Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Diane Clement on March 09, 2008, 02:25:19 PM
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I'll start the ball rollling with some pictures of yesterday's show, in the hope that others will add theirs. More later
Loughborough show, general views
Dionysias were in top form yesterday and the best of all was Farrer plant Dionysia curviflora - surprisingly a first Farrer win for Alan Newton (although I guess he must have won a Forrest medal before)
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Only three photos! I'll sit and wait a while
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The primulas were in pretty good form too. Thanks, Diane.
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I really need to visit one of these shows. I'm sure I asked before but which are the big ones?
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I really need to visit one of these shows. I'm sure I asked before but which are the big ones?
Depends on what time of the year, and where it is easiest for you to fly to.
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/articleservlet?command=viewgeneralarticle&sitearea=show&category=dates
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Lovely Diane, Dionysia curviflora marvellous-how does he do it? ??? ???
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He's a jolly good grower, David! And in for a ticking off when I next speak to him....... I have just logged in here, after work and dog walking, to discover this exciting news from Loughborough. Not a dickie bird from the man himself. >:(
Thanks, Diane!! 8) How was the weather for your trip ?
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So thrilled by this news...congratulations Alan, and lots of love from Ian and I and from Wee Helen, who was just on the phone and who was tickled pink !
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Many thanks Diane...lovely shots.
Congratulations Alan...a beautiful plant.
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Did you have show plants down, Diane? How did you get on? Pix, please!!
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I really need to visit one of these shows. I'm sure I asked before but which are the big ones?
They are ALL pretty big, and ALL worth attending. Every Saturday from now until mid May and then a few more.
Thanks, Diane!! 8) How was the weather for your trip ?
Great, thanks, and good to catch up with everyone after the long winter break, well, nearly everyone! We missed the Smethursts, who, due to babysitting duties had given their apologies in advance. However, no good excuse was received from Mr C Bookercup for his absence.
Did you have show plants down, Diane? How did you get on? Pix, please!!
I didn't have anything worth singing about, but others did 8)
Oops, just realised I haven't reduced the resolution on the other pics, so there will now be an intermission, unless "someone else" has any pics ;) ;)
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You're keeping us in suspense Diane ;D !
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Earlier this evening I spent half an hour on the phone, telling Alan Newton in no uncertain terms that I wasn't speaking to him because he had not told us himself of his Farrer Medal Success. I hope he is suitably chastened ::) :-X
Alan was telling me that the Farrer winning plant was bought about twenty-five years ago from Brian Burrows. Seems like a good investment to me.
I think celebratory glasses of Irn Bru will be raised at dinner in the Newton household this evening 8) ;)
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I didn't actually take many pictures, due to too much time spent catching up with gossip, too much plant buying and too much time spent in the pub.
But here's a few.
Best effort from a forumist (assuming Alan Newton isn't a lurker!) was John Gennard's superb Class 1 six-pan, earning a well-deserved AGS medal. 3 of these
Eranthis "Guinea Gold"
Primula "Clarence Elliott"
and an especially superb
Hepatica japonica
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Well-done John! How terrific..... and well-deserved, I would opine! 8)
Good shots, Diane, in spite of the funny lighting in the hall..... and the visit to the pub! :P ::) ;)
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A few more
Erythronium multiscapoideum cliftonii won a trophy for Bob and Rannveig Wallis for the best pot of bulbs
and they also won the 3 pan "new and rare", two of which below:
Fritillaria crassifolia ssp nova
and Corydalis seisumiana (from a previously unreported location, or a new species)
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To illustrate the "funny lighting", here's two pictures of the same plant, the first without flash and the second with. The first is definitely more true to the correct colour but sadly fuzzy as I decided not to take a tripod as the hall is often very crowded at Loughborough.
Anistome imbricata imbricata
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Last few
Hepatica Asahizuru
Cyclamen coum pewter leaf (sorry the hall lighting has really spoiled the leaf colour)
Asarum splendens
Saxifraga oppositifolia Iceland form
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Well, that's all I've got, but there were several other forumists in the hall and I hope they will be posting more pictures.
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To illustrate the "funny lighting", here's two pictures of the same plant, the first without flash and the second with. The first is definitely more true to the correct colour but sadly fuzzy as I decided not to take a tripod as the hall is often very crowded at Loughborough.
Well Diane, it's a rather fuzzy looking plant anyway, especially in the wild where it NEVER reaches this size.
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Well Diane, it's a rather fuzzy looking plant anyway, especially in the wild where it NEVER reaches this size.
Have you a picture of it in the wild Lesley?
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I was one of the other forumists in the hall, so I'll add my pictures, some of which may duplicate Diane's (by the way, she wasn't in the pub that long, she left before I did). I've also tried to correct the colour casts caused by the lighting in the hall, but the colour cast does vary a bit, depending upon how close you are to the windows.
1. Three celmisias from Ian Leslie - Celmisia semicordata var aurigans, C. spedenii and c. philocremma
2. Three Asiatic primulas from John Richards - Primula 'Arduiane', nana and moupinensis
3. Asarum delaveyi (Cecilia Coller)
4. Asarum splendens (Jenny Bourne)
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Some super plants there, indeed.
Am I the only person who finds it somewhat ironic, to say the least, that the AGS makes so much of a stated 'no-collection conservation policy', even extending this to seed collecting in some statements, yet there are lauded members who are, by open admission, collecting from the wild? This state of affairs puzzles me greatly. Ought there not to be statements made to clarify who may be collecting with proper permits, etc, to avoid confusion/
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5. Cyclamen coum (Peter Hood)
6. Dactylorhiza romana (Richard Manuel)
7. Dionysia curviflora (Alan Newton - Farrer Medal)
8. Dionysia 'Komet' (Nigel Fuller)
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< Am I the only person who finds it somewhat ironic, to say the least, that the AGS makes so much of a stated 'no-collection conservation policy', even extending this to seed collecting in some statements, yet there are lauded members who are, by open admission, collecting from the wild? This state of affairs puzzles me greatly. >
I presume you mean the celmisias Maggi - where would we be without the likes of Steve Newell, Ross Graham and others?
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9. Galanthus virescens (Rosina Abbiss)
10. Hepatica japonica forma magna (John Gennard - part of his AGS medal display)
11. Hepatica japonica '?' (John again - I was using a dictation recorder to make notes, and should have spelt out the Japanes name of this one!)
12. Heptica nobilis var japonica (Rosina Abbiss)
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No, actually, Peter, I was thinking of the fritillaria.
I have few reservations about seed collecting, in sensible quantity, from wild populations.....in fact we received some great seed from overseas yesterday.... and I can see a case for controlled collection of bulb and plant material too, in some circumstances..... but it seems , how shall I put it... foolhardy......to preach abstinence on the one hand while openly supporting an off-licence on the other, so to speak.
It is so difficult for the average onlooker to know whether or not plant material has been imported with full documentation and all legal permits. With the emphasis on Botanic Gardens being beset by regulations limiting their curatorship of collected material, it is all to easy to see private persons as outwith that system and this muddies the waters further.
It is simplythat I see inconsistencies around and it irritates me ......I suppose I have an overdeveloped preference for fairness and equality> :-\
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13. Hepatica 'Apple Blossom' (Ian Sharpe) - this colour is about right, the plant looked very pink for Apple Blossom
14. Hepatica nobilis x yamatutai (Rosina Abbiss)
15. Iris narbutii (Ivor Betteridge)
16. Massonia depressa (Cecilia Coller)
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17. Ophrys reinholdii (Carl Hardwick)
18. Rebutia costata (Chris Bowyer) - in a cushion plant class no less!
19. Saxifraga 'Allendale Bonny' (David Hoare)
20. Saxifraga georgei FW83 (Mark Childerhouse)
And that's the lot for the plants. Apologies if you are not a fan of hepaticas, as you can see from the range of pictures, I am!
Peter
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Peter, even without a fondness for Hepaticas, you would be hard pressed to ignore such fine specimens!
I agree with your comment about the H. Apple Blossom... the ones we see tend to be much paler... more like apple blossom, in fact!
Is that Ophrys early, or is this a usual time to see it on the bench? Such improbable flowers, aren't they?
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I agree about you conservation comment Maggi. But I too, have no problem with discreet seed collection or cutting material where appropriate. In the case of the celmisias above, I can only be thrilled that Ian Leslie DID presumably, receive some seed from someone because his specimens are superb. Though a foliage class, I see he will have some flowers soon on C. philocremna. Congratulations to him.
And a belated note to thank you for the excellent weather report you sent earlier (The Wither). At the time I couldn't hear it because some idiot had been poking about in the back of my hard drive and put the speaker cord back into the wrong hole. Everything turned on but no sound. Sorted now so I could enjoy the Scottish weather very much.
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Diane I don't think I've ever taken a pic of the little Anisotome; it's very inconspicuous in the wild but I believe either Dave Toole ofr David Lyttle has posted some pics somewhere, probably on one of the Field trip threads. As a cultivated plant it looks very nice indeed.
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Exactly, Lesley, responsible collection can only help to increase knowledge and awareness of the world's wildflowers and may yet be the saving of many of them from extinction. Given the indiscriminate development for recreation, housing and commerce around the world which can destroy habitat completely in the course of a few hours, I am profoundly grateful to all those plant hunters from history and the present, who enrich our lives and gardens and open the eyes of many to the delights of the natural flora of so many countries.
But when so much is heard about wholesale removal of plants from the wild for commercial purposes, and when one also hears that collection must be by permit and then that there are so many places where even a botanic garden cannot get such permits, it is surely confusing to the onlooker who then sees collected material on display.......what message does this send? Where wild collected bulbs or plants are shown, would it not be better to have clear notice of the bona fide certification involved given too?
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Diane, there is a pic of Anisotome imbricata in flower in this thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45.msg415;topicseen#msg415
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Maggi,
Delayed reply as I went to bed after the last pictures were posted (I need my beauty sleep, desperately)
About the Ophrys - it was part of a three pan entry from Carl; all Ophrys species.
But then as he lives in Wolverhampton (English midlands for our overseas readers), then it's positively in the banana belt from where you are sitting. ;D
Peter
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I was unable to get to Loughborough on Saturday. So thanks for the pics Dianne and Peter. Should be able to make Blackpool this weekend, we are even hoping to have have something to show, for the first time. Any tips out there for us 'show virgins'?
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Mick, if you think a plant you have is looking good, healthy and fresh, then it will be of interest to the viewing public,and so is a worthy show entry.
If the pot is nice and clean, the name label is horizontal and the plant as neat as you can get it, in respect of no chewed leaves, half-dead flowers, greenfly or slugs etc. then those are the most immediate checks you can make beforehand.
It is VITAL for ALL shows that folks like yourselves begin to exhibit and ensure a continuing display of plants to encourage the public to appreciate the beauty of rock garden and alpine plants.
Well done for your desire to take part and good luck with your entry...a red first ticket is a lovely reward for all the work the exhibitor has put in to furnish the show benches!
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Thanks for the encouragement Maggi. That was exactly what Mandy and I were thinking. We have enjoyed the shows over the last year or so, thanks to initial interest generated on the forum, and feel encourage to take part ourselves.
Not thinking of red tickets Maggi, it will be reward enough this week if we get anything suitable for putting on the bench in section C.
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Thanks Dianne and Peter - very good shots of what looks to have been a great show.
Thanks for sharing - after all I can't make "the hop" every Saturday ;D ;D
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Here are a few that took my fancy. I'm not sure but there may be some duplications with Diane.
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And a few more including an hepatica fro a forumist
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and finally
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Mick: further to my earlier comments, look at the presentation of the Farrer Medal plant and the lovely Primula 'Arduaine'...... yes, the plants are perfect, but see the level odf attention paid to the neat rocks around the Farrer plant and the pristine moss aroundthe primula... making a "frame" for the plants in their pots.... makes even a great plant look even beter.... there's often a clue, eh?!!
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Just caught this thread. I like the Ophrys and that is a very nice pot of Galanthus 'Virescens': another plant that seems to evade capture, inspite of my best efforts.
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I was one of the other forumists in the hall, so I'll add my pictures, some of which may duplicate Diane's (by the way, she wasn't in the pub that long, she left before I did).
Ah, but you don't know what time I arrived at the pub .. ;D
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About the Ophrys - it was part of a three pan entry from Carl; all Ophrys species.
But then as he lives in Wolverhampton (English midlands for our overseas readers), then it's positively in the banana belt from where you are sitting. ;D
OK, we're warmer than Scotland, but actually, Wolverhampton isn't particularly banana belt, it gets some of the coldest weather in England as it's relatively far from the coast. Carl lives about half a mile from me and he is an expert grower of orchids. My ophrys are a couple of weeks behind his so it must be more down to cultivation than climate!
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Should be able to make Blackpool this weekend, we are even hoping to have have something to show, for the first time. Any tips out there for us 'show virgins'?
Look forward to meeting you again, this weekend, Mick. Do bring something to put on the benches, everyone has to start somewhere. If you need any tips on the day, come and ask, plenty of people there will give you advice.
We hear the BD himself will be gracing the show with his presence so there should be a good forum representation (we hope that Mr Buttercup may also join us this time)
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Diane, there is a pic of Anisotome imbricata in flower in this thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45.msg415;topicseen#msg415
Thanks for the link Maggi, I supposed I should have done a search, but I didn't remember it appearing.
Nice pix, Ian, I thought you hadn't brought your camera ::)
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We hear the BD himself will be gracing the show with his presence so there should be a good forum representation
Not sure that "gracing the show with his presence" is quite how I'd put it, but yes, the BD is looking forward to a visit to the Blackpool show next weekend.
He is staying with Susan and Darren Sleep on his English visit... those two kind folks are also generously going to be driving him around to his talks in Lancaster and Penrith.... really good of them, and greatly appreciated. 8) :-*
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Thank you all for these beautiful pictures of the show.
All those magnificent pots!
For me very outstanding is the Anemone biflora. Such a colour.
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Great photos you guys, just whetted my appetite for Blackpool this weekend.
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Nice pix, Ian, I thought you hadn't brought your camera ::)
Diane Just thought you should do some of the work 8)
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Mick, as Diane says hunt out some fellow forumists and we'll help you stage your plant(s). As you won't recognise me from my forum picture look for the bearded, grumpy looking Scotsman with a bald patch and glasses. If that doesn't work look for the name badges most of us wear. I'll have plenty of time to help as I have very few plants to stage.
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P.S. Mick, we must talk about Hemsworth. My granny lived there for many years.
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Martin R.... you did reasonably well at Loughborough, though, didn't you? 8)
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Only if you call a 2nd & two 3rds reasonable, expectations are geting higher these days (or maybe I'm just getting greedy ::)). As usual I'll need to wait for Lewisia time to score red success or the first schedule where my Crassula socialis and Sedum spinosum can find a home. Still better than a kick in the teeth
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::) ::) ;D ;)
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MartinR
Mandy will be the one you need to talk to about that her family are from Hemsworth, I'm just a comer-in.
Will keep an eye out for you thanks.
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I know it will come as particularly sad news to the landlords of Blackpool (and one or two members of this wonderful forum), but Mrs Bookeroo and I will be dipping our wrinkled old toes in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday....we are taking our grandson (and his parents I suppose) to Rotonda, Florida for Easter.....no alpines I'm afraid but, hopefully, some manitees, etc.
Back in circulation for future shows. (Stop groaning Diane)!
Good luck Mick (et al) with your entries and....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLEY!!!!
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Mrs Bookeroo and I will be dipping our wrinkled old toes in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday....we are taking our grandson (and his parents I suppose) to Rotonda, Florida for Easter.....
And what sort of excuse is that ??? ???
Seriously, have a super time, plenty of pics (no encouragement needed there!)
8) 8) 8)
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Blame Cliff, but I've just hit 300 posts.
Doesn't something exciting happen now ??
(maybe in the shape of chocolate cake) :P :P
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Blame Cliff, but I've just hit 300 posts.
Doesn't something exciting happen now ??
(maybe in the shape of chocolate cake)
Absolutely, Diane, congratulations! Just nip out after work tomorrow and go to the baker's shop... you can buy yourself whichever flavour you fancy! ;)
Happy Hols, Bookeroos!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLEY!!!!
Thank you Cliff. You have a great holiday (ANOTHER!!) and yes please, lots of pics.
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Just got this photo of the happy Farrer Medal winning grower, Alan Newton, complete with said plant, Dionysia curviflora.
We can see from this photo just what a super BIG plant this is. 8)
I also note that Alan is wearing his new North East England Group AGS sweater.... very smart, though not as cute on him as the SRGC one he got in Dunblane :P