Dunblane Show 2008

[Maggi Young]

Anthony, I was interested in the differences in flower in the spikes of your pot of Robinson's Barley Water..... also known as  Barlia robertiana.... could you take closeups and post, please??

[ChrisB]

What a tease you are Maggi!

[Anthony Darby]

Your wish is my command Maggi. Two pics of Barlia robertiana.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Anthony. I thought I was correct in thinking that the flowers are really quite different. Are all your tubers from the same source?

[Anthony Darby]

They are from Crete but not a clone. Apparently they grow in great numbers and are very variable there but I've never seen them in the wild.

[Tony Willis]

They grow over a wide area of the Med and are very variable in colour through greenish to reddish but always muddy colours.I think they are very attractive and here are two colour forms that I grow.

[Maggi Young]

I am delighted to see these super pix which illustrate the variation of the Barlia/Himantoglossum flowers. Each one with subtle differences and still beautiful. 

For myself, I am going to stick with the "Robinson's Barley Water" name, 'cos I like it !

[Paddy Tobin]

Anthony Darby, You lucky dog, you!

How I would love to have a show like that on my doorstep. This was an exhibition of extraordinary flowers. Did I not read the other day that Cyril Lafong had been quite ill? I have never met Cyril, never seen one of his plants 'in person' but the thought struck me this afternoon (as I was power-washing the drive in the rain) that should he ever unfortunately depart I would miss his plants greatly. Thanks to the SRGC website I have come to know of him and his outstanding plants. He really has set an extraordinarily high standard of plant growing and showing. This internet has made the world a very accessible place and Cyril Lafong and the other exhibitors come into my living room where I can enjoy their plants, even if it is at a distance.

Great report from Sandy, really enjoyed it. Many thanks, Sandy.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Paddy, Cyril has not ben too well of late but has recently undergone a complicated procedure which it is hoped will restore him to full fitness.... heaven help the rest of us then since he has been producing these great plants when only firing on a couple of cylinders.... imagine what they will look like when he is REALLY healthy!! 
My thanks, too, Sandy for his inimitable reporting... one of the real highlights of my SRGC reading!!

[Anthony Darby]

Yes Paddy, we are really lucky as we now have TWO shows in Dunblane. We have not only to thank Sandy for the report, but he is also responsible for the running of the 'Stirling' show. We are not too far from Edinburgh or Glasgow airports either, if you ever feel like visiting the shows?

[Paddy Tobin]

Anthony,

I don't know if I am such an enthusiast as to travel such a distance even to such good shows. I am rather a stay-at-home gardener who reads a lot and admires the photograph posted on this site. However, I do see the attraction of these shows and was very disappointed that I didn't manage to get to the Dublin show this year but this is because I missed the opportunity to meet people whom I knew would be there. The shows near you are certainly a great benefit for you. Enjoy - and post the photographs!

Paddy