EAST CHESHIRE A.G.S. SHOW, Hazel Grove, Stockport. Cheshire. 2nd May 2009

[ranunculus]

Congratulations to Show Secretary; Liz Maddock and her team on an excellent show at Hazel Grove today. Though numerically affected by the other AGS event on the same day in East Anglia, the show featured many super plants and the judges had a difficult decision in voting Ron and Hilary Price's beautifully grown plant of Lewisia leeana alba as the Farrer Medal winning exhibit. Other images to follow :-

East Cheshire AGS Show venue, Hazel Grove, Stockport
East Cheshire Show bench
Farrer Medal winning exhibit; Lewisia leeana alba exhibited by East Lancashire Group members; Ron and Hilary Price from Eccles
Ron and Hilary Price with their Farrer Medal exhibit and John Forrest - a judge at the event
Lewisia classes
Meconopsis delavayi

[Maggi Young]

Many congratulations to the Prices for that medal winner .... it's such a good do-er, isn't it?

Super to see JoF ( John Forrest) appearing in the Forum again. Always good to have a judge who has grown his fair share of cracking plants!

[Lesley Cox]

I do agree with that Maggi. Super to see John F.

I could show you a few pics from this show in 1981 if you're interested. Well actually I couldn't, they're all on coloured slides but I remember that day with much pleasure. I was able to help carry some entries into the venue. 

[ranunculus]

Lesley, may we ask you to reminisce about that show in 1981 please?  It would be of great interest to many of the current exhibitors, especially if you could remember names, plants, your impressions, etc.

[ranunculus]

A lot of images to post from East Cheshire AGS Show 2009 ...

Arisaema amurense
An arisaema close-up
Auricula close-up
Benthamiella patagonica
Blossom outside the hall
Blossom outside the hall
Blossom outside the hall
Campanula hakkiarica
Clematis marmoraria
Colour on the show bench

[ranunculus]

Another batch from East Cheshire 2009 ...

Carol Kellett preparing for the Pudsey Pig contest with a minimalist sweet
Peter Farkasch and Diane Clement limbering up for Pudsey
Cyclamen close-up
Cyclamen repandum Pelops
Cypripedium close-ups
Dodecatheon
Edraianthus

[ranunculus]

Next batch from East Cheshire ...

Edraianthus close-up
Erinacea anthyllis
Floral arrangements
Fritillaria close-up
Fritillaria epirotica
Haberlea
Huge lewisia exhibited by Alan Keay in a tremendous three pan
Iris close-up
Jankaea x vandedemii

[ranunculus]

More from East Cheshire Show ...

Lewisia class
Miniature garden exhibited by Mike and Mandy McGloughlin
Oxalis close-up
Oxalis Sheffield Swan
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium close-up
Pinus mugo
Pleione close-up
Primula florida
Primula florida close-up

[ranunculus]

Next batch from East Cheshire ...

Ranunculus seguieri exhibited by Lionel Clarkson
Rhodo' Wren
Rhodo's
Rosenia humilis
Saxifraga pubescens 'Snowcap' shown by Robert Rolfe
Sedum humifusum
Sempervivum montanum
Sempervivum montanum close-up
Oxalis Sheffield Swan close-up
Silene californica

[ranunculus]

Final batch for this morning ...

Show benches

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Cliff. Standard as high as ever.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You did it again Cliff ! 
Wonderful report of another beautiful show !  The Lewisias look stunning !! (as all the rest does...  )
Thanks for showing !!

[Lesley Cox]

Lesley, may we ask you to reminisce about that show in 1981 please?  It would be of great interest to many of the current exhibitors, especially if you could remember names, plants, your impressions, etc.

You'll need to give a day or two to think about it. At the time I kept a detailed diary of the whole trip but haven't laid eyes on it since we moved to this address almost 12 years ago.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks David and Luc ... a few more to finish off my East Cheshire posting for 2009.  There were quite a number of other forum members with cameras stalking the benches on the day ... please post your images to give a more complete picture. Did anyone capture the prize giving for example?

Allium elburzense
Androsace cylindrica
Massed arisaema blooms
Dodecatheon dentatum
Fritillaria epirotica
Primula bracteata
Ramonda myconi
Rhododendron 'Egret'
Rhododendron sargentianum
Show bench

[ranunculus]

My final image from East Cheshire Show 2009 is of Alan Keay's magnificent Lewisia three pan exhibit ... the large plant to the rear of the group was probably one of the finest Lewisia cotyledon hybrids I have seen in over twenty five years of attending national shows.