Southport AGS Show 17/05/08

[Maggi Young]

Southport AGS Show, 2008
this Saturday 17 May 2007 - 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm at STANLEY HIGH SCHOOL, FLEETWOOD ROAD, SOUTHPORT, PR9 9TF...... I hope some Forumists will be going and be able to report here....it is the SRGC Show in Aberdeen on the 17th too, of course, so with luck there should be lots to see in the Forum next week!

[shelagh]

Hi Maggi,
The Smethurst's are off to Southport tomorrow, just about to load up the car.  Only one problem we have so many plants that I may not be able to squeeze Brian in!!!

Since the AGS have unfortunately lost the Pudsey/Headingly Show this year there isn't another for us northeners until Pershore in July.  We also have had to find a new opportunity for the Pudsey Pig/Headingly Hog eating competition, so we are having the 'Southport Sow' tomorrow.  Some of our number will have been starving themselves since April for this   Pictures will I'm sure follow, maybe even some of the Show.

[ranunculus]

Now you tell me Shelagh ... we have had seven course meals EVERY night this week ...  Ah well, the 'tum' tripod should be reasonably stable! 

[Martinr]

Had to take a half day off work to prepare 24 plants (that's all the car will take!). More Lewisias than there are classes for them. It's nearly 9 o'clock and finally I can sit down. The pots are clean, the plants are in their crates. The car is half packed, the rest will go in at 6 tomorrow, the Lewisia redivivas are in the airing cupboard trying to stop them closing completely, the labels are printed and chopped up. The batteries for the new camera are charged.

I'm knackered...............and I'm expected to compete in a face stuffing competition as well!

We are all mad as hatters but we love it.

[Maggi Young]

I know that feeling, Martin, my feet are killing me
Have a wonderful day, Friends!
Hope we'll hear all about later.

[ranunculus]

Well, it is almost midnight and nobody else has posted an image taken at the superb Southport AGS Show held today (17th May 2008)...
Congratulations to Roger Beecham and his dedicated team on producing another excellent show but, for yet another year, Roger earned even more praise for his wonderful cultivation skills. This very unassuming grower gained one more Farrer Medal for his tremendous plant of Physoplexis comosa.

As many of you will know, the celebrated Pudsey Pig was also contested today and my initial photographs from Southport 2008 will also feature images captured at the pub this lunchtime...

FARRER MEDAL WINNER ROGER BEECHAM
 FARRER WINNER PHYSOPLEXIS COMOSA
 PHYSOPLEXIS COMOSA
 CECILIA COLLER DOES IT AGAIN.
 ARISAEMA DETAIL
 LEWISIA BEN CHACE
 LAMIUM SANDRASICUM
 DISPORUM SMITHII 'RIELE'
 CELMISIA PHILOCREMNA
 SEMPERVIVUM ATLANTICUM 'BALLS FORM'

[ranunculus]

Some more tomorrow after a short sleep....

Wasn't that a STUNNING Celmisia philocremna by the way?  Exhibited by Ian Leslie...of course!

SAXIFRAGA PEDEMONTANA
 RHODODENDRON GINNY GEE
 ALBA
 ARISAEMA DETAIL 2
 PUDSEY PIG CONTESTANTS (SOME OF THE PRE-MATCH FAVOURITES)
 LAUGHING AT THE APPROACH OF THE MAIN COURSES
 MARTIN ROGERSON TRYING TO GRAB A CRAFTY CHIP
 EVENTUAL WINNER JOHN BUNN CONSUMING YET ANOTHER CHIP
 PUDSEY PIG WINNER 2008 JOHN BUNN
 CLOSE-UP STACHYS LAVANDULIFOLIA

[art600]

Cliff

Thanks for posting such excellent photos of a Show that many of us cannot hope to visit.  I look forward to more in the morning.

[Anthony Darby]

What an awesome plant that Physoplexis comosa is.

[johnw]

Cliff - Many thanks, wonderful photos. I'm still reeling from the Disporum.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Brilliant photos Cliff. What a happy brood of pigs you have there. All great contestants. An awesome Physoplexis but as for the Celmisia - just another white daisy!

[ranunculus]

Many thanks everyone.

Some more images from Southport 2008, concluding with a superb display of photographs captured in Sichuan, China by Peter Cordall.  The recent and terrible earthquake emphasising the fragility of life for both people and plants. 

 ALLIUM CRISPUM TO THE FORE
 ALLIUM CRISPUM.
 CASTILLEJA MINIATA DETAIL
 BEST PLANT IN SECTION C FOR COLIN DOLDING.
 DODECATHEON DETAIL
 DELPHINIUM DECORUM GAINED A FIRST 'FIRST' IN THE OPEN SECTION FOR CAROL KELLETT.
 SAXIFRAGA PUBESCEN
 THREE PAN EXHIBIT
 ALLIUM DARWASICUM EXHIBITED BY GEORGE YOUNG.
 ALLIUM SHELKOVNIKOVII

[ranunculus]

My final batch from Southport 2008...


ROGER BEECHAM AND AGS PRESIDENT FRANK TINDALL
 TULBAGHIA LEUCANTHA
 VERY TINY FLOWERS OF TULBAGHIA LEUCANTHA
 ALLIUM DETAIL
 EXCELLENT DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM SICHUAN BY PETER CORDALL

[Lvandelft]

Thank you Cliff for these wonderful pictures.
I'm always astonished to see these big pots on shows, where the flowers
seem they must fight for a place, like these Saxifraga pedemontana and
ofcourse the Physoplexus. Great show!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful pictures Cliff !
Another breathtaking show... what a glorious Physoplexis !!!

Thanks a lot for letting us enjoy it !