SRGC/AGS show - Northumberland - Saturday 10th October 2015

[Maggi Young]

The former "Ponteland" show takes places today in the new venue of Cowell's Garden Centre, Woolsingham.

The premier award of the Forrest Medal for the most meritorious plant in the show - held this year under SRGC rules - 
is Gaultheria crassa 'John Saxton'  - a superb plant  shown by Keith and Rachel Lever of Aberconwy.

This photo was posted in Facebook by Lawrence Peet ..... thanks, Lawrence

[Maggi Young]

Looks like things are going well at the new venue for the show at Cowells Garden Centre - they have posted these pix on Twitter...

[Ian Y]

The former "Ponteland" show takes places today in the new venue of Cowell's Garden Centre, Woolsingham.

The premier award of the Forrest Medal for the most meritorious plant in the show - held this year under SRGC rules - 
is Gaultheria crassa 'John Saxton'  - a superb plant  shown by Keith and Rachel Lever of

Congratulations on a lovely plant but can anyone tell me what relationship this plant has to Gaultheria crassa, a plant we grow in the garden, which I understood has dry brown seed capsules not these lovely red fleshy fruits.

[ichristie]

Hello all, just back from the Ponteland show well organised once again by Alan Newton and Alan Furness with the Newton family looking after the food and drink I only had coffee, went with Cyril and Sam Sutherland the judging was tight with several plants in the running. I am posting a selection in several messages, cheers Ian the Christie kind

[ichristie]

Next.

[ichristie]

more

[Maggi Young]

I see Mr and Mrs MacGregor chewing away beside Alan Furness in  pic DSC_0030 - bacon baps or bacon and black pudding, I wonder ?   

[Peter Maguire]

No black pudding this year - Victoria put her foot down and said it was not possible - we were cooking the bacon on a barbeque behind the houseplant department. The bacon butties sold well, but Sue Simpson was devastated to find that there was a lack of black pudding. 

Thought I'd post my first pics from the show  - of the Forrest medal winner from Keith and Rachel Lever.



In answer to Ian Y's question - most internet references seem to refer to dry brown capsules, as does Mark and Adams' book on NZ alpine plants. However it's common name does seem to be Scarlet snowberry, and Salmon's 1985 book does include a photo of red fruits. Althuogh not as fine as the Forrest Medal plant - obviously. 
I wonder how much quoting of earlier descriptions has gone on without checking the facts?

More photos to follow tomorrow, once I've recovered from 10 hours of hauling plant pots around.

[Stan da Prato]

award winners - apart from  the Gaultheria  John Saxton already shown  Bob & Rannveig Wallis took a clutch of awards in the open section with  their small  six pan exhibit. Alan Furness took the Millennium Trophy for  best foliage plant with a large pot of Celmisia.

[Stan da Prato]

Bob Worsley won the Newcastle Trophy in Section 2 as well as the Ewesley salver for best cyclamen in a 19 cm pot while  Vivien Self   was best in section 3  so received the Newcastle Bowl.

[Stan da Prato]

The show had moved to Cowells garden centre in Newcastle which gave an attractive background to the show in the autumn sunshine. The availability of trolleys  was soon taken up by exhibitors.

[Stan da Prato]

There were two benches one mainly large pots the other  19 cm max.

[Stan da Prato]

my customary whistle stop tour round the benches

[Stan da Prato]

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[Stan da Prato]

continuing along the first side of the large pots