SRGC Event - Late Bulb Day 20th September 2014

[Maggi Young]

Late Bulb Day - new venue, Scone 20th September
SRGC   LATE   BULB   Day   20th September   2014    10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Note that this year the Late  Bulb Day has moved to Old Scone Church  Hall Burnside, Scone, Perth PH2 6LP.
SHOW SECRETARY: Barry Caudwell,   Abernyte Farm Cottage, Abernyte, Inchture, Perth, PH14 9ST.
Telephone 01828 686709.
VENUE:   Old Scone Church Hall, Burnside, Scone, Perth PH2 6LP
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS:  Entrance to Old Scone Church Hall is off the A94 (Perth/ Coupar Angus road), coming from Perth take the first left onto Cross Street and immediately left again onto Burnside and follow the signs for the David Douglas Memorial.
There is ample car parking in a large public car park just a few yards along past the hall.

Coffee at 10.00am
Two Presentations one at 10.30am the other at 2 pm
Tea at 3.30 pm

Jim Almond  will be our guest speaker for the day:

Jim , based in Shropshire, is a well-known grower of alpines and bulbous plants with over 25 years’ experience in their cultivation.  He has a national collection of juno Iris which are grown both in pots and the open garden together with many Snowdrops plus other bulbs.

Fritillarias from A to Z
The talk covers many of the Fritillaria known in cultivation in this photographic journey from  A to Z.
Fritillarias have a worldwide distribution and whilst many have special requirements, there are quite
a few which can be grown outside in the UK

Growing and propagating choice bulbs
This talk will take a general look at a wide range of bulbs with tips on cultivation and propagation.
A wide range of genera will be covered including a mix of those suitable for the open garden and others suitable for growing in pots. Hopefully, something for everyone!

This is a ticket only event which you buy at the door cost £5
Bring a picnic lunch, self serve tea / coffee provided.
Members are encouraged to bring along as many pans of dwarf bulbs and flowering alpine plants as possible for display. A single flowering bulb or plant is of interest to other enthusiasts.
Contributions are invited for a 50:50 bulb & plant sale, which will be held to cover expenses.

[Stan da Prato]

A few snaps which do not do justice to the nice pots of bulbs. Perhaps others have better close ups. Both talks were full of interest.

[Matt T]

I just want to say thank you to all the folk who made me and Patrick feel so welcome at the Late Bulb day in Scone. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone again at the DWE in less than 2 weeks time 

Jim's talks were very enjoyable and informative. It's always interesting to hear about different cultivation methods and pick up tips for things you might try yourself. I'm definitely going to try twin-scaling next year on a Narcissus bulb or two. Not to mention all those Frits that are now on the wish list!

The display had some excellent plants with a lot of the small Cyclamen on show, including C. mirabile, C. intaminatum, C. graecum and C. cilicicum, all of which I love. (I think Jean's car must have been very full!)

There was a knockout C. mirabile with crimped leaf margins.
C. intaminatum has to be a favourite for its daintiness and the lovely veined petals. (Sorry for my lazy autofocus blur)
Sandy also brought some nice C. graecum with a good range of leaf patterns.

Thanks also to Barry and Cathy for finding Patrick's lost phone! 

[Maggi Young]

Delighted to hear you enjoyed yourselves, Matt.  We were very sorry not to make it to hear Jim's talks.
The venue is a good one, do you agree? That long window to display plants in "real" light is very useful.

The picture of the "crimped" leaf mirabile is great - aren't cyclamen just terrific?

[Matt T]

I think the venue worked well: good location, easy to find, plenty of parking. The window definitely works for the plant display, there's nothing like seeing them in natural light and when the sun came out the warmth released the scent of the Cyclamen and Hyacinthus.

We were in the garden last night discussing where to build another frame. It'll be have to be in a shadier spot than the bulb frame enjoys so could be perfect for some Cyclamen. When I arrived home I found a single C. coum seedling had popped up from a SRGC Seed Ex. sowing in January, so I'm hopeful that there may be more arrivals soon 

[Anthony Darby]

Can't quite make out the name of Sandy Leven's impressive Hyacinthus.

[Matt T]

Hi Anthony,
It think it was H. millingenii? It was a nice plant and the scent was lovely.

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks Matt.

[Matt T]

Has been identified for us as Scilla lingulata. A rose by any other name...

[Anthony Darby]

Some authorities put lingulata, an autumn flowering plant, in the genus Hyacinthoides.

[Maggi Young]

Sandy Leven's report on the Late Bulb Day is here  :  http://files.srgc.net/Showreports/latebulbday2014.pdf