AGS Harlow 28th Feb '09

[Giles]

Dear Forumists,
Just a couple of odd things that caught my eye:
Androsace ochotensis
Arcterica nana (the comfort of woodiness (rather than towels))
Colchicum luteum

[Giles]

a few more:
Saxifraga 'Maria Callas'
RHS Wisley's Hepatica display
My fave Hepatica (no name)
I met the 'Channel Hopper' (!)

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Giles, thanks for these.... a treat for us in the north to see what's happening "down there"!!

[David Nicholson]

I met the 'Channel Hopper' (!)

and I bet he had spent a fortune on plants too

[Giles]

Dear David,
I couldn't possibly comment, as I was somewhat 'preoccupied' myself....

[art600]

Luc Gilgemyn and Luc the Lurker made the trip and they will return for the Kent Show in 3 weeks.

I will post a photo tomorrow of my pal's plant that he took to show the Wallises and ended up entering it in Section B.  He got a first and the Geoff Smith Salver for the best bulbous plant in Section B & C.  Hope I gave Ian some of the seed.

Found it too dark to take good photos in the Show Hall.  Hope Kent will be better.

Agree with Giles that the Wisley Hepatica Display was excellent.

Edrom had some very nice Hepatica at very nice prices 

[Maggi Young]

Luc Gilgemyn and Luc the Lurker

Bless them! They sound like a modern beat combo, don't you think? We must come up with something better for Luc the Second, rather than  Luc the Lurker..... maybe Luc the Second will suffice.... we must find if he harbours any royal pretensions... it sounds a kingly title...

[art600]

He is as nice as the Luc we know and grows 1000 bulbs in a greenhouse and frames that have me green with envy.

He has a stall booked for the Mid-Anglia Bulb Sale in August.  It will be nice to have a new source of bulbs.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

mmm made a post earlier on, but it seems to have gone missing in cyber space...

I'm glad our first 'hop' of the season was a very good one !  We attended a splendid show and were able to greet some formumists, which is always a pleasure !  We met Giles, Paul Cumbleton, Art and his pal Dan  , but we seem to have missed Tony G. and others perhaps...  )

Don't know about that modern beat combo Maggi ....
But you might baptise my chum Luc (the lurker) into Luc BBD (Belgian Bulb Despot) as so many of us, he's a big fan of the Bulblog and it's author...    If only I could get him to post here... (he'll be cross when he reads this...  )  but who knows, one day you might get stuck with two Luc's here....

As to fortunes spent, David, I'm telling no secret that the exchange rate of £ is very clement to us 'continentals' at the moment...    alas, as Ian (pleione) Butterfield also had a sales table, all possible benifits from the exchange situation went up in smoke... 

Enough comments though - I made some pictures ... difficult circumstances though, so please excuse any imperfections... (as in the naming of plants  )

Here's some general views to begin with ...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

and now for something completely different...

1) Crocus chrysanthus 'Ard Schenk'
2) Crocus 'Cream beauty'
3) Crocus vernus vernus
4) Crocus dalmaticus (Farrer winner !! - what a pot !!!  )
5) Iris 'Halkis'
6) Iris histrio (wonderful potful !)
7) Iris ret. 'Anemone' - hope I had the name right
Iris maracantica x narbutii
9) Iris winogradowii
10) Iris x sindpers

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Some more... last for tonight - hope to find the time for more tomorrow !

1) Narcissus asturiensis
2) Narcissus cantabricus (a sumptuous pot !  )
3) Narcissus ex 'Julia Jane' - subject to lots of discussions on the forum -
4) Narcissus minicycla
5) Narcissus romieuxii albidus ex Rif (discussed in this week's bulblog)
6) Narcissus 'Small Talk'
7) Narcissus 'Snipe'

[Diane Clement]

Thanks for posting the pix, Luc. 
The Iris retic Anemone is a stunner.  WOW   

[Lvandelft]

Beautiful show Giles and Luc.
Wish I was as close to the Cannel harbour as you Luc.
Luc and Luc would be great companions for such trips!

[Rob]

Thanks Giles & Luc for posting the photos from the show.

[Lesley Cox]

Many thanks Luc. You must have had a great time. Seems you liked the little Juno hybrid? Me too. But where are the pics of our Forumists?