Third Czech International Rock Garden Conference -May 2017

[johnw]

Maggi -  Easily enough done.  It's just there appears to be no flagon in hand unless he's just dropped it, hence the confusion.  It remains to be explained how Matt managed to take pix with one in his hand as well.

john

[Maggi Young]

 

[Maritfri]

Thanks Matt! These were gardens filled with exciting details, so it's good to share pictures so we can see what we did not see when we were there  ;)So many great pictures you show!

Marit

Another great blog, Marit full of more excellent photographs. It amazes me that we all visited the same gardens, yet something different catches our eye. You've photographed some plants and views I don't remember noticing.

[Matt T]

Beg to differ - that figure is of the crouching Bulb Despot, hidden husband!

Oops, of course it is! Crouching Figure, Hidden Despot. 

[Matt T]

Maggi -  Easily enough done.  It's just there appears to be no flagon in hand unless he's just dropped it, hence the confusion.  It remains to be explained how Matt managed to take pix with one in his hand as well.

john

Well, the beer was cheaper than water. And herbal tea. And anything else really. The excellent quality Czech beers were the cheapest way to stay hydrated!

If you use the auto setting it's quite easy to both sip and snap 

[Matt T]

I'm happy to be able to share a small part of the fantastic experience we all had. I'd urge you all to consider going if there is a 4th Czech conference...

My last posts here will be a few photos from the Prague Spring Show, held on the edge of Charles Square in the centre of Prague city. The show is held in the grounds of a church and includes show plants plunged for the show amongst permanent plantings in the garden. This way of presenting the show plants is a nice contrast to the usual benches of plants we see in the UK.

1. As we entered we were all herded in to the plant sales area. Priorities! Here are Pat Watson and Steve Stehouwer in the queue to pay.
2. Marit Friberg looks for something to buy.
3. These crevices included permanent plantings and some show plants.
4. L to R: Susan More, Fermi de Sousa and Will Arthur.
5. L to R (folk at front first, then back) Barbara Cooper, Bella Seiden, Julia Corden, Richard Green, Ian Young walking away, YY (Adrian Young's wife) and Roma Smith at back.

[Matt T]

6. Iris elegantissima.
7. A shady woodland bed with show plants.
8. Orchis purpurea.
9. A view over the colourful rock garden.
10. Rod Zander and Ian Young found a comfortable perch for a natter.

And so this brings my photographic overview to an end. There was so much more I have not shown in these pictures, including the great talks, sociable gatherings and friendships made and reaffirmed.

I'd like to echo the sentiments of others in commending the conference team for a superb job well done. From the perspective of us delegates, everything went perfectly and we all have an amazing experience. However, I know that the small team put in an awful lot of hard work behind the scenes, before and throughout the event. Even now they are still making information available and collating photographs of a memorable few days.

Thank you, very much, dear friends Zdenek, Zdena, Jiri, Ludmila, Katerina, Petr and Vojtech!

[Susan]

Thank you so much Matt for the wonderful photos, recalling great memories.  I enjoyed the Conference so much, both with the lectures and catching up with so many wonderful plants people.

 I returned home only a couple of weeks ago, after dragging my poor unsuspecting husband around rather a few more gardens than he anticipated when he flew over to meet me!  I think he thought I might have got it out of my system in the Czech Republic - how wrong could he be.    At present  there is a smattering of snow with a heavy frost on top outside, so   I have finally had time to look at all the postings and try to catch up with the SRGC.

It always fills me with enthusiasm to see how the rest of the world gardens and a bit depressing knowing that there are so many things we simply cannot bring in here.

Susan

[Maggi Young]

Panayoti Kelaidis has  mentioned his pleasure at attending the Czech Conference  in 2017 in various places  before now - and now comes a "crowning glory" so to speak - his blog entry about  my dear  friend and colleague, Zdenek Zvolanek and his  remarkable garden in Karlick.....

PK writes : "My tribute to a dear friend and the Master rock gardener of our age."

http://prairiebreak.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/the-master.html

[fermi de Sousa]

Supporters of the "Alpine Parrot" might be interested in this https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2017/oct/24/kea-voted-new-zealands-bird-of-the-year-video
As Jiri has adopted the Kea as his totem I thought I should post this here
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Sad news from Prague that Lenka Holubec has passed away.
Lenka was closely involved in the organisation of the Czech International rock garden plant conferences and well known to many of us. She will be much missed. Lenka's admirers in Scottish Rock Garden Club are so sad - and send all sincere condolences to her husband, Vojtech Holubec and the family.

Photos of  Lenka by Olga Bondareva and of the  Czech committee  by Zdena Kosourová






 Lenka and Vojtech

[ranunculus]

Such sad news ... our love and deepest sympathies to Vojtech and family.

[angie]

Sorry to hear this news. Thinking of you at this sad time.

Angie .

[ChrisB]

Very sad news, sincere condolences to Vojtech and the family