Aberdeen Show 15th May 2010

[Ragged Robin]

Very kind of you, thanks for all the info Graeme    I'm growing Silene acaulis from wild seed - a few years before it will look anything like Nick's wonderful specimen I think 

[Maggi Young]

Right, I've got Ian's photos from the show resized so here we go..... most of the pix of the show hall were taken during judging so we get a clear view of the benches....

[Maggi Young]

The day went very well, thanks to the terrific team of helpers that make it all happen.... from the collecting of the tables , delivering them to the hall, all the set-up procedures, the club plant stall,the large amount of kitchen work, stewarding, door welcome  gang..... there are so many tasks to be accomplished to make everything ready for the exhibitors and make the day a pleasure for them and all the visitors.... and with a bit of luck all the helpers enjoy themselves as well! Then, of  course, there is the whole kit and caboodle to be dismantled and the hall restored to its previous layout...... as the  plants are packed up and the exhibitors set off for home.


Judges at Aberdeen show this year were: Carole Bainbridge, Elspeth Mackintosh, Ian Christie, Fred Hunt, Sandy Leven,and Glassford Sprunt.

[Anthony Darby]

I hope the tea got a PC.

[Maggi Young]

Cakes did, but tea was down-pointed for polystyrene cups!

[Maggi Young]

3 native to Scotland from Stan da Prato: dwarf Scots pine Pinus sylvestris; Salix x boydii; Potentilla neumanniana

Allium akaka

Androscae _studiosorum - smaller plant
Androsace_studiosorum_Doksa... from Cyril, it won a Certificate of Mertit.
Cyril's plant Andro_studiosorum_Doksa  again
Anemone trullifolia
anemones
Angie's  Primula and Judges' tea
Angie_Primula maximowiczii
forumist Alan Gardner  spots Angie's plants

[Maggi Young]

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh had a super display. They were not able to show at Glasgow because the flowering period of their plants was out of kilter but happily there were plenty in good order to make the 130 mile journey up to Aberdeen.

RBGE1
RBGE _ comosum
RBGE Arisaema1.
RBGE arisaema 2
RBGE Cyp 1
RBGE Hyacinthoides vicenta : this was a real cutie that I would love to grow.
RBGE iris1
RBGE iris 2
RBGE overview
The plants, tended by Elspeth Mackintosh and brought up by her and  John Mitchell  of RBGE , helped by Struan Harley, were terrific and impressed the judges to the extent of a Certificate of Merit for Lewisia cotyledon var howelli and a  Gold Medal for the whole dispaly, but the icing on the cake was a Professional Medal for a truly glorious plant of Lewisia cotyledon var cotyledon.
The howelli was to the left of the big lewisias in the centre of the display, the Professional Medal went to the huge plant in the very middle!
It's the large one in this last shot with the howelli to its left....
RBGE fab lewisias.jpg

[Maggi Young]

My internet connection keeps dropping off so if I suddenly stop posting, you'll understand why.....

more RBGE plants, with a very happy Elspeth.....


RBGE Polygonatum odoratum
RBGE Tulbaghia leucantha
RBGE Elspeth with Gold display

[Maggi Young]

back to the rest of the show......
This shows where our Judges got their "label" from...
Jim and Agnes Sutherland of Ardfearn at their stall.

John Owen from Askival in Fort Augustus was the other nurseryman attending, but Ian didn't get a photo of John.... you'll see some of his plants on the bench, though!

Loiseleuria procumbens from John Owen in Section II

Some "erics" .....ericaceaous plants...
Askival Snowbird; Leiophyllum buxifolium nanum; Menziesia; Cassiope lycopodioides


Cassiope 'Askival Snowbird'

[Maggi Young]

Anne Chambers with the magnificant Arisaema griffithii (other half of the Chambers combo, husband Viv, was not at the show).... in the background to the photo, there is, to the left, Richard Barr, Bob Maxwell and  Mike Hopkins, while, midright, is  Fraser Beaton, the leader of the local plant stall Team.
Arisaema griffithii from Anne and Viv Chambers 1
aris griff2
aris griff3 ... this arisaema was awarded a certificate of merit.
Anne and her Gentiana acaulis....this was also  awarded a certificate of merit.

Arisaema triphyllum; from Dave Aitken , if I recall correctly.

Cypripedium 'Sebastian' ;this gained a certificatew of merit for Cyril Lafong.

[Maggi Young]

Will continue tomorrow , when I hope the internet connection will be less argumentative

[Ragged Robin]

The atmosphere of the hall really comes through in the photographs Maggi, thanks to you and Ian for putting them together to show us.  It's really good to have the general shots first which set the scene and show the hardworking Members in action who make the whole thing such a joy to see.

The RBGE entry is just outstanding - and I have to say once more how much I like the backdrop  - what a lot of work and dedicated professional care to bring so many different of plants in peak condition to the show and home again.  Many congratulations to everyone involved, especially Elspeth, no wonder she is smiling with hands full of awards.

Really good to see some of the individual plants associated with growers and congratulations to Angie on a truly lovely Primula maximowizii

Thought this was a great idea:

3 native to Scotland from Stan da Prato: dwarf Scots pine Pinus sylvestris; Salix x boydii; Potentilla neumanniana

Particularly interested in ericaceaous platns as i'm branching out in this direction - hoping to see miniature Rhodos:

some "erics" .....ericaceaous plants...
Askival Snowbird; Leiophyllum buxifolium nanum; Menziesia; Cassiope lycopodioides

Congratulations to Anne Chambers for her choice Arisaema griffithii & Gentiana acaulis, awarded Certificates of Merit

Also to Cyril for his Androsace_studiosorum_Doksa... which won a Certificate of Merit.

Allium akaka & the Anemones also caught my eye but I looking forward to seeing more wonderful things when you have time and hoping you have good internet connection

[Maggi Young]

and some more......

Carol Marriott, Honorary President ( or Hon Prezz!)  Bette Ivey ,Elspeth Mackintosh, with her back to the camera and SRGC Treasurer ,Ann  the Christie Kind.
bulbs 1.jpg
BIG Tiarella cordifolia 'Cygnet' from Mike Dale .... this was a gorgeous plant, just beautiful. it was awarded a certificate of merit.
tiarellas: 'Cygnet' and 'Iron Butterfly'
trillium rugellii - Graham Catlow in Section II
trilliums : note the large pan of the double grandiflora.....
trillium 1_ T. flexipes hybrid shown by Ian Christie
trills and Uvularia.jpg
tall two pan from Graham Catlow.jpg

[Maggi Young]

The largest pan of Trillium grandiflorum flore pleno was grown by Anne and Viv Chambers and was their third plant to win a certificate of merit at the show!
Here is Anne with the monster plant....

Now, you must be wondering which plant won the premier award for the best plant in the show?  Did the Glenrothes Greenfinger triumph again?
well, no, Cyril didn't get a medal.... Fred Hunt did, with a lovely pan of Lewisia 'George Henley'... here's the plant, but you'll have to wait for Sandy's show report onther main site to see Fred with 'George Henley'!
Lewisia 'George Henley' is a super plant, great colour but flowers of a neat size and habit, lacking in the rather garish aspect of some larger lewisia types.
Fred was delighted with his win.... he had only had a couple of plants to bring to the show so it was especially nice to strike gold!

[Maggi Young]

Now. let's see if I can get some more photos loaded....
 Centaurea lagascana

some colourful young sempervivum  for sale
conifers.jpg
cushion plants.jpg
Cyril's  Iris with Richard Barr in background
Daphne calcicola close up
Daphne calcicola
David Shaw, in the far left, with the Two Lucs, my neighbours Linda and Mike, and Roma in the foreground.
early sun on the bench
Facing is local member Carol Marriott_ cheery in red jacket is Hon Prezz_Bette Ivey talking to Elspeth Mackintosh_further away_Ann_the Christie kind is nearly hidden by greenery