Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Greenmanplants on April 16, 2008, 08:20:22 AM
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Been a while since I posted anything here but felt you needed to share yesterday's Farrer at London.
Lee and Julie Martin to be congratulated on winning with Androsace studiosorum.
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John, we've missed you very much .....how lovely to have you make your return with this wonderful winning potful of colour from those nice Martin folks.... great growers, aren't they?
What a super plant this is for exhibition, never looks so good outside but it is still a great plant for a raised bed.
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Fantastic! I continue to marvel at the show winners we see on the forum. Anyone have an idea of the percentage that are pot-grown as opposed to lifted for the shows?
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Carlo, I would estimate that around 95 percent are pot grown.
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I would hazard a guess that about 10% of the exhibits at any given show are lifted from the open ground, many wonderful plants remain in their pots for a number of years and reappear for their annual dose of red, blue and yellow stickers.
I believe I'm inviting some good-humoured banter by replying to your query Carlo....I will be told in no uncertain terms that 'only current exhibitors can answer such technical questions!! :D
Maggi....you must have pressed your button two milliseconds before me!
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Carlo,
I was about to answer when Cliff came in. I would guess the % to be even lower.
I don't exhibit, as I've nothing worth showing, but will occasionally lift a plant from the garden to show,- I have nothing much in pots bar propagation material and leave everything to the mercy of the weather and wildlife outside.
There used to be a specific class for plants lifted especially for showing, but it seems there was a lot of doubt about whether some of these actually ever left their pots.
Here are a couple more from the show which is still on today, two 6 pan classes; the Sewell Medal and the Royal Bank of Scotland Trophy both won by Cecilia Coller, an absolutely fantastic lady who brings a full van of the most delightful plants to every show. the plants are still on the bench and will only be removed this evening.
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Wonderful pix and plants John !
That Androsace studiosorum is absolutely stunning - and there's even some buds unopened !!!!
Thanks for making us drool ;D
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Anyone have an idea of the percentage that are pot-grown as opposed to lifted for the shows?
Of course, it all depends. If you grow and show dionysias, then it's 100% pot grown, I'm sure. Many growers of rhododendrons and other ericaceous shrubs grow them in the garden and lift them.
Of the last two shows I did, -
At Chesterfield, of the 5 plants I took, 4 were lifted from the garden.
At East Lancs, of the 10 plants I took, 6 were lifted from the garden, 2 of these at midnight by torchlight, a few hours before they were staged.
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It's an interesting angle this, pot or lifted theme. we used to lift a lot of stuff for shows, until two things happened... 1) the plants were too big to stuff in a pot that was portable or
2) the plants grew together and through eachother in the garden and so weren't easy to lift or made a poorly shaped plant when lifted.
When that happened we did go over to plants kept in pots for showing.... easier when they are grown under glass anyway.
And what fun we had showing our plants! And what success :o Those were the days 8)
Now, there is nothing in the garden which could be lifted to show without causing major damage to half a dozen other things in the vicinity. Under glass we have gone over almost entirely to bulbs (this may not be either news, or surprise, to many of you ::) ) and since the BD has decreed that maximum use must be made of smaller square plastic pots, it is the sad case that lots of our plants , while growing healthily, are too crowded to be show plants, :-[ being somewhat drawn for lack of light in their very crowded quarters! Alos we have a problem with roots coming out in to the sand plunge, which also makes problems for removing pots. :'(
Never mind, we had a good run at the shows and I doubt that some of our record making SRGC points totals will ever be beaten, so that's kind of compensation! Work as Show secretaries keeps us up to the mark, of course.... which brings me back to the likes of the redoubtable Cecilia Coller.....where would the shows be without the contributions of such talented growers who are able and willing to travel such distances to support the events? I do not know how that particular lady manages it........my back gives out just thinking about that much work nowadays, and I do not think I am being too rude if I suggest that Ms Coller is a good few years ahead of me in age :-\
She's a marvel.... should be made an AGS Angel for Services to Shows! 8)
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Thanks to all for your responses to the pot vs. lifted question. Since we have nothing like your show system here (curious, that...), it's interesting to hear how it all works...
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I'm leaving myself open again here...but when I DID exhibit (quite frequently for twenty plus years), I can honestly say that I never once lifted a plant from the garden. I have been known to change a pot (usually to a slightly smaller size to be 'as per schedule') or to replace a cracked, badly stained or ugly pot, but everything was grown (the majority in the open all year) in pots in a garden measuring 8 metres x 4 metres that also included two small greenhouses (for propagation purposes), frames, a shed, washing lines, etc., etc. etc. AND I always sowed over three hundred packets of seed every year. Don't ask me why Sue is still with me or how I managed....I simply don't know?
Even though the sky is grey and very overcast I will attempt a couple of shots (from the rear bedroom window) at this moment to illustrate how much better the situation is now....just imagine the same area with one more greenhouse, a garden shed and perhaps another four or five hundred pots.
Carlo...I submit the evidence for the prosecution in the case against 'growing for showing'! It becomes an addiction.
Now then; 'When is the next (fix) Show"?
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Of course my dear friends in Kentucky will testify as to just how much better the garden looks now....there is now space to swing a very small and malnourished kitten!
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Perhaps I had better explain (before the animal welfare people descend on the house in their droves) that we British have a jocular expression to be used when space is at a premium....i.e. 'Barely room to swing a cat' (which probably relates back to the use of a lash (or cat o' nine tails) as a punishment.
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This has been a very instructive afternoon Cliff ;D ;D
Always eager to learn.
Great view of your garden as well !
I'm particularly fond of the (undoubtedly a Ranunculus...) plant in pot nr 124 in the 6th row from the left ;D
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Thanks Luc....trust you to pick the only plant with aphids! :)
...But you were right, it IS a buttercup...!
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Aphids ??? You disapoint me Cliff...
;D ;D ;D
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Did I say 'Aphids' Luc? I meant to say; 'Amazing flowers'. Simple slip of the finger! ::)
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Good to hear from you again John, don't go away. What a fabulous show this must be. The Farrer Medal plant must be at that most perfect stage for showing - covered in flowers yet many more still to come, as distinct from covered with flowers but some already gone over. It is truly stunning, and shows perfectly how a relatively common and easy plant superbly grown, can (and should) beat rarities hands down.
As we grow almost no alpines at all under glass and not many in pots, we tend to lift a higher percentage of plants for own very few shows but invariably they are much smaller and haven't the impact of these amazing specimens. Surely any of the AGS Angel's plants would be winners on their own let alone in company with their gorgeous companions. It's a real treat to see them all.
I'm also very happy to see that the Royal Bank of Scotland which owns the NZ bank which swallows my own paltry income, has donated a trophy for alpine plants. Maybe when I enter their portals the look on my face will be a little less sour than it usually is.
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Cliff, is that IT??? Just that little bit? How can you survive on that? :o Certainly I'm wanting to downsize from our 2 acres but would like about half an acre. You do however, have a little space which could be used for troughs, if you were to get rid of the table and chairs. You don't really need them do you? in your climate? Mmm? ;D ;D ;D
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Exhibits from the above and East Lancs AGS Show are now on the AGS site. There are some wonderful plants on show, especially from Cecelia Coller and Ray Drew.
That's the one thing I miss living here. I know that there are local AGS Shows all around but the London Show, and Chelsea were special.
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I have added a few images to the AGS web site so hopefully some of you will take a minute to have a browse and add a comment here if you see fit.
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=confirmcontribution&sitearea=forum&category=atshows#bottom
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Sorry that link asks you to log-in as a member....which many of you are.
This should take to straight to view.
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=viewthread&category1=atshows&sitearea=forum&articleid=122&category=atshows
I am working on central committee to make the AGS Forum more open as I'm sure there are many benefits to be had on either side as most of us Plantaholics are members of many societies, SRGC, AGS, NARGS, HOS, NOC, BIS, BPS, Frit Group, Lily Group, Cyclamen Soc to name but a few.
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Did the AGS spring journal come out yet,? I did not get one and it usually arrives by the end of march. (Yes I have paid for 2008 last October) before anyone inquires.
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Yes it did, although it was late due to changes at the publisher...change of ownership/premesis etc.
Any particular details different about your membership, that might differentiate you...I got mine a couple of weeks ago on the 29th March, which is when they should all have been received.
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No, nothing changed,credit card payment and same address but no journal.
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If anyone was expecting a reply-in-kind from Mr Ranunculus, to my rude one about the English climate. they'll have to wait for it. I happen to know that lucky man is off on holiday AGAIN!!! to Italy this time I think. ::)
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Just had a look through John's link, at the stunning plants at the London show. They are incredible and if you haven't already done so, you MUST have a little trip down that particular lane.
David, you will love David Philbey's primulas, from the auricula group. I suppose these are of his own breeding? And I was thrilled to see a fine plant of Epimedium davidii which I was able to buy here recently. But so many gems that it is impossible to pick out any single favourite.
A note though. As I mentioned below John's AGS posting, I came to this show via his link above, on the Forum. The AGS site is excellent but somehow I don't think of a daily visit there as I inevitably do, here. The reason can only be the wonderful informality and genuine friendliness of all the posters here, and the moderators' tolerance of all the banter, mostly unrelated to gardening subjects. While the other is a great site for alpines, this site is like being in the middle of a great big family reunion.
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Thanks Lesley, I think you've just about hit the nail on the head with those comments. The two sites will always have different atmospheres. I'm trying to soften the AGS one but I doubt it will ever reach the open friendliness found here, hence the daily browse that so many do. There will be a Chelsea Diary there next month as we start the build and work through 10th to 25th May as we did last year. Hopefully there will be other benefits to warrant an occasional excursion South of the border!
I certainly intend a more regular visit North than I have since the new forum started.
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If anyone was expecting a reply-in-kind from Mr Ranunculus, to my rude one about the English climate. they'll have to wait for it. I happen to know that lucky man is off on holiday AGAIN!!! to Italy this time I think. ::)
Any rude comments about the English climate are completely justified at present - it's cold, wet and miserable and has been for the first two weeks in April (of course I have no comments on the Scottish version ;) )
As for Mr (globetropping) Ranunculus, it's Crete, to be precise, off on an orchid spree, I believe. I think there just MAY be some pictures for us on his return ;D
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Whats the little Clematis in image LAGS 2008_0787 6 Pan RBS Trophy
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Hi Mark,
Here's the plant by itself, Clematis marmorara.
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Yes, 40944 Posts in 1486 Topics since November 2006 speaks pretty well for the SRGC Forum, doesn't it?
I shudder to think of the huge number of plant photos and tips that are included in that total.... though, as so many of us believe, it is the addition of the social intercourse that makes people feel so included in the life ofthis Forum.
As John says, it is likely that differences will always remain in the various sites of SRGC, AGS and others, but I do believe that our SRGC "mission" to attend as promptly and fully to all contact via the site, whether it be a cultivation question or a problem with remembering log-in details, as fast as possible will always be appreciated as a terrific service.
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Here's the plant by itself, Clematis marmorara.
A couple of points here: I think this plant is a hybrid, rather than the pure species, which would be Clematis marmoraria
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Hi Maggi,
Quite so, the service that you and a handful of others behind the scenes, unstintingly provide here will always differentiate this from other sites. The very fact that you have corrected my entry above speaks for itself. Being a plant of Cecilia's I hadn't bothered to check in the Pant Finder as to its correct naming, thank you for putting me right.
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John, I think that Clematis marmoraria in its pure form is very seldom seen, so "kinks" in naming are widespread :-X
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I will be delighted to be able to follow the AGS Chelsea preparations and display online.... this is such a boon for those of us who never get to see Chelsea, other than on the TV.
I know that TV coverage of Chelsea and some of the other big RHS shows has increased in recent years, but sadly, that increase has not always lead to an improvement :P If the TV company thinks that people will be intereseted in the preparations and run- up to a show ----- and we are!----then why not have separate programmes to show these details and leave the so-called "live" programmes to be just that.... LIVE coverage of this HUGE event? There is SO MUCH to see at Chelsea and we end up with brief glimpses, rehashed through the week, intercut with pre-filmed sections.....not MY idea of LIVE TV! Given the large logistical set-up for any TV outside broadcast I cannot see why the potential is not maximised. I suspect that the TV heads are just not gardeners...pity they don't listen to their professional colleagues ::) ::) :-\ :'(
So, we'll be waiting happily to see the fruits of your photographic and other labours, again soon, John! 8)
And, of course, best of luck with the display! 8) :D :) :D
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I think the clematis will be C. x Cartmanii `Joe.' It is a marmoraria hybrid, with C. paniculata Mark, both NZ natives. There was a pic in the last few days at another show I think, maybe of the same plant.