Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 10:38:19 AM

Title: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 10:38:19 AM

The alpine part of the show was held yesterday so I add a few pictures of plants that caught my eye
Class 22 Androsace himalaica Tony Lee
Class 21 Rhodendron keiskei 'Yaku Fairy' Diane Clement 
Class 20 Leiophyllum buxifolum Harry Roberts
Class 16 Shortia soldanelloides Hilary Luker
 

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on April 26, 2009, 11:26:44 AM

Great show yesterday, with lots of interesting plants - some stunning Lewisias. I have pictures to post, but I've been working this morning  :(, the sun's shining and I'm planning to be in the garden all afternoon, so there will be a slight delay....

For now, here's the Farrer medal winning plant, Ramonda nathaliae shown by Ivan Pinnick who'd travelled all the way from Cowes in the Isla of Wight (for those viewing overseas, that's about 5hours in the car and a ferry journey  :o ) to gain his first Farrer medal

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 12:25:32 PM

more plants that caught my eye, not all with red stickers
Class 14 Erigeron aureus Canary Bird
Class 14 Trillium grandiflorum Chris Lilley
Class 13 Saxifraga pub escens Snowcap Mark Childerhouse
Class 13 Ramonda nathalae Ivor Pinnick Farrer Medal   his first
Class 12 Fritillaria liliacea George Young

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 12:33:29 PM

Next few
Class 7 Androsace cylindrica x pyrenaica Geoff Rollinson
Class 3 Zaluzianskya 'Orange Eye' Clare Dower
Class 2 Lewisia cotyledon Alan Keay
Class 3 Alkanna aucheriana George Young
Class 55 Anthemis cretica leucantheroides Brian Burrow

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 12:44:37 PM

A few more for the time being
Class 54 Viola delphinantha Ivor Betteridge
Class 53 Cypripedium calceolus Brian Burrow
Class 52 Fritillaria pinetorum Trevor Whitaker
Class 51 Allium elburzense Diane Clement
Class 48 Anacamtis logicornu Geoff Rollinson
Class 47 Saxifraga spruneri George Young

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 12:52:06 PM

Lunch not ready so a few more
Class 46 Ranunculus parnassifolius Nuria R&S Johnson
Class 43 Corydalis cashmeriana Eric Rainford
Class 36 Primula aureata Joan Bradbury
Class 34 Daphne petraea Punchinello Ian Kidman

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 01:02:33 PM

I must comment on the sterling effort of Norma Pagdin and Joan Bradbury in their efforts to put together two alpine shows in the space of two weeks, to do one is a great deal of time and effort but two so close together is superhuman
Class 34 Clematis marmorarea Ian Kidman
Class 73 Dicentra peregrina George Young
Class 68 Lewisia stebbinsii George Young
Class 68 Delphiniumchrysotrichum v tsarongense
close up
Class 68 Fritillaria pinetorum George Young

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 01:54:55 PM

Class 70 Fritillaria viridea Peter Farkasch
Class 61  Daphne petraea Lydora John Savage
Class 60 Arisaema amurense Don Peace
Class 59 Celmisia philocremna Alan Furness

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 02:04:13 PM

Class 58 Iris iberica v iberica George Young
Class 56 Viola pedata bicolor Barry Winter
Class 56 Penstemon  Peter Farkasch
Class 117 Rhodendron Wren Jack Green
Class 112 Leontopodium nivale Sue Flanagan
Class 99 Gentiana acaulis 'Krumrey' Vera Buck

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 02:12:42 PM

A last few, whats left are of no use at least it leaves plenty plants for others to post pictures of. Was a lovely day at Harrogate, the midlands buch had their usual very festive al fresco lunch, much hilarity (too much wine ?) and the one rain shower was over and done with in 10 minutes
Class 98 Cassiope 'Jim Lever' M&E Linney
Class 142 Pleione sp Georgina Instone
Class 146 Globularia bellidiodes Sue Flanagan
Class 63 Ledum groenlandicum compactum John Savage

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Giles on April 26, 2009, 02:33:45 PM

Thankyou very much for all of the pictures.
Giles

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: shelagh on April 26, 2009, 02:45:43 PM

MUSINGS TOWARDS THE END OF THE HARROGATE SHOW

In a quiet 5 minutes towards the end of the Show Carol k and I, after observing 2 ear-ring bedecked and tattoo covered gentlemen surveying the benches, agreed that we felt quite naked these days being about the only ones in the world who were not sporting a tattoo.

A Gentian Rampant might be the answer (here unfortunately is where the Dryas has its limitations since it wouldn't stand out on lily white skins) but where should it be placed?  After that we got a bit hysterical wondering if we could introduce a Class into the Schedules for this.  Would it be judged by the size, artistic endeavour, rarity of specimen chosen or quality of top dressing? 

Luckily at this point Jim started the presentations so we calmed down.  But the idea has been sown!!!

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on April 26, 2009, 03:59:44 PM

My first chance to admire these photos of the fine plants on show at Harrogate...... I think Ivan deserves a Farrer for making the journey from the Isle of Wight, never mind that fantastic plant! I hope he can have a day or two to recover quietly... he will surely be exhausted after that trip.

George, I love your Delphinium chrysotrichum v tsarongense ..... does it set seed? (she asked, with  hope in her heart ::) )

So many fine plants of all sorts.... to give a really varied show for the public to wonder at.... superb  showcase for the AGS.

Well done to the Leeds Gang for their award winning display, too.... fabulous work. 8)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: JohnnyD on April 26, 2009, 04:38:18 PM

It is always nice to see minigardens on the bench and these two from Mike & Mandy McCloughlin and Sue Gill were great. :D
Let's hope we see more. ::)
JohnnyD

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: veteran vet on April 26, 2009, 05:00:51 PM

Maggi re the Delphinium...its the first time that it is flowering for me (it would have last year but the slugs decimated the flowers)..so not sure re seed. I had a job getting it out of the show as so many people liked it. You might see it at Glasgow next weekend if the weather stays cool. Holubec still had seed on his lsit last December as I remember. I hope to try to tickle it when a few more fl;owers are open, they have are opening slowly.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on April 26, 2009, 05:16:39 PM

I'm not surprised you were being stalked for it, George, it is a cute Delphinium indeed. It's a pity  the slugs like the wee ones every bit as much as they like the huge border varieties  :P

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Tony Lee on April 26, 2009, 06:27:26 PM

Thanks to Peter and veteran vet for there pictures from Harrogate,I am sure there will be more to follow,Diane and Martin were both busy with there cameras,They are probably both recovering from there Marathon training session yesterday.As those of you who follow these columns know there is a competition held at the Pudsey show on June 20  called the Pudsey Pig,After an early start and staging completed A BIG BIG breakfast was in order.     

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Tony Lee on April 26, 2009, 06:31:58 PM

A few hours later they were at it again with the picnic held by the East Lancs group and a few friends,
As I shall be on my way to Saas Fee on that day I am trying to get a few quid on my favourite.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Tony Lee on April 26, 2009, 06:47:13 PM

I notice Cliff was conspicuous by his absence,No doubt training at alltitude somewhere.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Martinr on April 26, 2009, 06:55:35 PM

The trouble you cause Mr Lee. Now I'm having to explain who I was having breakfast with :o

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Tony Lee on April 26, 2009, 07:02:55 PM

Oh Dear ::)I will explain to Joan That you did not even know the lady, ;D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: ChrisB on April 26, 2009, 09:28:11 PM

Thanks for all those wonderful photos, folks, I do enjoy looking at the plants people take to shows.  Its hard to get to many of them, so to see these pictures is just fab.

One plant, Zalusianskya 'Orange Eye' was interesting.  Elsa Pooley, in her book Moutain Flowers, says the Z. with the orange centre is Z. chrysops.  Is there any way to verify this I wonder?  Its quite easy to see how someone got hold of this plant and because it had an orange centre and they didn't know what it was, called it 'Orange Eye' but if it is in fact the species, perhaps it needs to be looked at.  Who sorts this sort of thing out?

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on April 26, 2009, 09:46:11 PM

Chris,
This plant originated as a solitary seedling raised from Zalusianskya ovata seed by Jim Almond. It's been fairly widely propagated over the last few years, and I think I'm correct in saying that Aberconwy nursery has it on their list.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 10:45:54 PM

A few more pictures of "that picnic"

There's a lot of empty bottles this end of the table ...
And a few full ones left at the other end and heads down tucking in, but it's odd what you discover when you enlarge the picture.  This week's puzzle is who brought the Biological washing powder and Why?

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 10:51:07 PM

This is a recurrent topic. 
At last year's Harrogate show, SueG was observed knitting a glove
This year, it's a sock (and do notice the careful colour co-ordination of her outfit and the knitting both times)
We can't wait for next year  ???

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 10:57:49 PM

I've got a few pix of some of the nursery displays, with apologies for blurry nature of some of them, due to dodgy early morning lighting, no tripod and bouncy floorboards. 
First is the display of unusual containers put on by D'Arcy and Everest who have the delightful address of
Pidley Sheep Lane

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 11:04:06 PM

Kevock Garden had a super display (I don't think they have exhibited at Harrogate before?)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 11:10:43 PM

Slack Top had a display with arty purple containers
Jacques Amand's display with Geranium maderense

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 26, 2009, 11:12:31 PM

And the AGS had an excellent eye-catching display, celebrating 80 years of the society

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 27, 2009, 09:11:43 AM

Super pix everyone - another great show !
Thanks for posting  :D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on April 27, 2009, 10:40:13 AM

What a super display from the AGS..... a worthy way to celebrate the anniversary and show off to the visitors. Well done to all those involved, great job!



 As to the washing powder.......surely a keen exhibitor was planning to clean up with the show awards? ;D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 27, 2009, 09:58:11 PM

Does anyone know whether Ivan Pinnock has an email address? I stayed with him back in 1981 and would like to contact and congratulate.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Diane Clement on April 27, 2009, 10:21:51 PM

Quote from: Lesley Cox on April 27, 2009, 09:58:11 PM

Does anyone know whether Ivan Pinnock has an email address? I stayed with him back in 1981 and would like to contact and congratulate. 

I don't think he has email.  He's coming to some more shows soon - Lesley, you could send me a pm which I could give him when I next see him.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on April 28, 2009, 11:07:04 AM

Quote from: shelagh on April 26, 2009, 02:45:43 PM

MUSINGS TOWARDS THE END OF THE HARROGATE SHOW

In a quiet 5 minutes towards the end of the Show Carol k and I, after observing 2 ear-ring bedecked and tattoo covered gentlemen surveying the benches, agreed that we felt quite naked these days being about the only ones in the world who were not sporting a tattoo.

A Gentian Rampant might be the answer (here unfortunately is where the Dryas has its limitations since it wouldn't stand out on lily white skins) but where should it be placed?  After that we got a bit hysterical wondering if we could introduce a Class into the Schedules for this.  Would it be judged by the size, artistic endeavour, rarity of specimen chosen or quality of top dressing? 

Luckily at this point Jim started the presentations so we calmed down.  But the idea has been sown!!!

I've been giving this some thought ( I know, I do need to get out more) and while I am not very keen on tattoos myself (.... unless you happen to be a hunky South Sea Islander  ;)  )...... but if Shelagh and  Carol really think it necessary to get themselves inked up, then  the image for the tattoo must surely be of a little trough,  planted with glorious alpines .......surely appropriate for the Pudsey Piglets? ::) ;D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: JohnnyD on April 28, 2009, 12:35:00 PM

What size and shape of trough do you have in mind Maggi? ???
Or are we to consider a 'one size fits all' regime? :)
I suppose it depends on the 'canvas' available.
As to 'piglets', most of the combatants in Pudsey qualify as fully fledged omnivores and could cope with a fairly robust design! :o
Our researcher has been despatched to the Owl in Rodley to assess whether it is still suitable for an event of this magnitude and I suppose we could see if a 'studio' is available for the winners to be appropriately anointed.
Pics on the forum as soon as available of course. ;D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 28, 2009, 10:14:54 PM

Thanks Diane, I'll do that, later today. Have a dentist appointment very much on my mind at present.  :(

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:06:20 AM

I know that these photos aren't exctly topical now, but having intended to post photos earlier in the week, I've spent the last few days wrestling with computer problems. So having eventually managed to consign Internet Explorer to the great recycle bin in the sky and download a new browser, here are some photos of plants that haven't been shown previously from the show for those of you waiting for the pictures from today's shows at East Anglia, East Cheshire and Glasgow.

-Anisotome imbricata var imbricata (Geoff Rollinson)
-Arisaema urashima var thunbergii (Paul Street)
-Crypthantha humilis var nana (Alan Furness) - just to show that you don't need to have a large palnt to win. This plant won in one of the classes for new/rare plants, wonderful scent also.
-Cryptogamma crispa (Brian and Shelagh Smethurst)
-Entries in the cut flower class
-Dicentra peregrina (George Young)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:13:24 AM

-Disa uniflora 'Pride of Table Mountain' (John Richards)
-Dodecatheon meadia (Sue Flanagan)
-Epimedium nanum var grandiflorum (John Richards)
-the fabulous little cut flower arrangement winner (Fred and Pat Bundy)
-Grevilea 'Rondeau' (John Savage)
-Iris suaveolens 'Brian Mathews' (Tommy Anderson)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:21:05 AM

- the large six pan class winner (Barry Winter). I don't think that he would have had space in the car for anything other than these six massive Lewisias
- entries in the large Lewisia class
- Primula bracteata (Geoff Rollinson)
- Rhodiola heterodontum (Paul Street)
- Rhododendron yakushimanum (John Savage)
- more Lewisias, this time in the small, single entry class

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:27:38 AM

- George posted a picture of Hillary Luker's fabulous Shortia soldanelloides, there were also at least three other Shortia soldanelliodes, all seed-raised, all from Hedi and Jim Hancox and all subtly different. Here are all three:
- Viola douglasii (George Young)
- Wachendorfia paniculata (Sue Gill). I'm guessing that this is a South African bulb that I'm not familiar with, flowering at about 30cms height

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:35:13 AM

Diane has posted pictures of some other areas of this large show - I had a tripod with me, so at the risk of duplication, here are some views of nursery displays - any blurring is due to air movement on the long exposures, just like in the wild. The colour balance is correct to as close as I could manage. (Incidentally the tripod presented it's own challenges in the AGS show tent, which had a springy floor, especially as Martin Rogerson, who was also using a tripod, and I kept wandering up next to one another and bouncing up and down to make the tripod/plants wobble. So childish, so much fun......)

Firstly six views of the AGS display.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:48:11 AM

- John Amand had another wonderful display of woodland, bulbous plants
- also on the Amand display, these rather fine Geranium maderiense plants, standing tall on aerial roots, rather like small flowering mangroves
- Harrogate also is home to a competitive daffodil display. One year I went around the competiton with a friend who is a daffodil enthusiast and enjoyed it, but I'm afraid I can't normally get excited about flowers displayed like this.
- There is also a tulip competition, but by the time we arrive on the Saturday, they are normally looking rather sad, the cut flowers having been in vases for several days. This year the Bradford and North of England Tulip Society had this fabulous display nearby. Strangley enough it was in real life what Jon Evans had created in a digital photograph at the Loughborough show this year (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3170.60)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 07:54:32 AM

Five views of Kevock Garden's nusrery display

Also Rob Potterton's display, with a closer view of his Gentiana acaulis

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 08:00:12 AM

Edrom Nurseries always have a good display, with large drifts of plants which are very photogenic.

- Firstly three general views of their display
- Anemone prattii
- Anemonella thalictroides 'Amelia'
- Calanthe sieboldii
- Calanthe discolor

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 02, 2009, 08:06:47 AM

More from Edrom:
- Cypripedium Inge
- Epimedium Amber Queen
- Primula reidii
- And finally, I didn't get a picture of the Hartside Nursery whole display, but they has this rather nice Primula szechuanica on the stand. I hope I've colour balanced it correctly, it is actually a greenish-yellow.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2009, 01:08:24 PM

Sorry to hear about your computer problems, Peter; hugely annoying are they not?

Just super photos from the show and the plant displays; such a lot of work involved for all; but what a result!  8)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Lvandelft on May 02, 2009, 03:55:17 PM

Thank you all for showing show pictures.
Very good to see that nurseries in your country take so much efforts to make
a beautiful display. Must be an enormous job.
When looking at the many pictures, I think one will have needed the whole day to see everything.

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: David Nicholson on May 02, 2009, 07:03:01 PM

I enjoyed the Show very much and I agree that some of the displays made by the Nurseries were very good indeed but, I was a little disappointed at the range (and sometimes at the quality!) of the plants offered for sale. Maybe I'm getting 'picky' in my old age. I really enjoy trawling around the Nursery stands at the AGS Shows, always excellent plants; always in good condition, and always something to tempt me. At the Harrogate Show I bought only one plant, a deep orange coloured Lewisia cotyledon hybrid after searching all day for a yellow one and failed. Very few Primulas were in good condition and choice of species was very limited and I couldn't find any species Iris anywhere. It did seem to me that most Nurseries had taken the mass market option with a huge range of garden centre plants.

Or am I being unfair?

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2009, 07:14:21 PM

Might the fact that the Harrogate show is a two day event, geared to the general public rather than the specialised alpine market we are used to, be the reason for the plant choice available, do you think?

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: David Nicholson on May 02, 2009, 07:30:33 PM

You're probably right Maggi. Maybe I was a bit unfair but on the evening before the Show I had been welcomed back to the Yorkshire homeland with numerous pints of Tetley Mild and was, ever so slightly, under the weather!, on Show Day ;D

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Maggi Young on May 02, 2009, 08:13:46 PM

Quote from: David Nicholson on May 02, 2009, 07:30:33 PM

You're probably right Maggi. Maybe I was a bit unfair but on the evening before the Show I had been welcomed back to the Yorkshire homeland with numerous pints of Tetley Mild and was, ever so slightly, under the weather!, on Show Day ;D

Ah yes, it all becomes clear..... lots of beer; effect on liver   ; jaundiced view..... yes, there's often a clue! ::) ;D ;)

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 02, 2009, 10:58:38 PM

We find in NZ, and I'm sure it's similar elsewhere, that when the show is a two day event, all the bestest and rarest plants go on the first day, and at the beginning of it, leaving the "mass market" stuff for the second day. Local nursery owners have this saying that "Saturday is for buyers, Sunday is for lookers."

Title: Re: North of England Show Harrogate
Post by: Peter Maguire on May 04, 2009, 11:35:50 AM

I think you'll find the Harrogate show is even longer than two days - it begins on Thursday and is open until the Sunday. The vast majority of those attending will even be non-gardeners, for whom it is just a day out, so it would not make sense for most of the nurseries to carry large stocks of specialist plants to the show (although Laneside Alpines seem to do ok, just selling terrestrial orchids).
There are good plants for sale; we AGS exhibitors we're greeted at the Kevock nursery stall at 9.00 on Satruday morning with "we're glad you lot have arrived, we've brought lots of primulas down"! With a welcome like that, how could I resist opening my wallet?
Another thought about nurseries: I've always been amazed at their dedication at Harrogate - AGS exhibtors get to park near to the exhibition tent and have to drive past all the caravans and tents where they stay for the duration of the show. One year I remember leaving on the Saturday afternoon in pouring rain and passing one particular nursery's pitch, where the two owners where just returning to their two man tent for the evening - it was surrounded by water and they were moving damp sleeping bags into their car. This year I was asking Terry Hunt from Edrom nurseries where they stayed - "oh we just settle down in the back of the van"  :o