AGS Tewkesbury Show on Saturday 13th July

[Helen Johnstone]

He didn't? The Bounder!
 Earlier in the thread there was talk of tea and toast for the early exhibitors, wasn't there?
And  can this be the only show in the country with no tea and cakes?  I'm beyond shocked....... Martin,  please explain what I might be missing.......

To be honest it was so hot I didnt go looking for tea so thats probably why I didnt find the toast or cake but now I know its there I will be on a mission to find it

[Martinr]

It was there down the corridor behind the members plant stall, free DIY tea and toast in the early morning and tea, coffee, soft drinks and yes....there were cakes . Sorry Helen

Palustris, I can't agree. For mid July I thought it was a pretty good show with some fascinating plants. I agree visitor numbers were low.

[Helen Johnstone]

It was there down the corridor behind the members plant stall, free DIY tea and toast in the early morning and tea, coffee, soft drinks and yes....there were cakes . Sorry Helen

Palustris, I can't agree. For mid July I thought it was a pretty good show with some fascinating plants. I agree visitor numbers were low.

Thanks Martin - I will know where to look next time

I quite agree I thought there was a good selection of plants, very similar to last year but I think there were more in the novice section than last year and not just because I entered.  I remember being very surprised at how few entries there were last year. 

I suspect the heat prevented a lot of people going out.  The roads were certainly very quite when I came back to the show after lunch.  I also think that, as with many locations used for shows, there isn't much passing interest and its a case of where you advertise to get the right audience.

[Tim Ingram]

I think there is nothing better than seeing Eric's greenhouse for a nice array of Farrer medals! Just from my experience of going too and talking about the Shows for quite some time - and because I have a vested interest (though not necessarily great ability) in selling plants - I remain convinced that attracting more people to the Shows centres around the specialist nurseries and plant sales, though how these can be promoted more remains beyond me so far. People get excited when they can buy plants; seeing them exhibited is wonderful (especially when you know them well, and the people who grow them), but this in itself doesn't attract the new gardener. Personally I am deeply inspired by seeing enthusiast's gardens (even those that are weedy like mine).  I love the Shows but I am more tempted to travel up to Lamberton and Ron McBeath's garden, and listen to Rob Potterton's talk, at the end of August because I come from such a gardening and nursery perspective (and there is the opportunity to go and see Cally Gardens and Logan again!).

[Palustris]

Be that as it may I normally would expect to take over 100 photos at a show and I struggled to find 25 plants to photograph.
I think it is very sad that ALL members of a group holding a show do not go, if they can, and just as sad that so many members of the AGS from other groups do not make the effort. We drove from North Shropshire down to support the organisers (and to see lovely plants and Nursery peoples stall).
Did forget to say well done to Helen, sorry about that. I did look out for plants with her name on, but failed to see it.

[shelagh]

I think the temperatures in the preceding week and yesterday were the answer Eric.  My car was registering 33 degrees as we left yesterday.  It was almost too hot to stagger to the Pub for lunch   I'm not surprised the general public weren't much in evidence.  There were some quality plants however both in the show hall and the plant sales.

[Dionysia]

I agree that Palustris is being disingenuous to both the organisers and the exhibitors who managed to stage the plants despite nearly two weeks of temperatures approaching 30 centigrade. To suggest it was a one woman show is wrong and I know Cecelia would be the first to refute that. This is attested by the fact that in the Open section only four classes had first place withheld which is lower than average; and that four classes had ten or more entries plus several more with more than five. Also four certificates of merit were awarded which is again more than average. You are never going to get the number or range of plants that are seen in March but the show circuit would be much poorer without a July show.

[Tim Ingram]

There are some nice pictures by Jim Almond on the AGS Discussion pages - I like the Epilobium from Graham Nicholl's and Eric's Helichrysum plumeum is quite a sight. Since when did Diosphaera become a Campanula? I wouldn't be surprised if 10% or more of the plants came from Cecilia; it seems to me there should be a new medal minted just for her! I know that the Shows are always reported in the Bulletin, and pictures are quite often put on the websites, but more detailed reports of them (like Jon often does, or in a different way I have also done at times), would be very interesting. It is nice to set the plants in context and get an overall 'feel' of each Show.

[Dionysia]

Hi Tim. What was once Diosphaera asperuloides was transferred to Trachelium several years ago. Three or four years ago Swedish botanist and expert on the Greek flora Arne Strid redetermined it's status to be Campanula asperuloides. During that period we have accepted it on the show bench under either name but as it's transfer has now been officially published and this has been confirmed to exhibitors in their newsletter, it must now be shown as Campanula. Unfortunate for those of us who love it (we showed 5 at Tewkesbury) particularly as it is no longer eligible for the Campanulaceae excluding Campanula classes. Strid's determination would appear to be endorsed by Martin and Anna-Liise Sheader's successful crossing of it with Campanula myrtifolia. Although bigeneric crosses are by no means rare their success was always going to be more likely the greater the affinity.

[Tim Ingram]

That is fascinating - especially the cross carried out by Martin and Anna (although from an ecological viewpoint it would be even more interesting if any natural hybridization occurred in the wild - i.e: from the viewpoint that speciation is a phenomenon of the environment and always likely to be quite a subjective assessment). Are there any other species of close affinity to C. asperuloides - it looks so distinctive. I didn't even realise that it had travelled via Trachelium! It is a wonderful plant whichever, and I imagine the hybrids will be set to cause a stir.

[Dionysia]

Hi Tim. I don't think there are any other species with such an apparent affinity. I'd thought for a while that it would be an interesting cross to attempt, particularly with 'Helmi' the white myrtifolia, but never had time to do anything about it. I don't even think C. asperuloides is widely propagated by seed as cuttings root so easily. I did at one time grow some from seed received from Gothenburg under acronym JP84-37 (Jimmy Persson?), but the seedlings had asymmetric flowers and weren't as good as the 'trade' form. I've seen a photo of one of the hybrids which is similar in habit to C. asperuloides but with more substantial flowers. Now I'm just waiting for somebody to cross Androsace bryomorpha with a Dionysia but I'm not sure that I'd like the implications with some botanists trying to sink Dionysias into Primula.

[Tim Ingram]

There is that beautiful line "is a rose so sweet under any other name..." (and a cross like that really would set the cat among the pigeons! - after all a dionysia would then be not far off being a dodecatheon too).

[Rob Potterton]

Belatedly stepping back in the conversation, we were one of the nurseries in attendance at the Tewkesbury show on Saturday. My alarm went off just before 3am and out of the house by 3.30am to travel the 160 miles down to Tewkesbury, the last 40 miles after Birmingham was a struggle to keep my eyes open. Chatting to Robin White, Tim & Keith Lever at 7am, it was already HOT!!!! The doors opened early, tables laid out for us the previous evening and lots of spare space (thanks Eric), unloaded and set up by 8am, a trickle of customers through the morning. Favourite topic of conversation of course was the weather. Rain, snow or heatwave we plants people are never happy - just like farmers!!!! So we sold a bit less than normal but met up with lots of old friends and hopefully a few new ones, its always good to meet new members who remind us of our early novice days, full of enthusiasm and lots of questions ..... was that you Helen mid afternoon?? Only got the briefest look round the show, to see Gentiana georgei in Class 62 grown by Lionel Clarkson - my favourite plant, chatted to Lionel, congratulating and thanking him for displaying the plant i'd previously seen growing at 16,000 feet in China back in 1994.
Overall a grand day out. Good experience, lovely to meet so many people. It's not just about the showbench .... or for this nurseryman, sales achieved. People and friendships come first. 

[Helen Johnstone]

 So we sold a bit less than normal but met up with lots of old friends and hopefully a few new ones, its always good to meet new members who remind us of our early novice days, full of enthusiasm and lots of questions ..... was that you Helen mid afternoon?? Only got the briefest look round the show, to see Gentiana georgei in Class 62 grown by Lionel Clarkson - my favourite plant, chatted to Lionel, congratulating and thanking him for displaying the plant i'd previously seen growing at 16,000 feet in China back in 1994.
Overall a grand day out. Good experience, lovely to meet so many people. It's not just about the showbench .... or for this nurseryman, sales achieved. People and friendships come first. 
[/quote]

Hi Rob
Probably me - we talked about how I looked cooler than everyone else but I had been home.  I enjoy each show more than the last one as I am starting to get to know people and learn more about plants so it isnt so daunting.  I think you are right that people and friendships come first, after all that is why people join societies etc in the first place surely?

Helen

[Rob Potterton]

Hello Helen. Most pleased to meet you, even though you had a bag full of Aberconwy Nursery plants  , hope you keep coming to the shows and exhibiting. Regards Rob