Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Diane Clement on January 11, 2012, 08:58:58 PM

Title: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Diane Clement on January 11, 2012, 08:58:58 PM: On 28 January 2012 the AGS Birmingham Group are holding a One Day conference:
“A Day in the Southern Hemisphere”.
This will take place at the Holy Name Parish Centre, Walsall Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 6LN (Five minutes from Junction 7 of the M6).

The conference will include the following lectures:
   Hilary Little “Australasian Alpines”,
   Ger van der Beuken “Northern Patagonia, land of Rosulate Violas”,
   Terry Smale “Winter-growing bulbs from South Africa”
   Martin and Anna-Liisa Sheader “Botanical Hotspots in Patagonia”

Cost £15 including light refreshments, optional buffet lunch available for £6.50.
This is promising to be a super day with a varied programme of speakers, also nursery stalls from Pottertons and Aberconwy Nurseries, AGS Bookstall, raffle, Members’ plant stall, etc
Full details, timings available here:
Birmingham Group Conference "A Day in the Southern Hemisphere" (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/groups/Birmingham-and-District/event/)

Booking form available by clicking here: "A Day in the Southern Hemisphere" - Booking Form (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/pdf_files/localbirmingham/booking-form-for-website-2012.pdf)

For a map of the venue, click here: Map of Conference venue (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/pdf_files/localbirmingham/holy-name.pdf)
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 11, 2012, 11:22:18 PM: Such a pity Santa Claus did not bring me a helicopter for Christmas............ :'(
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Rob Potterton on January 15, 2012, 04:32:08 PM: Happy Christmas Maggi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 05:03:56 PM: And a Happy New Year to you too, Rob!

Sadly, I didn't realise they were helicopters and swatted them thinking they might be early flying narcissus fly..... oops!
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 05:04:29 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 05:03:56 PM
And a Happy New Year to you too, Rob!

Sadly, I didn't realise they were helicopters and swatted them thinking they might be early flying narcissus fly..... oops!

Note to self: enlarge photo before jumping to conclusions....... :-X
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Rob Potterton on January 15, 2012, 05:59:34 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 05:03:56 PM
And a Happy New Year to you too, Rob!

Sadly, I didn't realise they were helicopters and swatted them thinking they might be early flying narcissus fly..... oops!

Note to Self: In future ignore ladies in distress; especially one's that want a helicopter for Christmas.
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 06:12:55 PM: Quote from: Rob Potterton on January 15, 2012, 05:59:34 PM
Quote from: Maggi Young on January 15, 2012, 05:03:56 PM
And a Happy New Year to you too, Rob!

Sadly, I didn't realise they were helicopters and swatted them thinking they might be early flying narcissus fly..... oops!

Note to Self: In future ignore ladies in distress; especially one's that want a helicopter for Christmas.

I'm so sorry! :-* :-*

I do hope that hundreds of sensible folks will be able to make their way... by whatever means of transport... to this event.
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Diane Clement on January 22, 2012, 12:33:40 PM: Just another reminder of our one-day conference in Birmingham, this coming Saturday 28th January. We have an excellent line up of speakers at an easily accessible venue. We hope many of you will join us. See previous posting for details and contact information.
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Rob Potterton on January 29, 2012, 09:06:26 AM: A most enjoyable, well organised and friendly conference, great lectures with lots of information including habitat and cultivation needs, stunning photographs. A delight to see so many friends again. Oh and good sales :D
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 29, 2012, 09:22:43 AM: Quote from: Rob Potterton on January 29, 2012, 09:06:26 AM
A most enjoyable, well organised and friendly conference, great lectures with lots of information including habitat and cultivation needs, stunning photographs. A delight to see so many friends again. Oh and good sales :D

Well, it's great news that the sales were good... we naturally expected the rest to be as stated.... but what about the cakes? There must have been cakes, surely? Or were the sales so good you had no time to eat anything? :o ;D
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Rob Potterton on January 29, 2012, 10:09:40 AM: My cheese and tomato sandwiches were delicious, made by wife Jackie, due to volume of sales eaten during lectures. So busy forgot to eat home made cakes until i got home. Apparently i've got all my priorities wrong!!!
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Diane Clement on January 29, 2012, 10:33:01 AM: Quote from: Rob Potterton on January 29, 2012, 10:09:40 AM
due to volume of sales eaten during lectures....
:o :o :o

Quote
Apparently i've got all my priorities wrong!!!
You have, Rob, you're supposed to sell the plants, not eat them ;D ;D ;D

But thanks for the comments, Rob. And thanks to all the excellent lecturers, and the nurseries, and all the helpers for making it a great day. We've just waived off Ger and Mariet to Birmingham airport, now on their way back home.
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maren on January 29, 2012, 10:43:53 AM: It was a lovely day, we saw and heard a lot about Patagonia, and as I hadn't been there ("What, you haven't been to Patagonia???"), it was most interesting and entertaining.
Learnt much about rosulate violas http://www.treknature.com/gallery/South_America/Chile/photo176419.htm, but there could have been more orchids for my liking - ah well, can't have it all. Bought some nice plants, too....and had lunch with a few forumists. That was the best part. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Maggi Young on January 29, 2012, 10:53:35 AM: Quote from: Maren on January 29, 2012, 10:43:53 AM
It was a lovely day, we saw and heard a lot about Patagonia, and as I hadn't been there ("What, you haven't been to Patagonia???"), it was most interesting and entertaining.
Learnt much about rosulate violas http://www.treknature.com/gallery/South_America/Chile/photo176419.htm, but there could have been more orchids for my liking - ah well, can't have it all. Bought some nice plants, too....and had lunch with a few forumists. That was the best part. ;) ;) ;)
I know what you mean, Maren, I sometimes think I'm the only person I know who hasn't been to South America... it is flavour of the month for the plant hunting trip makers, that's for sure .
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Tony Willis on January 29, 2012, 11:42:18 AM: It was a great day with superb talks and it ran like clockwork thanks to Diane's organisation. Made me want to go back there and see some more of the plants. Also learnt a lot about the climate of S Africa and growing conditions for their bulbs which was very educational

I can understand Maren enjoying lunch as she was sat with me and Ian Mcenery (and Mrs. W.)

It was great to talk to a fellow orchid enthusiast.
Title: Re: AGS Birmingham One Day Conference
Post by: Tim Ingram on January 30, 2012, 10:00:34 AM: Diane - I've been to several mini-AGS Conferences in the past and found them hugely enjoyable. I look forward to the prospect of going up to Norwich in September. I've always wondered though how much they are advertised outside the AGS? (If at all). We have had thoughts of trying to organise a meeting in association with a University (particularly one with strong plant based studies), but we are much too much off the beaten track in Kent. However, it seems an opportunity, though a novel and perhaps far-fetched one, to show a new group of people the wonders of the alpine world - and we are not short of exceptional speakers.

There often seems quite a gulf between gardening societies like the AGS and SRGC, and what may appear the more rigorous studies within academic environments, but I think that is a false distinction, and there must be many members who actually live in both worlds. I suppose the Conference at Nottingham did this, but again was not promoted as something for people outside the Societies. I think it could be something for the Society to explore which is primarily aimed at a new audience, and which would therefore make us think more of how to attract them and convince them of the magic of the alpine world. (This rather ties in with thoughts of how alpines, and other plants, could be better presented on television too - ie: just how does the Society catch the attention of new gardeners, whilst retaining its strong founding principles).