2009 SRGC Discussion Weekend

[Ragged Robin]

Have a great time everyone, I'm looking forward to hearing all about it in your postings - once you have recovered 

[Maggi Young]

Hoorah! Today'sthe Day!!
And it's Diane C's birthday, so the drinks will be on her, eh?!! 
Except.... I already owe her a drink... or two.... ah well, I suppose it can't be helped!! 

I think this will be a fun  birthday for you, Diane!! 

[Ragged Robin]

Happy Birthday, Diane, have a great day with plenty of celebration amongst Forum Members   

[FrazerHenderson]

Thanks to all the organisers: Liz, Jean, Willie, Ian and others

and to the speakers for some great lectures which entertained, educated and informed

to the nurseries for some tempting beauties

and to all those fellow SRGC members who were present for their comradeship.

There were plenty of cameras in evidence and I'm sure photographic records will follow shortly.

[ranunculus]

Thanks Frazer ... it was good to meet you.


Thanks and congratulations to all the organisers, helpers, delegates, nurserymen, lecturers and hotel staff for yet another tremendous autumn conference.  We enjoyed wonderful talks, convivial company, very few drinks (who says that Scandinavia has the most expensive bar prices?) and some excellent facilities.
It was wonderful to meet so many forumists (and lurkers) during the weekend and I will elaborate on this as the postings develop.
I will begin with a few images of the venue and of the show hall during staging.

The venue for the SRGC Conference in October 2009.
Aciphylla pinnatifida
Cremnosedum 'Little Gem'
Ian Christie's gentian
John & Clare Dower's campanula

[ranunculus]

Some more plants captured during staging ...


Lionel Clarkson's viola
John & Clare's prize winning mini-garden
Rhodophiala advena
Show hall

[ranunculus]

Some more images captured during staging ... many plants were still awaiting labels and final positioning.


Pre-judging at the conference show

[ranunculus]

Final batch of pre-judging images ...


Images captured prior to judging at the 2009 SRGC Conference Show
Pre-Show 13 features Show Secretary; Willie organising the exhibits

[Darren]

Susan and I would like to add our thanks too. We had a lovely weekend and it was tough to come home! I'm spending my day sorting out our array of purchases. Surprising how much there is. Poor Susan is back at work but I know she is looking here at break times in anticipation of more pictures.

p.s. The wine WAS expensive but a Scottish hotel with two american whiskies and only one single malt really makes me shake my head....

[ranunculus]

Well Darren, I hadn't realised that the bar was also DRY ... it sounds perfect for a billionaires conference in Utah!

I took photos at the conference dinner but only of those at our table (there were other cameras flashing ... images please).  Many of the attached are of our table members paying homage to the extortionate wine ...

Yours truly and Judy Humphreys toasting the forum with a non-existent glass
Ranunculus, Howard & Judy - Judy is stunned by the quality!
Diane Clement joining the adulation of the sacred liquid!
Shelagh & Brian and Diane beginning to suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Luit van Delft asking the waiter for two more bottles (the waiter fainted)!
John & Clare Dower and Shelagh Smethurst enjoying the bouquet of wine wafting across from the next table.
Vroni & Luit van Delft wishing that they had smuggled in some bottles from Noordwijkerhout.

[JohnnyD]

When did you ever see a better dressed and sober lot than that.
Even Cliff had a jacket and tie.

Brilliant event, super new friends and no way could the extortionate bar prices interfere with the fun.
Congratulations to all involved.
JohnnyD & Clare

[ranunculus]

In more serious mode - forum stalwarts, Luit and Vroni most generously donated part of a huge collection of rare and often unobtainable narcissus to the SRGC to be sold at the conference. The bulbs were from the 'connoisseur' collection and realised over £1000 during the weekend. The proceeds from this sale will be used to support the tremendous work of the forum and our thanks must go to Luit & Vroni, to Maggi and her wonderful team of helpers who spent hours on the floor of the hotel sorting and pricing the bulbs, to the SRGC members who sold the bulbs during the event and, more especially perhaps, to the 'Connoisseur' who generously donated a large proportion of his magnificent collection of bulbs to be used in this way.  

Maggi - would you please be so kind as to expand on or correct this paragraph with your own comments as I am uncertain of all the facts about this tremendous gift?

In addition, Luit and Vroni wished to honour the efforts of Maggi and Ian in their 'leadership' of the forum.  John Dower was gently coerced into announcing the presentation of gifts to both Maggi and Ian from Luit & Vroni and I now invite John to summarise his address for you all - please?


Luit presents a gift to Maggi.
Maggi looks delighted.
Maggi realises it contains CHOCOLATE.
Jean announces the auction is about to begin.
John Dower's 'First prize' entry in the photographic competition.

[David Nicholson]

You all look to have had a great time, wish I could have made it. Thanks for the report Cliff, and come on you lot, more pics please.

[JohnnyD]

Thanks Cliff.

It was a totally 'non-onerous' duty to propose Luits vote of thanks, and gift of special chocolates, to Maggi for all her work on the forum, and the immediacy of the applause as it was voiced was ample testimony to the mood of the whole room.

When asked, every forum member stood - even the 'lurkers' - to give Maggi a thoroughly well deserved and heart felt ovation.

It was a very thoughtful touch that Luit also brought a 'choccy prezzy' for Ian, on the basis he probably wouldn't get a look-in!!! ,

But how did he know that Toblerone was Ians favourite? We may never know.

Cheers Maggi, what would we do without you?

JohnnyD

[David Nicholson]

........ and richly deserved by both of them.