AGS North Midland Show - Chesterfield - 6th April 2013

[ranunculus]

We made our way through the remnants of huge snowdrifts to the AGS North Midland Show at Chesterfield today to find the hall awash with colour and beauty.  While the number of exhibits was obviously slightly down due to the weather of the past few weeks, the quality of the plants on show wasn't affected one iota. 
One pot attracted immediate attention and this amazing Fritillaria davidii went on to be the worthwhile recipient of the Farrer Medal for 'Best Exhibit in the Show'. 
While each of the winning exhibitors had gained individual Farrer Medals in the past, this was Brian and Jo Walker's first 'joint' success.  Hearty congratulations to them both.

Another excellent show and many thanks and congratulations to the Show Secretary; John Savage and his hard-working team.

[Maggi Young]

That is a fantastic plant !  Will thoroughly depress all those trying hard to get one flower on Frit. davidii!
No wonder Mr and Mr Walker have such BIG smiles- they are justifiably proud of that plant for sure! Congratulations!
(Are Martin and Diane, in the background,  discussing a smash and grab raid ?!!  )


I am pleased to hear the snow is only at the roadsides now, Cliff, allowing you to get around in safety and be able to bring us this report of that Farrer Medal - a show would always be a great success with a winner like that on the benches!

[ichristie]

Wow, what a potfull never seen this Frit that  good congratulations to Brian and Jo, cheers Ian the Christie kind

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Fabulous !!!
Thanks for showing, Cliff !

[Martinr]

!
(Are Martin and Diane, in the background,  discussing a smash and grab raid ?!!  )

I couldn't possibly comment

[Maggi Young]

I couldn't possibly comment

Well, now I think about it- it was much more likely to be a discussion about lunch!

[Diane Clement]

Well, now I think about it- it was much more likely to be a discussion about lunch! 

Maggi, you know us too well    

[Maggi Young]

Maggi, you know us too well    

Take one to know one, Diane - as you know, it is my dearest ambition to be able to take part in the Pudsey Pig contest!

[veteran vet]

As already mentioned by Cliff was yet another good show, do we ever expect anything less from this show, just wish it was nearer Northumberland. I had intended to be lazy now and just post pictures of plants not posted by others but it seems I have nearly carte blanche so will just post as they came off the camera. I started at class 1 and just walked down the benches snapping what I could take without interrupting the viewing/paying visitors, also while a plant may catch your eye photographing it in the show hall does not do the plant justice so I miss these out (not because I don't like them)  So to begin
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus in Class 2 from F & B Hoyle, lovely plant, I am surprised the judges did not put out a note re the incorrect spelling as it just perpetuates the error and quite frankly the exhibitor should check in any reference journal if in any doubt. They also had in the same class
Douglasia laevigata in the same class and in class 3
Dionysia aretiodes and in class 5
Dionysia curviflora came from Ian Kidman as part of a three pan class
I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's
 

[Maggi Young]

I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's
 

  I've heard many discussions on which primula fits where in the schedule at SRGC shows as well !  Usually around which  is an allionii form and which is a hybrid 

[veteran vet]

In class 10 The Hoyles' also had a 'stonkin'
Primula 'Marjorie Wooster' one of the older cultivars. I must add that they has an even larger (and better) P. 'Pink Aire' (at least I think that's what it was) entered in one pan Native to Europe and were NAS'd as a result...as already mentioned in my earlier post I do have some worry on the way these schedules are interpreted.
As ever Don Peace produced class plants and
Primula 'Broadwell Milkmaid' in Class 10 did the job for him
Three pan classes always take a bit of winning but Ju Bramley, in class 11, 3 pans Androsace or Dionysia did thje job with
Dionysia aretiodes, 'selene' and HKMK 0144-3 ex Monika
The Show Secs delight, viz. Cecilia Coller produces
Rhodanthe anthemoides as the sole entrant in Class14, a lovely thing
Corydalis solida 'Penza Strain' from Don Peace

[veteran vet]

After a brief evening meal break I will resume my 'personal' run down the schedule
Our own 'Pallustris', aka Cliff Booker won the class for 1 pan Ranunculacaea (17) with
Callianthemum anemonoides despite stiff competition from various hepatica (thank goodness David Boyd was in Edinburgh)
While I seem totally unable to grow orchids/pleione etc etc one person in the name of Barry Tattersall has mastered the art
Anacamptis papillionacea ssp heroica (class 20) needed a close look at so I attach two pictures, this plant knocked Cecilia Coller back to a second sticker with a lovely
Pleione Bandai-San
In the 3 pan class 21 bulbous plants distinct there was a nice
Iris graeberiana 'Yellow Fall' from Diane Clement...its a pity the picture does't do it justice

[David Nicholson]

I am always at a loss when it comes to my own entries in classes that are, as in class 9 'Primula, European, Species or Natural hybrid, as to what exactly qualifies as a bona fida entry an in the main down the absolutely certain route so I would not have been entering
Primula 'Mary Berry' in this class but Don Peace did and won...I must go and read up more on the origin of these older allionii's

George, the only authoritative listing of allionii varieties of the species and allionii hybrids I've seen is a booklet written by Bob Archdale and Dave Richards and published by the Midland and West Section of the National Auricula and Primula Society as Society Guide No. 8. It doesn't give the date of publication but I've had it for at least 7 years so it may be at least ten years old. Mary Berry is listed as an allionii variety.

[ranunculus]

Our own 'Pallustris', aka Cliff Booker won the class for 1 pan Ranunculacaea (17) with
Callianthemum anemonoides despite stiff competition from various hepatica (thank goodness David Boyd was in Edinburgh)

A necessary amendment, George.  'Palustris' is actually Eric Marsh and not myself ... I go under the soubriquet, 'Ranunculus' (among others). LOL.

[veteran vet]

I have noted the replies with regard to 'Native' classes, will comment later
Trillium nivale is an eye catcher and judges favourite at any show, I did a picture of this shown by Alan Spenceley last week at Cleveland and he produced it in better fettle here at Chesterfield in my opinion, again a red sticker in Class 22
We get to Class 23 which had the Farrer Medal plant and Best Bulbous Plant naturally)  shown by Brian and Jo Walker. I have grown this plant for many years and think I have done well when I get a few flowers on a 25 cm pot of the plant but this specimen had, by my count, 37 flowers in what had to be a 30cm pan, possibly more. I saw the plant sitting on a side table while they were just about to stage it and just said to myself..there goes the Farrer today...it was of course
Once upon a time what I knew as Ipheon sellowianum, now called
Tristagma sellowianum was seen frequently, noe less so but Cecilia Coller had a large pan in Class 22 (something else I could never get to flower)
The large Androsace (dare I say it even the small pans) have been scarce this year but Geoff Rollinson (who else) in Class 33 had a very nice
Androsace ciliate
Grevillea lanigera 'Mount Taborithna' from Cecilia Coller certainly took up plenty bench space, flowering shrubs have again been few and far between this year so far (I have to add I am not certain of the C/v name