South West AGS Show-Exeter-29 March 2008

[David Nicholson]

On perhaps the windiest and wettest day of the year so far (torrential rain hammering at the windows as I type this, with gale force South West winds) we went to the South West AGS Show in Exeter this afternoon. It may have been due to the weather but attendance appeared lower than in previous years as did plants on the benches-of course it could just be my memory at fault!

The Nicholson fortune was further eroded with a bagful of plants, an assortment of seed, a new pair of fine scissors to help me to better cut unwanted buds from Auriculas (the other problem is my eyes!!), and another book bargain Goldblatt et al 'Colour Encyclopeadia of Cape Bulbs' for £22.50!

Whilst Peter Maguire was in Hexham (minus his camera!) some of his pictures were in the Photographic classes at Exeter and I have pictures of them below. A second and a third I think Peter, maybe I missed the red card ones?

To the pictures then. I don't find it easy taking pictures in public, and in crowded Halls it's not possible to take adequate time to frame a shot, or to fiddle with settings, so apologies for the quality of some of them.

The first two are general views of the Hall, and in the second there is a non-competative display of yellow Primulas in the foreground.

The next two are of Peter Maguire's photographic entries.

Erythronium hendersonii.
Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha
Primula gracilipes
A 4 pan Primula entry to be proud of
Corydalis shanginii ssp. ainii
Hepatica Millstream Merlin

[David Nicholson]

A further selection from the South West AGS Show:-

A three pan for the Orchid fans
Pleione Soufriere
Frit. acmopetala ssp wendelboi
Frit. aff. bithynica plus two more Frits. that I didn't get the names of
Rhododendron racemosum
Primula Lismore Jewel
Primula Jackie Richards
Corydalis beth Evans
Ranunculus asiaticus
Tulipa cretica and Iris orchioides

[Maggi Young]

Looks like a colourful show, David, and there is good natural light for the plants, which is more than you can say for the average show hall!  Worth venturing out for, certainly! 

[David Nicholson]

..... and more from the South West AGS Show:-

Iris warleyensis
Iris kopetdugensis
Narcissus triandris x ?fernandesii
Tristagma patagonicum
Lewisa brachycalyx
Lewisia tweedyi
Pleione Tungarirs (I may not have this name right?)
Daphne x susannae Tichborne (not sure I have this name right either?)
The biggest Pulsatilla grandis I've ever seen together with Narcissus sabrosa

[Maggi Young]

David, I think the name of that pleione is P. 'Tongariro'

[David Nicholson]

.... and the final selection from the South West AGS Show. There would have been the addition of a picture of the largest specimen of Lewisia tweedyi I have ever seen, in full flower, in a tall 40cm pot, but I forgot to go back and picture it. It was a stormer.

Primula Auricula Haberna-there had to be an auricula in the selection-a light centred Alpine I hadn't seen before
Androsace carnea x pyrenaica together with Dionysia aretioides bevere
and a final one for Maggi, Rhododendron tsariense

Enjoy.

[David Nicholson]

Silly old s+d me, forgot to add the pictures to the last one, here they are

[Maggi Young]

You're teasing me, David, it's not fair!!
I think this is the Lewisia tweedyii you forgot to picture, isn't it? I spotted it at once in your first show scene pic!
( this is full size!)

[Maggi Young]

That is a very nice fat little Rhododendron tsariense I could give that a good home!

[mark smyth]

David could not have waited until the end and got me the Ranunculus? 

Some of the photos by Peter are in today's/this month's bulletin

[ranunculus]

Many thanks for posting these images of a super show David.  Much appreciated.

[Paddy Tobin]

A great report, David.

Some excellent plants there.

Many thanks, Paddy

[Rob]

Thanks for taking the time to produce an excellent report.

There are some lovely plants on show. I like the hepatica millstream merlin and the ophrys in the 3 pan orchid class.

[ChrisB]

Great pix David, many thanks.  I particularly like the hepatica.  At Hexham, Edrom were selling hepaticas but boy oh boy, the price tags took my breath away....

Looks like you had as good a show as we did!

[Lvandelft]

What a wonderful evening today.
Within one hour I was able to "zap" from Hexham Show with so many beautiful plants,
to a summary of English football matches on TV, with an unbelievable goal of a certain
Portuguese player and then again to this beautiful Plant Show at Exeter.
Thank you David for making and sharing all these pictures.
G R E A T !!