Czech Alpine Conference and Tours May 2007

[David Nicholson]

Just back home after a few days away in Ledbury visiting mum-in-law and have spent the best part of a pretty wet afternoon catching up with the Forum and in particular Mark's wonderful Czech pictures. Those Czech's are some gardeners, I think if I ever get a second chance on this earth I shall come back as an apprentice gardener in Praha.

The few days away had meant to include a trip to the Malvern Spring Show (just up the road from Ledbury) last Friday, but mum-in-law wasn't up to it so it was nice to see Rob's pictures and see some of what I missed. Instead we got her into the car and had a run through some of the Welsh marches (one of my favourite areas) and included a visit to Lingen to see one of my favourite Nurseries (Kim Davis, the owner did some of his training at Inshriac at the same time as Jim Jermyn) but found that the Nursery is closed at present and will not be opening this year. Missed out again!

Mark, what on earth have you done to your avatar? In it you remind me very much of Mark Simpson, the BBC News Reporter with the Ulster accent, on a very, very bad news day. It's not you at all!!

[Maggi Young]

See, Mark, David agrees with Lesley and I !
If you didn't like the bulldog/wasp thing, how about "you've lost a pound and found sixpence" ? Give us back Smiley Mark, please!

Lionel is from Blackpool, not Birmingham, he's the AGS/SRGC Blackpool Show Secretary and a nifty grower, too. 

 

[mark smyth]

frowning due to bright sun. I'll get a new one when someone comes

[ruweiss]

Mark,
we could not join the post-conference tour , but now we can do it the virtual way by your excellent pictures. Many thanks for it!
We visit the Czech rockgarden friends since 25 years almost annually, and it was not always such an easy travelling when the Iron
Curtain was existing. Some of the gardens are well known to us.
The conference was for us an outstandig wonderful event with the company of so many friendly people;thanks to the Czech officials,
which did such a wonderful job!
Catering was not so bad for us, the Bohemian kitchen was maybe new to you.

Rudi
(The one,who recommended you the conifers at the show)

[Diane Clement]

My pictures of the show are not brilliant but will start here in the interests of chronology.  I'll try not to duplicate any of Mark's but odd swaps may creep in.

Crevice and cacti
Crevice work
conifer crevice
Erigeron leiomerus
Leontopodium alpinum nivale
Gentiana acaulis
massive haberlea clump
Rhododendrons
Calanthe discolor

[Maggi Young]

Hello, Rudi, we appreciate you voicing your thanks to the conference organisers.....they must have been very busy indeed to stage such a packed conference programme and also all these wonderful tours.
I am sure that we should be grateful that it is now so much easier to visit these friendly Czechs and their wonderful gardens in these times. There is so much to learn from their skills.

Catering was not so bad for us, the Bohemian kitchen was maybe new to you.

perhaps that is something else we could learn?

[Diane Clement]

Did Lionel Clarkson behave himself on the trip?

Let's sort out this.  There were two Lionels on the trip.  One from Birmingham on Mark's bus and Lionel Clarkson from Blackpool on my bus.  Here is latter, judge for yourself whether he is behaving himself

 

[Diane Clement]

But what was he photographing?     Cliff hold your breathe now please.     

In trying to reply to John F's question, this has got all out of order and so I will answer this question in Day 1 East Bohemian circle.

[Maggi Young]

Good heavens, TWO Lionels!  Who'd have thought it! Was Lionel from Birmingham with his wife Diane ? The Barnwells? I didn't know they were going... they are SRGC chums! They came to their first SRGC discussion weekend in Pitlochry, a great couple. lots of fun... I'm sure neither of them were behaving themselves!!

[Maggi Young]

But what was he photographing?

From the angle of his knee bend,I estimate some Czech gravel  But I'd lay money on a buttercup, if the Bookeroo is invloved!!

[Diane Clement]

Good heavens, TWO Lionels!  Who'd have thought it! Was Lionel from Birmingham with his wife Diane ? The Bramwells?

That's them, I think they're Barnwells.  That also makes two Dianes.  And two Zdeneks that I counted.   

[Diane Clement]

Day 1 Jiri Novak's garden
For those who like to put faces to names:
The second pic has Rick Lambert inspecting an acer
the 6th has the owner, Jiri, with Harvey Shepherd from East Lancs (and he also been spotted north of the border on occasions)
the 7th is a wonderous sight in the open garden!      

[mark smyth]

hey Rudi! I saw that conifer in many gardens during the post conference tour. Many thanks for suggesting it.

[mark smyth]

the blue flower is Eritrichium

[Maggi Young]

and he also been spotted north of the border on occasions

Indeed he has! Harvey is a "weel kent face" in Scotland and we enjoy his ferns and other plants he brings to shows, too!