Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Maggi Young on May 20, 2008, 04:13:49 PM
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The AGS has been awarded an RHS Gold Medal and the President's Award for the best garden exhibit in the Floral Pavilion at this years Chelsea Show. A great result and a huge satisfaction to reward the herculean efforts of John Humphries and his Team to prepare the display garden. Heartiest congratulations to them all!!
On TV so far there has only been a brief mention of the AGS display... I sincerely hope that this omission will be rectified as the week goes on.......it is surely fitting that the successful efforts of a group like the AGS should warrant as least as much coverage as some fellow swanning around Venice, "looking for inspiration"......... :o ::) Not as much of a "jolly" for the film team, of course. >:( :(
Well done to all those folks who contributed to this super display !!
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A few shots from the AGS Gold Medal Stand , taken yesterday at Chelsea by Ian Y.............
Four shots of the display, then some with added life......
Tim Lever , with Ray Drew..... rather a sombre get-up from Ray !
Across the stand to a group of SRGC/AGS members......Ian and Carole Bainbridge and Julia Corden get a bit distracted from the display as Ian Christie lines them up for a photo..
Here they are again, Ian , Carole and Julia.
Jim MacGregor of the AGS was busy with his camera, perhaps he caught this chap viewing the AGS stand?......Laurence Llewellyn -Bowen; interior designer and TV chappie!
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Isn't a 'sombre get-up' SO MUCH BETTER than the 'foppish' look of L. L-B.?
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Well, that's very true, Cliff, though I believe that LLB's outfit was fashioned from the very best set of curtains his wife had available. ;) It is just that I don't favour the funeral director style of garb, myself, preferring to go about got up as an herbaceous border, most of the time ::)
From this picture, you will see that our ladies were less than impressed and President Ian was concentrating on his pix of the AGS plants.... Sandy is keeping an eye on LLB, however.....hope Anne has her curtains strongly attached!
President Ian chats with Mary Randall
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Lovely garden exhibit-big fairy LLB!
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Perhaps we could offer him a Dryas or Gentian print (with shorter sleeves) and a suitable tie?
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Thanks for the pics of the very successful AGS exhibit.
As I will not get to Chelsea and the TV seems usually to overlook alpines, I would be grateful for any pics anyone has of this exhibit and any others, including any garden, involving alpines, even commercial ones.
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Heather, there are a sereis of photos from John Humphries on the AGS website, about the construction of the AGS display stand...... showing how the area goes from patch of grass to raised glade ... that is here: http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=viewthread&category1=displays&sitearea=forum&articleid=137&category=displays
and there are shots of the finished stand, as a whole, here:
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=viewthread&category1=displays&sitearea=forum&articleid=140&category=displays
I don't doubt that there will be additional photos planned to be shown there later.
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The Times says...
"A group of part-time amateur gardeners put the professionals in the shade with the best display of blooms at the Chelsea Flower Show. "
Article at:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/chelsea_flower_show/article3972628.ece
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Thanks for this link, David. Puts me in mind of the publicity the SRGC has had for its Best In Show Awards at Gardening Scotland in the past. Good to see the AGS volunteers get their credit !
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Hi to all, I can now add some pictures from Chelsea, I had geat company with Ian the Young kind and Sandy leven, I am sure you will manage to pick out Ian the Young kind ?? cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Heard Carol Klein say on the TV tonight that she had spent 10mins reviewing the AGS stand for the BBC interactive service.... have not had a chance to check it out yet, but Ihope that it is true! Today's interactive segments are viewable until 7pm tomorrow, I think, if you want to try to catch the AGS segment.
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In the second last photograph above, from Ian Christie, who is the bloke with the sunglasses standing beside Ian Young? I know I know his face from somewhere but can't place it.
Paddy
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You little monkey Paddy! :D :D :D
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Couldn't resist, Cliff.
Paddy
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To avoid doubt, and further embarrassment ;) the folks in President Ian's pix are....
1) Roy Lancaster and IY...I am pleased to say that Roy sent me a big hug which Ian delivered! We have known Roy a long time... he is a great fellow and wonderful plantsman.
2) Ian and some of Gerry the Travel Giraffe's relatives.... they really DO get everywhere....must send this pic to Stellan!
3) Ian and a starlet whose career faltered after she ate too much chocolate
4) The charming former AGS president Rod Leeds, former SRGC Pres. Ian Bainbridge , AGS editor and Chelsea display designer, Kit Grey Wilson.... and, unless I am mistaken, Ray Drew wielding a large plastic bucket at the right of shot!!
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Heather, there are a sereis of photos from John Humphries on the AGS website, about the construction of the AGS display stand...... showing how the area goes from patch of grass to raised glade ... that is here: http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=viewthread&category1=displays&sitearea=forum&articleid=137&category=displays
and there are shots of the finished stand, as a whole, here:
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/servlet/forumservlet?command=viewthread&category1=displays&sitearea=forum&articleid=140&category=displays
I don't doubt that there will be additional photos planned to be shown there later.
Thanks Maggi. I should have thought of the AGS website in the first place!
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Last night I was delighted to find that, indeed, Carol Klein HAD spent a good amount of time.... over ten minutes, I'm sure, looking in detail at plants on the AGS stand........this was at the expense of an overview of the whole display, but had the benefit of showing the intricacies of a good range of plants to the viewing public.
Carol talked enthusiastically about the plants and also spoke with AGS employee, director Christine MacGregor.
I sat for an hour, in order to see the AGS segment through twice.... I really enjoyed Carol's commentary. Because these "walkabout" features are only shown on the digital interactive service, I was not able to record the feature, which was a shame and I discover that these features, which are only on TV for one day each, are not available through the BBC website, either. I hear that the interactive service is, however, popular, so I hope that a large number of viewers will have been introduced to the world of alpine plants by this coverage.
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4) The charming former AGS president Rod Leeds, former SRGC Pres. Ian Bainbridge , AGS editor and Chelsea display designer, Kit Grey Wilson.... and, unless I am mistaken, Ray Drew wielding a large plastic bucket at the right of shot!!
Maggi
You are right, Ray Drew is holding the bucket - recognised him by his 'Funeral Director's' suit.
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Well, in that get-up, it's as well he is holding the bucket and not kicking it!! ::) :-X
Sorry Ray, for teasing you with these comments... you know well enough, I hope, that you are wished nothing but the best from your naughty Scottish Friends!! :-*
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Maggi,
Your listing of those in the photographs above remind me that Roy Lancaster's book, "Travels in China, A Plantsman's Paradise" has been revamped and republished under the new title of, "A Plantsman's Paradise, Travels in China". Lots of new colour photogaphs but not much change to the text. An excellent book.
Likewise, "The Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges", by Frank Kingdon Ward, has just been republished and an excellent book also on planthunting for Rhododendrons by one of the Cox family; the title escapes me. I received all three about a week ago, needed a wheelbarrow to move them about the house.
Paddy
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Paddy, Kenneth Cox's reissue is still called the Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges !
It is available from the SRGC Bookshop for £31.50.
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Plantsmans Paradise is also available from SRGC publications. :D
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One of these years WE WILL get the Chelsea - big John has promised that he can get us in so once we have both retired... ;D
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Last night I was delighted to find that, indeed, Carol Klein HAD spent a good amount of time.... over ten minutes, I'm sure, looking in detail at plants on the AGS stand....
The plants on the AGS stand (as shown on TV) were very impressive.
It looks like the BBC are following the same plan as last year, three interactive tours, shown twice over six days. If so, the one which features the AGS stand will be shown again on Saturday.
Usually if your video recorder is attached via a SCART lead, there's a button you can press which makes it record whatever is on the TV screen. If have a VCR with built in freeview then (I believe) things like interactive are somewhere on a channel of their own.
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Maggi, I just watched an hour of interactive Chelsea with Carole Klein and she didn't do the AGS stand at all. She did extensive piece about the HPS stand though, which was very nice, but a lot of boring bits too....
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The interactive bits changeover each day at 7pm, I think, Chris. Yesterday Carol K. did mention seeing Podophyllum on the Hardy Plant Society stand , "the other day"... so it seems that David may well have got it right in thinking that the segments from the AGS will reappear on Saturday.... worth a look.
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I met Roy Lancaster at a Gardener's Question time being recorded in Dunblane. Got some berries of Sorbus gongashanica off him. Plant still going. I remember he suggested to one resident he planted Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica or Frangula alnus) as a hedge to attract Brimstone butterflies. They'd have to be bloody attractive as Brimstones are not found north of Carlisle, but then I suppose the programme is UK wide. ;D Needless to say, I have both in my hedge ::)
Could LLB's wife find a shirt that fitted? :D
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Thanks for the links; it's been fun to look at the pics too.
The Times link had another link to an article about a "run in" between Prince Phil and an Australian gardener; quite amusing!
I hope the links stay active for awhile as I'd like to include them in the next edition of our local group's newsletter!
cheers
fermi
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This message just in from Mrs L. Llewelyn-Bowen.... she assures us that her husband likes his sleeves to be too long, and the shirt is made from a tablecloth, not curtains.....she also points out that her husband has made a b****y good living out of looking this foppish, so I suppose the the LLBs have the last laugh!
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The interactive bits changeover each day at 7pm
...the segments from the AGS will reappear on Saturday.... worth a look.
So that would be 7pm Saturday until possibly midnight Sunday.
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Nice to know the LLB's read this forum then..... look forward to Carole's walkabout to the AGS stand. Don't know whether hubby will tolerate another hour of her though....
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This message just in from Mrs L. Llewelyn-Bowen.... she assures us that her husband likes his sleeves to be too long, and the shirt is made from a tablecloth, not curtains.....she also points out that her husband has made a b****y good living out of looking this foppish, so I suppose the the LLBs have the last laugh!
Oh he just needs a good cuff.
johnw
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..... look forward to Carole's walkabout to the AGS stand. Don't know whether hubby will tolerate another hour of her though....
You have to spot Arisaema sikokianum (easy), which is the first thing shown on the AGS display, CK says something like "everyone likes this" without naming it, does a lap of the stand, finally coming back to the plant and saying what it is.
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Having finally finished the Breakdown/Unload at 1.30am this morning, I've managed to put a few extra images up on the site now.
Hope you enjoy them.
There could be more later of plant portraits if time allows.
I'm trying to catch up with everything else. What happened to May!
Oh yes, I spent 6 hours a day in a Luton getting to or waiting to get into a showground.
Cheers and thanks for your comments.
John H
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Fermi I also liked the "run" between the the Prince and the Aussie. I am not sure the Aussie is to be trusted and not just looking for publicity, but
he the comments from the people who read it was also amazing.
Kind regards
Joakim
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John, lovely to see more pictures on the AGS Chelsea page. Thanks again for all your hard work and to the other volunteers who made such a great display... I hope you get a chance to have some peace and quiet at least for the last week of May! 8)
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Congrats to the team! Just returned from Windsor (but DIDN'T get to Chelsea) and did see a photo of the exhibit in the weekend Financial Times along with a review of the show...
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did see a photo of the exhibit in the weekend Financial Times along with a review of the show...
The review is online at:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/732168b6-2796-11dd-b7cb-000077b07658.html
but does not include the AGS photo which is in the printed paper.
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So who IS LL-B?
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Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (born 11 March 1965 in London) is an English interior designer and television personality best known for his appearances on the BBC television programme Changing Rooms. He is noted for his flamboyant personality and for affecting a dandyish appearance. He is sometimes credited as "Laurence Llewelyn Bowen" [1], and the components of his name are frequently misspelled "Llewellyn" [2] and/or "Lawrence" [3].
Educated at Alleyn's School in Dulwich, Laurence graduated from the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in 1986 with a Fine Art degree. He subsequently worked for the Harefield Group of Companies and the interior design firm Peter Leonard Associates. In 1989 he started his own design consultancy. His wife Jackie, an author, had heard through her agent that a production company was searching for a designer and in 1996 he appeared on the first episode of Changing Rooms. He and his wife have two daughters Cecile (born 1995) and Hermione (born 1998).
He has also presented a three-part BBC special Taste (2002), about the history of interior design, and in autumn 2005 he began presenting the weekly BBC1 travel show Holiday 2006. His books include Fantasy Rooms: Inspirational Designs from the BBC Series (1999), Display (2001), "Home Front": Inside Out (2002), Design Rules (2003) and A Pinch of Posh (2006) co-written with his wife, Jackie. He has also made a guest appearance on Changing Rooms' American counterpart, Trading Spaces.
In March 2005 he starred in a one-off mockumentary as a prospective candidate for Parliament. His party, the Purple Party, "lobbied" for a restoration of Britain's heritage, and several extreme architectural measures such as tearing down all buildings that did not conform to their surroundings.
In January 2006, he and his wife Jackie were offered a place on the Valentine's Day celebrity couples edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. They appeared on the show managing to reach the £1 million question, before answering wrongly and losing £468,000. For the first time ever, Celador let Laurence and his wife retry the show after the company claimed that the last question "didn't meet their standards". After returning and being shown a different £1 million question, the couple decided not to risk losing £468,000 for the second time, and won £500,000 for their chosen charity, The Shooting Star Foundation, of which Laurence and his wife are both patrons. This amount is the highest that any celebrity couple has won on any British edition of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?. The £468,000 they originally lost was also the greatest loss ever seen on the show, and to date, no other contestant has answered the final question incorrectly. The allegedly misleading question was "Translated from the Latin, what is the United States motto?". The answer given was "In God we trust" which is original English and has in fact been the US motto since 1956. The intended answer had been "Out of many, one" which is a translation of the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum, which is not actually the current United States motto.
In November 2007 he and his family were featured in the Living TV series To The Manor Bowen. The designer created a line of wallpaper in collaboration with the British Home Decor Company Graham & Brown. He used this collection of wallpaper to decorate his home that was featured in the television series. This is the newest of two wallpaper collections with Graham & Brown. [4]
In December 2007 he and his family took part in the ITV1 game show All Star Family Fortunes.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and his wife Jackie are ambassadors to the aid agency CARE International UK and in February 2008 visited the cyclone-hit areas of Bangladesh.
Laurence and wife Jackie are also active patrons for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
He is known as "Larry" to his friends, in homage to his great hero Laurence Olivier.
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You DID ask Lesley!! :D
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So I did. And learned much more than I needed to know. Now you mention it all, I do vaguely remember the name from the Changing Rooms series which we used to get ad nauseum, UK then Australian then our own equally cruddy version. (Currently we are getting the Home Improvement, Property Development genre. TVNZ no longer recognises - if they ever did - that anyone who has a brain and even those who don't, don't need 10 versions of the same programme, viewed night after night after boring night. Thank God we have good bookshops and an excellent library service.)
Perhaps the best thing about the above-mentioned gent, is his birthday.
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;D ;D you got it in one Lesley. Why is it, these days, that the television and newspaper industries, seemingly across the world, see their audiences as having the brain of an amoeba and the attention span of a gnat?
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am I the only one who LIKES the way L L-B dresses?
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yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The down under version of the show was shown here on satalite TV with the most annoying presenter with a high pitched whining voice
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You must be-I don't belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeve it.
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am I the only one who LIKES the way L L-B dresses?
Looks like it Mark.
We get local versions of all these ghastly programmes, CR, Dragon's Den, 10 years younger in 10 days etc etc. That you should get our down under version, is truly appalling. DEEPLY apologetic about that. ;D