Southport AGS Show

[Maggi Young]

Isn't this the day of the Southport Show?  Nothing on AGS website about it in News, only in standard show listings - has it  happened?

[vivienr]

Perhaps they have all gone for a paddle instead - 25degC in the shade here this afternoon

[Maggi Young]

Crikey- that is HOT!  Going for a paddle seems a good idea - or at the very least  heading for the nearest ice cream parlour.

How are you Vivien?  Breaking out the sundresses and parasols, eh?

[Palustris]

It happened, just got back. Farrer Medal was Lewisia George Henley. Super plant too. Good show, pictures eventually.

[Maggi Young]

Hot drive, Eric?  Have a restful evening.

 Lewisia 'George Henley' is a great plant for this time of year - it's won a Forrest Medal for Fred Hunt at the old Aberdeen show  before - for instance in  2010......


and it's a plant that can be seen over a wide period - here is Cliff Booker's plant,at the AGS Summer North show on 15th JUNE in 2013, pictured by the Veteran Vet, George Young



 

[vivienr]

It is hot - can't enjoy it today as I have too much to do. However, the weatherman says we have another day of summer before it rains so I shall attempt to find some of my garden under the weeds tomorrow.

Last weekend I cleared out my very neglected greenhouse. I had thought that everything had died in the previous hard winters but I was delighted to find a few things have survived, including some newly germinated paeony seedlings from a 2011 sowing - good job I didn't clear it all out last year

[Maggi Young]

I do hope the weatherman is correct 
Isn't it one of the biggest joys of growing plants that you can find survivors where you thought all were long gone ? That sort of surprise can give you new heart for a whole new project.

[ranunculus]

Southport Show certainly took place today and the weather brought out some wonderful plants, most of the usual exhibitors and the same splendid array of helpers for Show Secretary; Roger Beecham.  It was lovely to spend part of the day out on the lawns, nattering to fellow exhibitors and anticipating lunch and the 2014 Pudsey Pig Competition.

The Farrer Medal was won by Claire Oates with her magnificent Lewisia 'George Henley' - hearty congratulations to Claire.

Images will follow from a number of people I'm sure ...

[Maggi Young]

Clare grows a lot of great plants, doesn't she? Congratulations to Clare on her superb Lewisia.

[ranunculus]

Another image of Claire ...

[Tim Ingram]

Is it just my impression or do all plants grown north of Watford grow twice as big as down south? What an amazing lewisia. A great contrast to some of the much tinier species such as L. longipetala which we use as our nursery logo from many years ago, but which I still find very charming. It would be an interesting genus to put together an educational display of to show this fascinating variation.

[Martinr]

Mr Booker is clearly too modest to announce that he was THE WINNER OF THE PUDSEY PIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Maggi Young]

Mr Booker is clearly too modest to announce that he was THE WINNER OF THE PUDSEY PIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, hurrah!  I take it the title was as hotly contested as ever?
Well done, Cliff  - or was it  rare, well done and  medium rare, too? 

[ranunculus]

Enough, enough … the heartburn has already kicked in…

Roger Beecham's magnificent Physoplexis comosa appeared again at Southport … what a survivor!!!  (The plant … not Roger). 

[ranunculus]

Alan Furness brought along this beautiful Campanula sp.