Hilary Butler- great SRGC supporters. Their display looked absolutely terrific - I hope we get some photos later.

Billy Carruthers was his usual cheerful self - speaking about his New Zealand themed garden - folks here will have seen him mentioned in the NZ trip with the Christie's the other year - exciting to see the fruit of the trip, which clearly had a profound effect on Billy.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 07:46:53 PM: A pic of part of the award winning Kevock Stand from Cath Quinney (http://bennybeg.co.uk)

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"younghort" (https://twitter.com/YoungHortTeam)Kitty Wilkins tweeted these from Jacques Amand's display

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 30, 2014, 08:04:34 PM: Congrats to the RCHS Caley allotment for GOLD on their Bridgend Allotment japanese pallet garden

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Someone tweeted this picture of GS show manager Jim Jermyn "signing the pledge " - but we can only guess what the pledge was..... ;)

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Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 31, 2014, 11:05:44 AM: Colin Crosbie is tweeting from GS :

"First talk @The_RHS Lecture Theatre @GardenScotland is at 11.15 by Ian Young and Ian Bainbridge on growing alpines.

The two Ian's from the SRGC talking about growing alpines @ GardenScotland @The_RHS Lecture Theatre "

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Ian Y's going on to an "an Audience with Ian Young " in the Story Tent ....
and the next Q & A is at 12.15 @The_RHS Lecture Theatre by David Mitchell, Colin Crosbie & George Anderson.
lots going on at Gardening Scotland as well as all the great plants to see.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:07:14 PM: self indulgence - some snaps of the club stand today
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:08:27 PM: ..and some more
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on May 31, 2014, 04:21:17 PM: No self indulgence when you are letting the members see what you and the team achieved on our behalf and in Graham's honour, I am quite sure.
The display really does look grand- quite remarkable what you have done. There are lots of folks enjoying it too, which is terrific.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:26:24 PM: Graham's family visited on Friday and enjoyed the stand their dad had done so much to create.

.....now some nurseries today............Binny, Macplants and Rumbling Bridge
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:28:17 PM: a walk round the Kevock stand which won the Alf Evans award
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:31:03 PM: Hartside, Amand, Harperley Hall and Darcy & Everest
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 04:52:59 PM: The candidates for the Best New Plant Award were lined up on the Caley stand including a primula from Rumbling Bridge and a white Corydalis from Ian Christie. However more attention seemed to be paid to some strange goings on at another side of the stand.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 05:13:13 PM: as you enter the floral hall you see the Ryder Cup themed garden from Perthshire, the Dunfermline Robert the Bruce garden then the very popular joint stand by Fife and SW in Bloom celebrating 50 years of the In Bloom campaign.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on May 31, 2014, 05:15:19 PM: some of the fine plants shown by specialist nurseries and societies
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Brian Ellis on May 31, 2014, 06:06:09 PM: Thanks Maggi for putting this together and to Stan for the latest set of pics, a real treat for those of us who could not be there ;D
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Richard Green on May 31, 2014, 08:53:10 PM: Great photos Stan, and it is surpising how much more you see when looking at the photos than you do in the hubub of the Hall. It is good to see that there is plenty of interest in our stand again today. When I was there on Friday the packets of seeds were flying off the stand - as were the membership leaflets.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 31, 2014, 10:06:04 PM: Good news Richard, just the boost we need!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Steve Garvie on May 31, 2014, 11:18:46 PM: I thoroughly enjoyed Gardening Scotland today and was particularly impressed by the SRGC stand -congratulations to all involved for such a breath-taking display.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on June 01, 2014, 06:50:36 AM: I missed going to Chelsea and now I can see how much I missed not coming to Gardening Scotland! The alpine displays are just brilliant; if we can find the wherewithal and energy we must try and do something similar with different plants down here in Kent - but how do you compete with all those meconopsis, primulas and celmisias? Let alone Jaques Amand's Cypripediums?
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on June 01, 2014, 07:10:53 AM: You have answered your question in the last line of your post................Mediterranean plants ... dryland alpines ..ie what grows well in your area -incidentally in East Lothian and other east coast parts we have very low rainfall and it is too dry for many plants thought of as Scottish specialities.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: brianw on June 01, 2014, 11:46:23 AM: On Beechgrove they showed a "New Zealand" plants garden/stand. What were the Eremurus/Asphodel like plants, or was it New Zealand grown plants?
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Steve Garvie on June 01, 2014, 01:12:01 PM: Quote from: brianw on June 01, 2014, 11:46:23 AM
On Beechgrove they showed a "New Zealand" plants garden/stand. What were the Eremurus/Asphodel like plants, or was it New Zealand grown plants?

I think this was Binny Plants' New Zealand themed garden. There were however Eremurus in the display as well as Bulbinella hookeri (sometimes called the Maori Onion).
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Tony Willis on June 02, 2014, 10:46:55 AM: It was an excellent show with wonderful displays of primula on many stands and an equally good one by the meconopsis group.

As to the New Zealand plants on the TV I think this was just the camera angle that brought in the eremurus which were lovely specimens on Binny Plants display.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on June 02, 2014, 01:36:58 PM: Just watched the Beechgrove programme and I'm not so sure about some of the themed gardens (a little bit too jocular for me) but liked the one made (I think?) by the Hungarian lady which looked very natural, plus some of drystone walling. The alpine displays were great, just what you would expect, with some great plants (would have liked half the programme just on these!), and I enjoyed the short tour round picking out planting combinations, which is what a lot of gardening is about. Eremurus and celmisias? Hmm - funny combination.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on June 02, 2014, 02:12:06 PM: Tim, I do not visit GS, but I can give you Ian's opinion of the outside show gardens over many years .......useless! There have been exceptions, but these are few and far between and he has largely been unimpressed. I cannot say I have ever seen one on TV that I coveted.
I think that with the number of families attending with children there is always a tendency to jocularity and "cuteness" in many gardens. :-X :-\ Such traits tend to be "played up " by the Beechgrove coverage too, which , in my opinion, doesn't help!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on June 02, 2014, 03:50:50 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on June 02, 2014, 02:12:06 PM
...........................................Such traits tend to be "played up " by the Beechgrove coverage too, which , in my opinion, doesn't help!

In view of the fact that I'm a regular moaner about the quality of Gardener's World and also of Chelsea perhaps I qualify for a word or two about the same on Beechgrove.? I thought the quality of much of the presentation by both of the male presenters was abysmal. Had I wanted to watch comedians I would watch a comedy programme. Carol Baxter was better, but maybe she had more to get her teeth in to. I found the production "bitty" and pedestrian to see the least and why on earth when doing an interview segment don't they always tell the viewers who it is they are interviewing all the time rather than just some of the time?
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on June 02, 2014, 04:01:10 PM: Valid points there , David. Actually the programme was in some ways better than it usually is. :-X
Last year the two "boys" - were pitiful. Someone in production seems to think the format works but I speak to a great many gardeners and just "plain TV viewers" who find it painful to watch.

As to identifying interviewees- goodness knows what their problem is. There is also the variance in giving clear IDs about some commercial stands and not others - again inconsistent segment to segment and quite odd with some filming re BBC guidelines. It is beyond odd altogether, really.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on June 02, 2014, 04:03:44 PM: I suppose creating show gardens anything like those at Chelsea is completely unrealistic - just insufficient backing (or indeed interest). But at least they could have some sensible relevance to what gardening really is. As soon as the coverage comes on to the SRGC display and some of the other indoor displays it becomes so much more worth listening to, and the presenters are able to express their true knowledge of plants.

It is interesting that we all tend to criticise the concentration on 'Show Gardens' at Chelsea which by comparison are often spectacular and brilliantly made, and the problem here is we can probably not identify with gardening design done at such a 'high' level, not realisable for most gardeners (at the other extreme!) Again it shows the complete lack of ability of television to capture something of the real passion and artistry and knowledge that many gardeners have, which is found in programmes covering other vocations. I imagine this is because people who make (produce) television programmes have never made gardens! (Would have to agree with the last comments, but I suppose they had little choice - again scope for an 'alternative' programme for those with a real knowledge of plants).
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Stan da Prato on June 02, 2014, 05:41:10 PM: Today at the showground Rob and I loaded up his trailer and our two cars with the stand sections and materials and that was it for another year.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on June 02, 2014, 05:44:44 PM: ... and a job very well done by all.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: DaveM on June 02, 2014, 08:01:22 PM: Agreed, wholeheartedly, David! It was great to see the SRGC exhibit on Saturday. Many of the visitors were full of praise for what the team had achieved. Great stuff! After the Joint Rock meeting I spent much of the day helping out on the stand, so only managed to get around the floral hall - I didn't go outside and by the sound of some of the recent posts, I didn't miss much.

Anyway, just a few images of some plants that tool my eye.

Primula ambita - again - we had seen this at various stages this spring and here it is at its maximum development I guess. Not particularly exciting, and probably not hardy here, but interesting nevertheless (compare photo in Chelsea 2014 thread).

Of much more interest Primula aurantiaca x pulverulenta from Graeme Butler of Rumbling Bridge.

and Corydalis flexuosa 'Snowflake' from Ian Christie. A chance seedling with a delightful sweet scent. This should make an excellent garden plant.

Both the last two were considered for the 'Best new plant' in the show, but were sadly pipped by the eventual winner.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on June 03, 2014, 11:11:36 AM: You'd wonder there was not an individual category for best new garden plant and best new house/glasshouse plant, wouldn't you? Otherwise it's a case of 'comparing apples and oranges' isn't it?

Stan and Rob : many thanks and congratulations once more on your tremendous efforts on behalf of the club. Without all your 'before and after' work the delight that was the SRGC stand could not happen. We owe you a great debt of gratitude.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: ChrisB on June 03, 2014, 12:38:56 PM: Hear hear Maggi! Such a huge task to undertake, to say nothing of getting the plants themselves ready and in good shape. So much expert teamwork there, and the mopping up afterwards is just as impressive, getting the right plants back to the right people, knocking down the stand transporting it and so much more. Big pat on the back to you all!
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Liz Mills on June 05, 2014, 06:51:42 PM: I took all the unclaimed plants home. So if you have 'lost' one of your plants, please get in touch and I'll check I haven't got it here. We bought some plants for the display and I intend bringing them to sell at bargain prices at the Summer Event in Dunblane on 23 August.
Title: Re: Gardening Scotland 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on July 02, 2014, 03:53:11 PM: WeFixFistulas \ WaterGemsAlba\ Binnyplants - time lapse video from Gardening Scotland set up:

http://youtu.be/1sry1vMNvrc (http://youtu.be/1sry1vMNvrc)