NORTHUMBERLAND SHOW at Hexham 2009

[Peter Maguire]

28 Tulips are not easy to show well and you have to be lucky with the timing of the show coinciding with the best of the flowering, but this low growing Tulipa shrenkii belonging to Barbara Hoyle was wonderful
29 Iris aucheri 'Indigo' again  (from Vera Buck), but it was a fabulous deep blue
30 We had one of the AGS 'travelling awards' this year at the show (these awards 'travel' to different shows around the country from year to year). The Donald Lowndes memorial bowl for the best plant in section C went to Jack Green, for this Primula 'Jackie Edwards'
31 The RBG Edinburgh returned to our show again this year with a display which won them a gold medal - you may have to scroll side to side across this composite picture.
32 Another Ornithogalum, O. sibthorpii from Don Peace (you would probably have to be a botanist to separate this from the earlier picture
33 The end of another show.......

[Peter Maguire]

Just a couple of 'people pictures'
Tom Cameron came up and introduced himself and we agreed that with the little pictures we are allowed for identification purposes with our posting, you can't really identify anyone as they cannot be clicked on to enlarge them. I notice Tom has removed his mugshot, so here's what he really looks like...
Also, Ian Kidman is a well known name amongst local (and not so local) growers, but he has to go to extreme lengths to get his large numbers of plants into the show hall. It's a good job our venue is next to a supermarket.

That's it folks, I think the show has been comprehensively covered photographically, the circus moves on to Edinburgh/Chesterfield/Dublin next week.

[Lori S.]

The Paraquilegia anemonoides stole my heart!!!
I think I will have to pack my bags and move!!!

Helen, it is hardy here (I've seen it in the garden of an alpine gardener - albeit a very accomplished one - where it was self-seeding nicely, but if she can do it, I can do it!)   So, the message is, anyway, don't presuppose hardiness - just try it!   

Lovely show photos!

[maggiepie]

The Paraquilegia anemonoides stole my heart!!!
I think I will have to pack my bags and move!!!

Helen, it is hardy here (I've seen it in the garden of an alpine gardener - albeit a very accomplished one - where it was self-seeding nicely, but if she can do it, I can do it!)   So, the message is, anyway, don't presuppose hardiness - just try it!   

Lori, if I ever find a source for seed, I will.
Meanwhile , I will enjoy the pics from the shows.
Do they have these types of shows in Alberta?

[Lori S.]

Well, there are gardening shows of a sort here and in the other cities across the Prairies... they tend to be commercial in nature, except for a few tables set up by the local clubs to push their enrollment.   Other than for a day out (say if the weather was really bad), I would consider the garden tours that are usually set up by the local clubs to be a much more rewarding prospect.  So, no, the local garden shows are certainly not to anywhere near the level of accomplishment of these shows... needless to say.

Meanwhile , I will enjoy the pics from the shows.

Yes, indeed!  I just meant to suggest that there may be no need to move anywhere else to grow some of the wonderful plants pictured!    

[ichristie]

Hi Everyone, I must first of all say thank you to Peter for a superb show at Hexam and to Alan and Brenda for a lunch that was best ever. I just hope you can make sure that Sainsburys noted how well all the exhibitors ( photo of Ian Kidman) made use of the shopping trolleys, it was suggested by Sandy Leven we add a special class at the show for a collection of plants in a trolley, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Peter Maguire]

I'm sure Sainsbury's would be delighted to see we were using Waitrose shopping trolleys! 

[Diane Clement]

32 Another Ornithogalum, O. sibthorpii from Don Peace (you would probably have to be a botanist to separate this from the earlier picture 

They are the same - Ornithogalum nanum and O sibthorpii are the same species - but the latest name for them both is O sigmoideum

[galanthophile]

It was an excellent show (as always) but I loved seeing the shortia, trillium and primula in particular. I bought a few things as well
There are many splendid photos here. Mine are best viewed on Webshots if anyone would care to look.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/570721923hJUPiC?vhost=home-and-garden

[Maggi Young]

Hi, Ann, glad to hear you enjoyed the show too.
 Happy Birthday, by the way!!

[ChrisB]

Did I meet you there Ann?  There were so many people, I'm good at knowing I've met someone before, but names defeat me every time.

[galanthophile]

No I don't think so, I normally am so interested in the plants I forget to talk to the people! Thanks Maggie for the birthday wishes

[Maggi Young]

My pleasure, Ann. Are you going to treat yourself to a non-birthday day out at Edinburgh this Saturday?

[galanthophile]

I'd love to go to Edinburgh again (I was there last summer) but no unfortunately not this weekend. I've never even been to the Botanic gardens there...!