Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Jan Jeddeloh on January 01, 2016, 09:22:22 PM
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My Dad (Joe Patton) and I are flying over from Portland, Oregon to meet the group at Gatwick. I was wondering who else was going and where you're from. We're arriving on January 25th and staying at a Heathrow airport before taking the bus to Gatwick. We're done a Naturtrek trip before so we're familiar with this drill. In the two days before we meet the group we plan to recover from jet lag, visit Wisley and maybe take in the Harlow Early Spring Show. The last possibility depends on if we can get there by public transportation. I have an email out to the show contact but haven't heard back yet. If this doesn't work out we'll just go to Kew instead.
After the trip we'll stay near Gatwick for a couple of days before heading back to Heathrow to catch the plane back home. My next project is to figure out what we're going to do while we're at Gatwick. Suggestions are welcome.
I'd love to hear from other participants on the trip. I've also cross posted on the AGS forum.
Jan Jeddeloh
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Well, with the marvelous Oron Peri (a man well known and respected in this place!) as one of the leaders it will be a treat no matter what!
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The Harlow Early Spring Show is on 27th February (so does not seem to fit with a January 25th arrival). Harlow is served by trains from London Liverpool Street station or it may be more convenient to join the train at Tottenham Hale on the Victoria (Underground) Line. There are at least two trains per hour to the main station, 'Harlow Town'. Take a taxi from that station. Alternatively you could take a slow train to 'Harlow Mill' station and it's about a mile to walk to the venue. Harlow Mill Station does not have a taxi rank.
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Jan is asking about places to visit on her return from the trip as well- that is for the few days after 9th March.
(trip is 28 Feb 2016 - 09 Mar 2016 http://www.greentours.co.uk/Alpine-Garden-Society/NARCISSI-OF-IBERIA/ (http://www.greentours.co.uk/Alpine-Garden-Society/NARCISSI-OF-IBERIA/) )
"7th Feb. is the Harlow AGS Show , as Alan says : HARLOW EARLY SPRING SHOW, Mark Hall School, First Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9LR
Sadly the nearest show to the later date is the KENDAL SHOW AGS/SRGC at the other end of England on the 12th March. A bit far!
There may be some public gardens to visit though?
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Both Nymans gardens and Wakehurst place are only a short distance from Gatwick and either would be a great place to spend a day.
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Jan,
My wife, Maureen, and I are going on that tour. This is a first time for us. We've been told they are excellent with good accomodation and food. Maggie has told us that the tour leaders are top notch as well. Looking forward to meeting you at Gatwick - trains from our local station go to Gatwick.
Jack Meatcher
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My Dad (Joe Patton) and I are flying over from Portland, Oregon to meet the group at Gatwick. I was wondering who else was going and where you're from. We're arriving on January 25th and staying at a Heathrow airport before taking the bus to Gatwick. We're done a Naturtrek trip before so we're familiar with this drill. In the two days before we meet the group we plan to recover from jet lag, visit Wisley and maybe take in the Harlow Early Spring Show. The last possibility depends on if we can get there by public transportation. I have an email out to the show contact but haven't heard back yet. If this doesn't work out we'll just go to Kew instead.
After the trip we'll stay near Gatwick for a couple of days before heading back to Heathrow to catch the plane back home. My next project is to figure out what we're going to do while we're at Gatwick. Suggestions are welcome.
I'd love to hear from other participants on the trip. I've also cross posted on the AGS forum.
Jan Jeddeloh
Did you mean arriving FEBRUARY 25th?
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Yes, I certainly did mean arriving February 25th. I'd love to spend a month in Great Britain traveling around Great Britain but January to February would not be the month I'd pick!
If we can get a taxi from the main station in Harlow we should be good in terms of getting to the show. One reason we're staying at Terminal 4 Hilton is that it offers easy Tube access for getting around. Also it sound be a comfortable stay which is important since my Dad is 94. I want to make this trip as easy and fun for him as possible. Luckily he's still very active-hike, bikes and walks regularly. He's quite excited to see Portugal and Spain. After our trip, about 7 years ago, to the Dolomites he went back the following year with Mountain Hiking Holidays. He still thinks that's the most gorgeous place on earth.
So the AGS show has plants for sale I see. Does anyone know if you can get a phytosanitary certificate there? I don't know if people come over from the continent need a phyto. You can see the wheels of my brain turning here can't you. I would have to also find someone to babysit any plants I bought while I was on the tour, however. The damn bureaucrats make it so hard for use to properly indulge our addiction.
Jan
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The AGS did not arrange for phyto inspections for the 2011 international conference, Jan - there were USA folks spitting feathers in frustration about that. There is probably zero chance of you getting any help for plants from the Harlow show unless you contact the actual sellers there - some professionals MIGHT be able to supply phyto certs. but the plant sales of the AGS would not be able to do so.
Some AGS folks (MartinR ? ) might be able to advise you who the professional sellers might be at the show. I'll have a look to see if there is a list around from last year.
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Here are the plant sellers from 2015 at Harlow February show :
[attachimg=1]
Hope you can read this....
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Hi, Jack,
It's great to hear from other tour participants. I've also heard Greentours puts on a good tour. One of our local NARGS members (Jane McGary) has been on several trips with them and speaks well of them and particularly Oron Peri as a leader. I've ordered his book from AGS but it hasn't arrived yet. I assume it will before I leave.
Maggie, in regard to phytos there is still some time to figure out if there is any way to get stuff home legally. At least in the US it can be a real pain to arrange this kind of thing. I had to do it for our study weekend/annual meeting in 2009 and about pulled my hair out in frustration getting to local guy to do it on a time frame that would work. This was right after Sudden Oak Death reared it's ugly head and he was downright paranoid about certifying stuff. As it was the inspections were on Monday which meant the poor Canadians had to stay over another night to get the magic paper.
But yeah if I'd spent all that money to go to the international conference and couldn't get a phyto to bring back treasures I would not be a happy camper either. Isn't SRGC doing an international conference in about 5 years? I'm hoping to go to the next one. Kids have pretty well flown the coop so I'm a semi-free woman. I do have a husband who have the nerve to insist some of the vacation money goes to his bike trips.
Just saw the list of plant sellers from last year. Thank you so much. I have no problem reading it and it gives me some places I can contact. Google will be my friend finding email addresses. I didn't know Tim Ingram had a nursery. He's responded to me on the AGS forum and he's one of the people I'm hoping to meet at the show. Do you and Ian go down to the show? I realize it would be quite a drive for you.
Jan
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No Jan - we seldom get to the SRGC shows these days , let alone be able to get as far as Harlow - we have lots of pals who attend the shows though, so we hear the news - and there are usually great pix in the forum to give a flavour of the events. None of that make s up for the thought of all that retail therapy going begging, of course!
Yes, an international conference is planned for 2021 - and rest assured that phyto provision is high on the priority list - as it was in Edinburgh for 1991.
Cannot understand why your other half is so unreasonable - how much can it cost for him to go ride his bike? ::) ;D
Tim Ingram is a regular SRGC Forum contributor - you can get him through these pages - and you may find links to many of the sellers through the SRGC links pages .... I'll go see what I can find for you in the way of email contacts.
Surely we'll be able to find some mountain biking trails for him to enjoy in Scotland! ;)
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Tim Ingram regularly posts on this thread http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9453.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9453.0) which currently runs to 27 pages.
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If we can get a taxi from the main station in Harlow we should be good in terms of getting to the show. One reason we're staying at Terminal 4 Hilton is that it offers easy Tube access for getting around.
The trouble with Heathrow is the journey time to central London. It takes at least 50 minutes by underground. You can take a fast train to Paddington Station but Paddington isn't particularly well-connected. It might be 90 minutes to get to Tottenham Hale by underground, wait for a train, 20-25 minutes on the train to Harlow, queue for a taxi then about 5 minutes in the taxi.
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Alan, you are absolutely right about Heathrow, its accessibility to Central London or train service. I had a heck of a time trying to get to Euston from Paddington with a suitcase. I would love to hear about the routes fovored by local people to hook up to train system from Heathrow.
Koko
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If I wanted to get to Harlow from Heathrow (and being happy to drive in a foreign country) I'd hire a car for the day and be there in about an hour (traffic permitting). By public transport I'd connect with the Victoria Line at Green Park to Tottenham Hale, avoiding unnecessary changes, Paddington etc. and (theoretically) possible in 90 mins.
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The AGS Plant stall at the Show is run by volunteers selling members' plants. No possibility of phyto-sanitary certificates.
Jacques Amand exhibit in the USA and may be your best bet to order from them and have delivery in the USA at the right time - you could ask them :)
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The problem with renting a car is that for me Great Britain is "driving on the wrong side of the road". This is a place I don't want to go since my total time in Great Britain this trip is four days. The learning curve (I first typed curse which might actually be more accurate) is too steep for the time. Plus you guys have roundabouts all over and us Americans are not well trained on those things. We have a few and we're starting to get more but wrong side of the road plus roundabouts is a nope for this trip. So I get the picture that we should just prepare ourselves for a long trip to Harlow. We can deal. I just hope someone will give my Dad a seat on the tube. If need be can I glare at some healthy young thing until they cough up a seat? Not sure how polite London young people are. Some of ours are so self absorbed they'd never notice the old guy hanging on to the strap.
I've planning to send out an email to many of the vendors and see if anyone can connect me with a way to get a phyto. Maggi kindly provided me with their email addresses. I've checked with the appropriate authorities at my end and importing plants in my luggage actually looks doable at this end. What the heck, I might as well give it a try. The weather's lousy for gardening, the garden is non-existent at this point since I just moved in last summer, so I might as well develop some time trying to figure out how to deal with government bureaucracy. But yes I know this is a real long shot. Even if I can't pull it off I'll be able to see lots lovely plants at the show so that's a win right there.
Jan
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Well, I gave up on the phyto fantasy. The cost finally pushed me into submission. It would have cost me over 60 pounds ($90) and that was just too rich for my blood considering the max we could bring back would be 24 plants. So the dream dies...... Still plan to bring my Small Lots of Seed Permit with me in case I find any interesting seed.
I have one other question about the show. Are there places within walking distance for lunch? My Dad and I aren't picky (we eat everything including spicy) but we will need to eat lunch someplace. Or should we plan to buy food and bring it with us?
Thanks, Jan
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Hi Jan. I am there for 7 hours or so and I have never gone hungry at the show. Plenty of snacks, salads, sandwiches, cakes etc. Some hot food too usually. Just think of an indoor picnic.
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Thanks Brian. Sounds like our kind of food. Especially the cakes part ;D.
How long to you think we should allow to thoroughly take in the show, take pictures and smooze with people?
Jan
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Several hours, Jan - really, as long as possible! There will be masses to see on the show benches, the reticulate Iris display from John Amand, in tandem with the talk from Alan McMurtrie, the iris breeder (sales tables - even if you can't buy it's fun to see) - cakes to eat , people to meet - it'll be a busy day!
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Less than a week for me before I take off. I leave Wednesday, arrive Thursday, hit Wisley Friday and the AGS Harlow Show on Saturday. Jack are you and Maureen ready and excited like we are? My Dad started packing his suitcase a couple of weeks ago.
I've done a lot of research and we're taking the Heathrow Connect (not Heathrow Expre$$) into London, the tube to Liverpool Street Station, the train to Harlow and then a cab from the Harlow station. It will cost the two of us around 80 pounds. I looked into just taking a minicab but that would double the price and we're cheap that way. We could shave 15-20 minutes off the whole thing by taking the Heathrow Expre$$ but it didn't seem worth it for double the cost of Heathrow Connect. We don't have any place we have to be on Saturday so we can just take our time getting to and from the show.
I have a feeling this is going to be bigger than I imagined even though, being early, it's probably one of the smaller shows. We do a non-judged pot show in our NARGS chapter each year and maybe, maybe 25 members come and no non-members. I'm sure I'll be impressed by the AGS show even if I can't, sniff, buy plants.
Jan
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Hi Jan
Don't know if this helps you but look at London travel cards https://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/london-travelcard/
Click on the map link. You can use them anywhere within the map area on the tube, bus or UK trains, but only within that area. £12.50 a day all day Saturday (restricted times in the week) Not all Heathrow services are covered; check. It can be slow on the tube but there are some faster services and trains are quicker. Won't quite get you to Harlow though, just Enfield or Epping. You can get on or off anywhere any number of times. Handy for tourists.
Also don't assume all stations will have human help these days. Smaller stations have ticket machines only. A real pain if you don't know the system and the train is coming in. They take money or cards.
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Thanks to all who provided me with advise on attending the Harlow Early Show. My Dad and I made it there yesterday, not till close to noon because of the long transit, and had a great time. It took us over two hours transit time and I wish we'd gotten on the road earlier. I was dumbfounded to arrive and find the parking lot was pretty full and there were A LOT of people attending. Never would have happened in Portland. Everyone kept saying to show was a bit sparse because of the weather but it sure looked good to us. Lots of gorgeous plants, some were fairly common but beautifully grown, and others were rare and choice. The pots of crocus were just so bright and cheerful. And the speaker had a display of Iris reticulate that would knock your socks off.
I got to meet Brian W., Kit Strange, Diane Clement, Tim Ingram, Ian Butterfield and others. Everyone was quite accommodating and lovely.
Maggi was right. Take all the time you can spare at a show.
In about an hour we leave to catch our bus to Gatwick and start the tour.
Jan Jeddeloh