Early Bulb Day in Dunblane 2009

[Anthony Darby]

I can sympathise Tom as I have spent many EBDs in that balcony. It wouldn't be difficult to fix a large permanent screen from the ceiling above the stage. Perhaps someone could contact one of the custodians? There used to be an entrance fee, but it proved unworkable.

[Maggi Young]

It did occur to me that the screen is not really adequate for such a large hall.
As I spotted Tom and Cindy just outside the main hall as Ian was auctioning the pictures.... Tom was so far away that he looked like a little chap, and little he is not.... a tall man and solidly built!!
 I am sure that Jean and Sandy will make approaches to see if anything can be done. Capacity for the halls and parking are quite another problem.  Some years there are not so many visitors... there were the added numbers this year from the Snowdrop Events, of course.  The availability of suitable halls is a huge problem across the country for shows .... availability and affordability ...... the charges for some venues are truly ridiculously high.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks a lot to the reporters for a great photographic impression of what looks to have been a hugely succesful show !!
So much colour there this early in the season... no wonder crowds get bigger every year !!

Thanks again for sharing the event with us ! 

[J.B.Wyllie]

There was never a charge for the Bulb Day.

We discontinued the charge for our show a few years ago.

As Maggi says good halls are difficult to find, there are always problems --cost , parking,and size

We do our best

Jean

[TC]

... Tom was so far away that he looked like a little chap, and little he is not.... a tall man and solidly built!!

Thank you for the euphemism Maggi, the correct clinical term is obese, or, as Mma. Ramotswe of the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency would say "traditionally built".  The river Clyde always had a tradition of building things more robust than they needed to be.

I was afraid that my original posting would seem a bit needling and I am glad to see that it was understood in the manner it was meant.

I had brought my old Martin guitar with me to show Ian but when I saw the crush it did not seem such a good idea - I couldn't have got through the door with it.  During the lunch break, we went up to see Graham Stewart, the silversmith, and as Cindy was choosing her birthday present, Graham and I were taking turns playing in the back gallery of the shop.  Amazingly, the customers did not complain and seemed to enjoy the impromptu gig.
Eventually we had to get back to the show, me prising the guitar from Graham and Cindy prising the credit card from me, and everyone was happy.

[Maggi Young]

Tom, I do prefer the appellation, "solidly built" ..... otherwise phrases concerning, pot, kettle and black come too readily to mind   

Here are some photos to give some more flavour of the day...... in no particular order...
click the pix  to enlarge ..... I'll return after I've got them all loaded to tell you about people pictured  where possible......
I did not take any closeups of the plants on display.... it was hard enough to get a chance to get overall shots, but I hope it will show how colourful the hall was...
I now realise that I did not get any photos of the super photographic presentation of snowdrop types by Ian MacNaughton.... SO MANY people around it!


First picture here shows Joan Rowe from the Aberdeen Group in the red fleece and Brenda Walker from Newcastle Group ....Brenda and Alastair were up for the RBGE Evet, too. They celebrated their wedding anniversary at Dunblane, though there was no time for cake and champagne..... drat it!

Fourth picture is of two former SRGC leaders, President Ian the Second (Bainbridge), on the  left and President Ian the first (Young) , on the right ..... President Ian the third (The Christie kind) was so busy he didn't stand still long enough to get snapped, I don't think!!
In the eighth pic, the very tall chap is another former President, Peter Semple , he's talking to John Lee, Glasgow Show Secretary.

[Maggi Young]

and some more....

 there was a lovely selection of plants on display, mostly bulbs 
 

[Maggi Young]

the next batch.....

pic 1    Near the projector, in pink fleece, is Julia Corden, first of the speakers for the Day.

 2.... in the gloaming  (flash did not fire)... are the figures of Gavin Macnaughton and his mum Beryl, from Macplants....

3 Ian spent a fair amount of the day adjusting yet another projector or laptop computer!

4 the charming Sue Staines, with Wol in the background....... so many were pleased to have the chance to buy some of the rare 'drops that do not appear often up here.

5 Big John Amand in bulb negotiations with Sue Gill.... that girl drives a hard bargain, I reckon 
6 some bulbs on sale
7 Greta McHarry from the S. W of Scotland ... a stalwart supporter of club events.
8 Jim Sutherland from Ardfearn  and James Meff  from Aberdeen
9 Agnes Sutherland .... sweet Agnes is never without a pair of pretty flower earrings... she has a whole garden full!
10 The ladies are Aberdeen folks.... Isobel McWilliam, I think that may be Frances Lyall's back  and  Carol Marriott     Jolly Green Giant is my pal Alan Weepers from Fife and the chap that could perhaps be either David Quinton or Martin Baxendale, is ,in fact, Struan Harley!

[Maggi Young]

and more......

1 Helen Amand, at the end of the stall, selling to Aberdeen member Angela Townsley, in the mustard coat.

2 in the dark, there is a glow from some spectacles in the balcony.

3 in the yellow coat, half hidden, Jo Lawrence from Aberdeen and her pal Ina  Morris, from Perthshire ( Ina's husband John was the chap I thought I recognised in the throng at the English Galanthus Gala.... he's  a happy sufferer of the white fever ) Wol Staines and cheery ex AGS President Rod Leeds  who was having a very busy day, as I already explained!

4 Sandy Leven and Ian Young on the stage. Sandy had been very "hashed" all weekend ( hashed =rushed) since he had mounted the snowdrop display at the RBGE on Friday then transferred all the plants to Dunblane for Saturday.

5  lots of folk preparing to get lunch...... John Graham at the far left ,  next, bending forward, Ruth from Dundee, then smiley artist Eileen Goodall and Kathleen from Edinburgh with Alice and Fred Hunt at far front right.

6 The Wyllie Wifie brought a selection of "widgers" to show what these handy little gadgets are to those unfamiliar..... see Carlo's post eleswhere to source them!!

7 Sue Staines has a seat and chats to Anthony Darby

8 Ken East from Edinburgh (in cream jacket) behind the smiley David Boyd, Alan Newton ( trying to look more  intelligent, I think) and at right edge of picture, Brenda Newton... another three from the Newcastle area.

9 Gordon Smith from Aberdeen and Julia Corden from Pitlochry

 10 The Joint Rock Committee met on the stage, behind the curtains, to consider the plants o put up for awards..... this shot grabbed through the door as they packed up.... here's another former AGS President, John Richards, looking cheerful, of hungry 

[Maggi Young]

still more....
1 &2  The first two photos in this batch were kindly taken for me by an extremely tall Dutch visitor.... it  was my only chance to show you the display room with the party from the Netherlands packing in to it 

3 Back in the main hall, lunch was being taken ..... behind David and Alan, spot the elusive Tony Willis, chatting with Sue Gill. Centre right of shot.... Chris and Joan Rowe, from Aberdeenshire. Can't understand how I did not picture any of the many folks carrying trays with bowls of soup around.

4 Another shot where the flash failed.... but centre left is the unmistakeable head of John Mitchell, RBGE, and to the right, facing this way, Margaret Thorne from Edinburgh and Borders SRGC Groups, though many of you may know  her with her husband David, as an AGS Tour leader.  The VERY TALL CHAP to the back right is the  kind Dutch gentleman who took the overhead shots of the display room for me 
5 Did Hagen Engelmann sprint across Europe to attend? Sadly ,not this year, but Michael Thornley, rhododendron enthusiast from Glenarn, Rhu,  on the West Coast of Scotland is a close approximation in looks, is he not?  The lady with her back to us is Margaret Taylor.
6 Big John Amand again.... looking uncharacteristically angelic ..... must be up to some mischief!
9 Graeme Strachan from Aberdeen, taking some of the great pix he's shown us already. No need for a wide angle lens for Grame, he's bulit like a whippet!
10 there were a lot of these white flowers about......

[Maggi Young]

final few....

2 Stella and David Rankin, of Kevock Gardens , with President Ian and Mrs Ann of the Christie kind, in the background..... I couldn't get any nearer their stall!

3.... from the coach taking the Aberdeen contingent home...

4 Graeme S. front left, is caught in the glare of publicity! Frances and Alastair McKelvie are on the right

5 Two new chums, joining our SRGC party from another local gardening club, June P on the left, and Jackie R on the right .... further back on the left are Elizabeth and Ron Smart

[art600]

Maggi

You must have been a busy bee to capture the very essence of the day.

Thanks a lot for the postings   

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks everyone, I feel as though I was there by proxy

[Graeme Strachan]

Maggi,
         I see you got your own back!!!

               Graeme

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Graeme... family motto... don't get mad, get even! 


Arthur... I certainly was.... no time for soup or chocolate.... that shows HOW busy!!

going back now to add some names and comments....