Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: ranunculus on April 06, 2013, 08:24:15 PM
-
We made our way through the remnants of huge snowdrifts to the AGS North Midland Show at Chesterfield today to find the hall awash with colour and beauty. While the number of exhibits was obviously slightly down due to the weather of the past few weeks, the quality of the plants on show wasn't affected one iota.
One pot attracted immediate attention and this amazing Fritillaria davidii went on to be the worthwhile recipient of the Farrer Medal for 'Best Exhibit in the Show'.
While each of the winning exhibitors had gained individual Farrer Medals in the past, this was Brian and Jo Walker's first 'joint' success. Hearty congratulations to them both.
Another excellent show and many thanks and congratulations to the Show Secretary; John Savage and his hard-working team.
-
That is a fantastic plant ! Will thoroughly depress all those trying hard to get one flower on Frit. davidii!
No wonder Mr and Mr Walker have such BIG smiles- they are justifiably proud of that plant for sure! Congratulations!
(Are Martin and Diane, in the background, discussing a smash and grab raid ?!! ;))
I am pleased to hear the snow is only at the roadsides now, Cliff, allowing you to get around in safety and be able to bring us this report of that Farrer Medal - a show would always be a great success with a winner like that on the benches!
-
Wow, what a potfull never seen this Frit that good congratulations to Brian and Jo, cheers Ian the Christie kind
-
Fabulous !!!
Thanks for showing, Cliff !
-
!
(Are Martin and Diane, in the background, discussing a smash and grab raid ?!! ;))
I couldn't possibly comment :-X
-
I couldn't possibly comment :-X
Well, now I think about it- it was much more likely to be a discussion about lunch!
-
Well, now I think about it- it was much more likely to be a discussion about lunch!
Maggi, you know us too well ;) ;D
-
Maggi, you know us too well ;) ;D
Take one to know one, Diane - as you know, it is my dearest ambition to be able to take part in the Pudsey Pig contest!
-
As already mentioned by Cliff was yet another good show, do we ever expect anything less from this show, just wish it was nearer Northumberland. I had intended to be lazy now and just post pictures of plants not posted by others but it seems I have nearly carte blanche so will just post as they came off the camera. I started at class 1 and just walked down the benches snapping what I could take without interrupting the viewing/paying visitors, also while a plant may catch your eye photographing it in the show hall does not do the plant justice so I miss these out (not because I don't like them) So to begin
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus in Class 2 from F & B Hoyle, lovely plant, I am surprised the judges did not put out a note re the incorrect spelling as it just perpetuates the error and quite frankly the exhibitor should check in any reference journal if in any doubt. They also had in the same class
Douglasia laevigata in the same class and in class 3
Dionysia aretiodes and in class 5
Dionysia curviflora came from Ian Kidman as part of a three pan class
I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's
-
I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's
;) :D I've heard many discussions on which primula fits where in the schedule at SRGC shows as well ! Usually around which is an allionii form and which is a hybrid ::)
-
In class 10 The Hoyles' also had a 'stonkin'
Primula 'Marjorie Wooster' one of the older cultivars. I must add that they has an even larger (and better) P. 'Pink Aire' (at least I think that's what it was) entered in one pan Native to Europe and were NAS'd as a result...as already mentioned in my earlier post I do have some worry on the way these schedules are interpreted.
As ever Don Peace produced class plants and
Primula 'Broadwell Milkmaid' in Class 10 did the job for him
Three pan classes always take a bit of winning but Ju Bramley, in class 11, 3 pans Androsace or Dionysia did thje job with
Dionysia aretiodes, 'selene' and HKMK 0144-3 ex Monika
The Show Secs delight, viz. Cecilia Coller produces
Rhodanthe anthemoides as the sole entrant in Class14, a lovely thing
Corydalis solida 'Penza Strain' from Don Peace
-
After a brief evening meal break I will resume my 'personal' run down the schedule
Our own 'Pallustris', aka Cliff Booker won the class for 1 pan Ranunculacaea (17) with
Callianthemum anemonoides despite stiff competition from various hepatica (thank goodness David Boyd was in Edinburgh)
While I seem totally unable to grow orchids/pleione etc etc one person in the name of Barry Tattersall has mastered the art
Anacamptis papillionacea ssp heroica (class 20) needed a close look at so I attach two pictures, this plant knocked Cecilia Coller back to a second sticker with a lovely
Pleione Bandai-San
In the 3 pan class 21 bulbous plants distinct there was a nice
Iris graeberiana 'Yellow Fall' from Diane Clement...its a pity the picture does't do it justice
-
I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's
George, the only authoritative listing of allionii varieties of the species and allionii hybrids I've seen is a booklet written by Bob Archdale and Dave Richards and published by the Midland and West Section of the National Auricula and Primula Society as Society Guide No. 8. It doesn't give the date of publication but I've had it for at least 7 years so it may be at least ten years old. Mary Berry is listed as an allionii variety.
-
Our own 'Pallustris', aka Cliff Booker won the class for 1 pan Ranunculacaea (17) with
Callianthemum anemonoides despite stiff competition from various hepatica (thank goodness David Boyd was in Edinburgh)
A necessary amendment, George. 'Palustris' is actually Eric Marsh and not myself ... I go under the soubriquet, 'Ranunculus' (among others). LOL.
-
I have noted the replies with regard to 'Native' classes, will comment later
Trillium nivale is an eye catcher and judges favourite at any show, I did a picture of this shown by Alan Spenceley last week at Cleveland and he produced it in better fettle here at Chesterfield in my opinion, again a red sticker in Class 22
We get to Class 23 which had the Farrer Medal plant and Best Bulbous Plant naturally) shown by Brian and Jo Walker. I have grown this plant for many years and think I have done well when I get a few flowers on a 25 cm pot of the plant but this specimen had, by my count, 37 flowers in what had to be a 30cm pan, possibly more. I saw the plant sitting on a side table while they were just about to stage it and just said to myself..there goes the Farrer today...it was of course
Once upon a time what I knew as Ipheon sellowianum, now called
Tristagma sellowianum was seen frequently, noe less so but Cecilia Coller had a large pan in Class 22 (something else I could never get to flower)
The large Androsace (dare I say it even the small pans) have been scarce this year but Geoff Rollinson (who else) in Class 33 had a very nice
Androsace ciliate
Grevillea lanigera 'Mount Taborithna' from Cecilia Coller certainly took up plenty bench space, flowering shrubs have again been few and far between this year so far (I have to add I am not certain of the C/v name
-
sorry Cliff, got my palustris and ranunculus mixed up
-
Onward after correcting an elementary error
Also in short supply this year ahs been Cassiope, but somehow, from the depth of frozen Norfolk (if what my daughter tells me is true) again Cecilia Coller produced the best pan of Ericacaea with
Cassiope 'Muirhead', another belter
We move on to the smaller open section and again Ian Kidman had the only entry (Class 49) and again was a clear red sticker job, I attach three from his six
Saxifraga 'Lismore Carmine'...used to be seen often, not so much now
Dionysia odora x tapetodes
Primula 'Starlight'
Just to prove that somebody else other than Derek Pickard can grow
Dionysia bryoides John Dixon got the nod in class 51
-
My notes went somewhat off skew when I took the next picture so
Corydalis solida ssp incisa alba will be minus an exhibitor I/d
Iris svetianae was from Ivor Betteridge in Class 50, is a new one to me. I put up pictures of
Iris winowgradowii last week but it is such a lovely thing I thought it could bear repetition (Don Peace, Class 52)
There was much comment on some hybrid Primula produced by Brian Burrow and of these two were very interesting
Primula allionii hybrid BB 09-33-6 and
Primula 'Coolock Snowball' certainly drew your attention in Class 54
-
To continue on the Primula theme Ian Kidman had a hybrid that is extremely floriferous that he has slowly distributed in recent years and which he has named
Primula x 'Durham' I believe it may be of the 'Lindum' stable but was not named by them. Ian also won the class 57, one pan primula, native to Europe with
Primula JCA 4161-22, a lovely plant, an allionii no doubt but Native to Europe ? is for me open to debate.
The classes for Asiatic Primula have been thin south of the Border (I have seen the pics from Edinburgh) but one seldom seen one won class 56 for John Richards, I am sorry that the picture is rather poor
Primula megaseifolia
I said that so far this year Androsace have been few and far betweenbut
Androsace pyrenaica won in class 58 (George Young)
Dionysia bryoides in class 59 (Derek Pickard) was the Best Plant in a <19cm pan
-
Many competitors reprt losses in there draba collection over this winter and so classes again have been reduced in entry number but Dave Riley had in class 61
Draba yunnanensis
-
Hit the send button too quick
Saxifraga 'Coolock Gem', Ian Kidman class 63
Saxifraga 'Winnifred', Brian Burrow (63) shows that the older c/v's can still do their stuff
Saxifraga 'Cumulus Anne Vale (63)
Pleione formosana 'Clare' (66) from Clare Oates, guess she just had to try this one
In marked contrast to Alan Newtons exhibit from Cleveland
Fritillaria pinardii shown in 67 by Jim McGregor was a much more diminutive product
-
Although the judges didn't like Jim McGregeors F pinardii they did like his
Fritillaria bucharica in Class 70
Another small class (73) pan from N. America usually is heaving with entries, I think there were only two and the second placed one was
Hymenoxis torreyana from Lionel Clarkson.
The one pan Papaveraceae was a large class (62) with many entries and
Anemone caucasica won for George Young and was judged best European plant....it was much commented on, I bought it some years ago from Edrom Nurseries, I hope they have plenty in stock as they might get a few requests
I move on to the Intermediate and Novice sections which I have to say were well supported and some quality plants were exhibited
Saxifraga georgei from Tony Stanley (96) is by no means easy to produce in such flower, nor is
Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Icelandic Form' (96) Brian Sulman
-
To continue on with the 'B' and 'C' sections
Dionysia 'Orion' (111) Tony Stanley
Saxifraga 'Red Poll' (116) Norma Pagdin...again you used to see a lot of this, not so much now though I did see that Tim Lever had it for sale and
Saxifraga alpigena (116) Colin and Kathleen Billington is seldom seen now, sorry its not the best of pictures
A vwery fine
Cyclamen alpinum (132) from Robert Worsely was carted outside to be photographed by the official team and you can see why
-
Last few thank goodness, time an old man went to bed. In no particular order as got missed in my run through
Pulsatilla vernails (123) in the seed raised class from Tony Taziker...must have had it on steroids as sown in 2009, mine take forever from seed
Soldanella capatica (30) from Cecilia Coller
and finally
Fritillaria carica from who else but Don Peace
Picture puzzle Who is this hands in front of eyes pictured after I heard him say 'look out David Baileys about'...being him he couldn't keep his face covered as he wanted to see the plants so 'lurkio' caught him them
Answer: Brian Burrow accompanied by his 'heavy Alan Spenceley (and in the background you can see Martin R still looking at a class after judging where he got blue instead of red and muttering 'can't believe it'!!!)
-
Thought I would add three Correa shrubs which took my eye at the show. I suppose they are not alpine and need a little warmth but anyway,
-
Ophrys reinholdii is one orchid I would live to grow
-
thanks for the stunning shots and report
-
Fantastic report Mr veterinary ! 8) ;)
-
No photos here from Dublin show but there were an lot of Scottish Rock members having a tremendous success that day , starting with SRGC Hon. Vice President Harold McBride winning the Farrer medal with Soldanella carpatica x pusilla
This weekend Harold and his wife Gwen have got further cause for celebration as they gather with their family to mark their Golden Wedding Anniversary 8) 8)
There were many other members well known to us here who clearly had a grand day with great plants - well done to them all!
See the full results and official photos at
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/shows/results/shows2013/shows/dublin/photogallery.html (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/shows/results/shows2013/shows/dublin/photogallery.html)