Dublin AGS show, 28th April 2007

[Paddy Tobin]

There was a good turnout for today's show in Dublin with good weather and excellent plants.

Enough said, here is the first batch of photographs.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Batch 2, Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Batch 3

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Batch 4

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Batch 5

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

Batch 6 and that's my lot.

Paddy

[ranunculus]

Super shots Paddy...many thanks for sharing.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great effort with super shots and plants Paddy !
Thanks a million !

[David Nicholson]

Great pictures Paddy, thanks for taking us to Dublin with you.

[Joakim B]

What a treat to be to 3 shows in a day.
Thanks tor taking us to Dublin and I almost managed to see all pics last night (5/6 of them atleast).
Great work
Joakim

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Paddy, what a treat! Glad to see so many chums doing well with so many good plants.
Quite a few of theseplantswere represented at the wee Inverness local show on Saturday, too... quess which eejit forgot her camera? I hope that David Shaw will have some to post later.

Liam's Ramonda is a lovely, soft colour, a worthy winner. Some great plants from Susan T, too, I see. Congratulations, everyone! Thanks, Paddy, for the tour.

[mark smyth]

and another forum member was there playing mind games with me. Guy/Gee

[Paddy Tobin]

Many thanks to all for your comments. Actually, I enjoyed being the 'reporter' for the day. Usually I would visit the show and take photographs purely for my own interest, of the plants in which I am particularly interested,  to be able to look again at them later on, but yesterday my mind was very much on taking as good a selection of photographs so that I could show them on the site.

It was a day of excellent weather yesterday and the turnout at the show reflected this. I don't recall such a well attended show in Dublin. As might be expected there were some excellent plants on display as well as the very regular exhibitors who turn out year after year and show outstanding plants.

After my query last week, the one which ruffled some feathers, I must say I enjoyed the show very much. Of course, there were some plants which, in my mind, did not grace the show benches and some which were not suitable at all. I find it hard to see how Heuchera macrantha can be put on an AGS showbench, for example. Also, there were some dodecatheon which showed how pinched a plant can become when pot grown when it deserves the resources of the open garden at  its roots. Now, there's my rant for today. Sure, it wouldn't be the same if I didn't blow a little steam every day.

On the other hand, I must report that I had the most instructive half hour on showing plants that anyone would be delighted to have. I walked the benches in the company of Bob Gordon. Those who know Bob will know what an experienced exhibitor and grower he is, so the walk about with his comments was a  priceless experience as he pointed out the good points and bad points of the many plants on display.

Priceless also was meeting Mr. Snowdrop himself. I spotted Mark's name on a few cards on the showbenches. Another web posted present was Guy. Guy has been too busy he told me to visit the forum. Guy had a plant stall at the show yesterday. It was good to meet some from the forum as well as others whom I meet only on such occasions. Indeed, the social aspect of the shows seems to be as important to many as the competition itself.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely collection Paddy, my thanks added to all the others.

Maybe 15 years ago I found an article in an Irish magazine which mentioned Liam Byrne and his interest in alpines. Being me, I wrote to him (days before emails) wondering if he'd like a sort of like-minded penfriend here, but I had no reply. Pity.

[mark smyth]

I bet he's watching!