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Author Topic: Barry Starling  (Read 8104 times)

David Nicholson

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Barry Starling
« on: October 01, 2008, 10:29:38 PM »
Just got back from a local AGS Group meeting where I heard a talk by Barry Starling on a recent visit he made to Western China. Very interesting and Ohhhhhhhhhhh those Rhodos. You would have been drooling Maggi.
David Nicholson
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Maggi Young

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2008, 10:55:22 PM »
Barry is a delightful chap, David, but I really am happily settled with the Bulb Despot  8)
OH! :o  You mean the RHODOS would have had me drooling? ::)  ;D ....Yes, I have little doubt of that ....wonderful plants, eh?  You do make me envious :-X
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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johnw

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2008, 02:20:16 AM »
Barry gave two talks here a few weeks ago. One was that Yunnan trip.  What of that magnificent white Rhododendron fastigiatum they found in the fog! I had his slide scanned and attach.

He also gave a lecture on his life's work with Ericaceae.  We had both talks filmed and I am going to review the film on the weekend and have them transferred to DVD.  Important to have this documentation of his work.

A most impressive life encompassing all plants.

Also attached his display of gemlets at a rhodo show last year in Devon. I wonder if that fire bell goes off if you try to snitch a plant?

johnw
« Last Edit: October 02, 2008, 02:49:08 AM by johnw »
John in coastal Nova Scotia

Maggi Young

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2008, 11:13:28 AM »
white fastigiatum............and look at the foliage, too......ooh err..... 87652-0 87653-1
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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art600

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2008, 12:54:03 PM »
Steady, steady... ;)
Arthur Nicholls

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2008, 03:40:39 PM »
white fastigiatum............and look at the foliage, too......ooh err.....

Such dark leaves for a white, eh?

johnw

« Last Edit: October 02, 2008, 07:03:08 PM by Maggi Young »
John in coastal Nova Scotia

Maggi Young

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2008, 07:03:47 PM »
Yes, very dark leaves for a white, good flower size and substance...... want one!!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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David Nicholson

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2008, 07:26:31 PM »
Yunnan, third mountain to the left, round the corner and up a bit ::)
David Nicholson
in Devon, UK  Zone 9b
"Victims of satire who are overly defensive, who cry "foul" or just winge to high heaven, might take pause and consider what exactly it is that leaves them so sensitive, when they were happy with satire when they were on the side dishing it out"

Maggi Young

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2008, 07:32:03 PM »
.......on the other hand.....patience is a virtue.......somebody is bound to go for seed, aren't they???? :-\ ::)
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2008, 08:08:45 PM »
Not me, it looked a little bit higher than the top of my step ladder :-[
David Nicholson
in Devon, UK  Zone 9b
"Victims of satire who are overly defensive, who cry "foul" or just winge to high heaven, might take pause and consider what exactly it is that leaves them so sensitive, when they were happy with satire when they were on the side dishing it out"

johnw

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2008, 02:23:41 AM »
.......on the other hand.....patience is a virtue.......somebody is bound to go for seed, aren't they???? :-\ ::)

I sent all the info to Jens Nielsen who is going to China this month.  Hopefully he will find and collect it. It would be a great garden plant as well as an important parent for dwarf whites.

johnw
John in coastal Nova Scotia

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2008, 10:09:25 AM »


I sent all the info to Jens Nielsen who is going to China this month.  Hopefully he will find and collect it.
johnw
This is REALLY good news!!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Re: Barry Starling
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2011, 03:50:21 PM »
Another treat from Barry Starling many years ago, Menzesia 'Spring Morn'. The great blue foliage really doesn't show up well in this photo.

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John in coastal Nova Scotia

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Barry Starling receives further RHS award
« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2015, 04:16:15 PM »
I felt this thread was appropriate to  post this....

Barry Starling AOH  is a specialist in  plants of the family Ericaceae  He is a retired retail nursery owner. He has won many awards from the Alpine Garden Society, including the Reginald Cory Memorial Cup, the Loder Cup and the AGS Lyttel Trophy. He has raised and introduced the Rhododendron keiskei and many hybrids and form of rhododendrons and other Ericaceae, he is a contributor to The Plantsman, The Alpine Gardener and the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Yearbook and the SRGC Journal, The Rock Garden.

He was awarded  AOH in  2013:
ASSOCIATE OF HONOUR  is  an  RHS award  established in 1930 and conferred on persons of British nationality who have rendered distinguished service to the practice horticulture in the course of their working life. The number of Associates of Honour may not exceed 100 at any one time.

Recently, at the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group Show at Rosemoor Gardens, Barry had a very successful entry with his plants - but, more importantly, perhaps, he also received one of the highest honours that the  RCM committee can award.

This year is the centenary of the Rhododendron Society, which joined with the RHS  to form the RCM Group  which now makes  such premier awards as The AJ Waley Medal, the Loder Rhododendron Cup and the Rothschild Challenge Cup.

RHS Executive Vice-President Jim Gardiner, celebrating 100 years of the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group of the RHS, wrote :

"The Rhododendron Society was established in 1915 at the height of (a) period of horticultural upheaval, with J C Williams of Caerhays Castle in Cornwall as Chairman. Their first AGM was held at Chelsea in 1916. Between 1916 and 1931, the Rhododendron Society Notes were published, culminating with the publication of The Species Rhododendron, which was the first monograph of the genus.
In 1927 the society's membership was opened more widely, and it became the Rhododendron Association. A joint committee with the RHS was established in 1930 to judge rhododendron hybrids at Exbury (transferred to Wisley in 1938), with Gerald Loder becoming its first Chairman in 1931. When the Association was 'absorbed' into the RHS in 1945, it became the Rhododendron Group (along the lines of the RHS Lily Group) with the Joint Committee which meets to judge at RHS Shows being responsible for  the group's administration.
The Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group judge at flower shows, including those at RHS Gardens Rosemoor, Wisley and Harlow Carr.
The AJ Waley Medal, the Loder Rhododendron Cup and the Rothschild Challenge Cup are all trophies awarded initially through the Committee but is now the responsibility of the Group - whose Chairman sits on the RHS Woody Plant Committee. "

At  the RCM Show at Rosemoor in April, Barry was awarded the Loder Rhododendron Cup - and  it was presented to him by another great plantsman,  Roy Lancaster VMH.

This happy photo of the presentation was taken by Sally Hayward.



Barry Starling  is presented with the Loder Cup by Roy Lancaster

Barry's successful day  in the competitive classes had  totalled 8 firsts, 9 seconds and two thirds from entering 26 classes. This included 3 firsts and a third in the four flower arranging classes.
While he was delighted with this success, he was quite overwhelmed  when he was awarded the Loder Cup for meritorious work with rhododendrons !
Previous recipients of this  honour have  included Davidian, Chamberlain, Peter Cox, Rosa Harrison and John Bond.  Roy Lancaster presented the cup and made what Barry has described as "a very kind speech".

I imagine that only a self-effacing and focussed plantsman such as Barry would be surprised to be given such an honour  but it is one that  is considered only fitting by his many admirers. 
Congratulations, Barry, on  receiving this well-deserved recognition.
 


Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Editor: International Rock Gardener e-magazine

David Nicholson

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Re: Barry Starling receives further RHS award
« Reply #14 on: May 05, 2015, 06:26:28 PM »

I imagine that only a self-effacing and focussed plantsman such as Barry would be surprised to be given such an honour  but it is one that  is considered only fitting by his many admirers. 


I strongly second that Maggi your sentence just sums up Barry to a 'T'.
David Nicholson
in Devon, UK  Zone 9b
"Victims of satire who are overly defensive, who cry "foul" or just winge to high heaven, might take pause and consider what exactly it is that leaves them so sensitive, when they were happy with satire when they were on the side dishing it out"

 


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