East Lancashire AGS Show 20th March 2010

[mark smyth]

Carpathian Wonder in a group is gorgeous

[veteran vet]

Saxifraga 'Mary Golds, Mark Childerhouse. The Farrer Medal winner, was a two way fight between this and a Coolock Gem, equal sized pots, both very well flowered and presented
Trillium nivale George Young
Viola alpina, Brian Burrow
Pulsatilla vernalis, Dave Riley, and repeated below
Pulsatilla vernalis, Dave Riley

[ranunculus]

Dear Mr Booker, may I please request that, in future, you refrain from capturing images that show my magnificent head from the rear. The reflection is clearly upsetting the sensor in your camera no doubt leading to over exposure------well certainly over exposure of my magnificent hirsutely challenged zone

... And that's all the thanks I get for hours of hair replacement work in Photoshop?   

Excellent series of images, George ... many thanks for posting.

[Maggi Young]

What a terrific selection of plants we've been shown.... hard to pick a favourite..... well, if pressed, the Iris wonogradowii , running a close second to that pot of Trillium nivale, which I covet rather more than my neighbour's ass!

[veteran vet]

Saxifraga 'Allendale Bravo' Peter Hood

And finally, for Lesley Cox, I took some pics of two winning troughs, these three by John Dower who is a master at troughs. I am sorry the pics are so dark, they are of the same trough from three views round the bench. John tells me he made this trough last year from several bits of tufa that had plants already growing in them His advice is to always construct the 'mountain' out of several bits of tufa till you get the shape that you want and then go for filling in the 'cracks. He says the sgape is the most important thing. This trough has been outside all winter and until recently was covered in snow

[veteran vet]

The last two pictures, again of the same trough, are by forumists M & M McLoughlin, I gather the lady of the house is in charge here. This trough is 'several' years old and the mountain is made of Derbyshire tufa which is a bit harder than the Welsh stuff. Most of the plants are well established although as yet small, having been introduced as small plants through drilled holes going down into the tufa. (It is advised by John Dower to go down intop the compost below if at all possible). In my opinion the trough had been 'spoiled' by the addition of the dwarf narcissus that had been stuck in as they were in flower, (so I am told) but for me they were out of keeping with the other plants in the trough. This will be a trough to watch in the future.

That the lot, sorry to have hogged the airwaves 

[ranunculus]

The same miniature garden by John Dower.  Apologies for the wider image, but it may give viewers a better impression of this splendid garden from the master of this art?

JOHN DOWER'S MINIATURE GARDEN

[veteran vet]

Nice picture, should give everyone a good idea of the skill involved in growing these troughs to a show standard

[Lesley Cox]

huge congratulations to Mark Childerhouse on wimnnig the Farrer with the superb plant.... are we absolutely sure it's not made of cake and icing? So large and so pink!! Lovely!

With all those pink and purple saxifragas I believe it's time that someone started producing pink pots! The terra cotta colour clashes.

[Lesley Cox]

Wow, Vivien, now that's what I call a good raffle prize!!

What true luck.  Had that been an SRGC Show Vivien, poor soul, would have been required to send it off to the Moderator for quality assurance.

johnw

Had she been a NZer she would have had to bin it as she came back home!

[Lesley Cox]

It occurred to me to wonder if, while being judged, those three little Ranunculaceae were themselves and in consultation, judging those confronting them. What would be the criteria? Nicest looking (always subjective)? too much hair? not enough hair? well matching shirts and jerseys? properly pressed trousers or jeans? I wonder what their decision was? Who got the medal?

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Vivien, now that's what I call a good raffle prize!!

What true luck.  Had that been an SRGC Show Vivien, poor soul, would have been required to send it off to the Moderator for quality assurance.

johnw

Had she been a NZer she would have had to bin it as she came back home!

Don't worry, it would have been finished long beofre any homeward journey!

[Lesley Cox]

Veteran Vet, thanks so much for the trough pictures. They are all superb but, with every respect due to Mandy's I really prefer those whose little flowers are in proportion to the whole landscape. The saxes, drabas and their like, seem to be the perfect contenders.

[ranunculus]

Some more images from East Lancs 2010 ... please scream if you are getting too many repeats ...

'Carpathian Wonder'
Anemone fulgens
Anemone fulgens close-up
Show Secretary Carol Kellett's pretty mini garden
Hepatica 'Gyouzei'
Ornithogalum sibthorpei
Pulsatilla vernalis
Saxifraga 'Allendale Charm'
Entry in the class for one pan containing three rock plants for colour effect (in flower or foliage mixed)
Another entry for this particular class

[ranunculus]

Last batch from East Lancs Show 2010 ...

Callianthemum anemonoides
Corydalis sewerzowii
Daphne jezoensis
Dionysia 'Monika'
Draba sphaeroides cusickii
Galanthus 'Sophie North'
Iris 'Harangon' close-up
Iris close-up
Iris nusairiensis
Iris nusairiensis close-up