Hexham AGS/SRGC Show- 2011

[Maggi Young]

we sold loads of raffle tickets to people who lusted after the blue eggs

Now that sounds intriguing.... "blue eggs"... real eggs ( Duck eggs)  painted eggs.... chocolate eggs  ...... tell me more, please!

[Darren]

We had a lovely day at Hexham, as always. My two 'firsts' were just a bonus! We seemed to spend most of the day gossiping. Many thanks to Peter and his crew for putting on such a brilliantly organised show again.

The plants that stood out for me this time were Anne Wright's numerous Narcissi including some fantastic hybrids (fernandesii x triandrus and obesus x triandrus I was really taken with). Chris showed a picture above of Alan Furness's stunning potful of seed-raised Fritillaria gibbosa.

On the bench next to my own Frit davidii was another specimen belonging to Wilma and Jim Wright and it was obviously a different clone so some cross-pollination was negotiated. Fingers crossed eh? Ironically we each preferred the clone belonging to the other so I dare say some rice will be swapped at some stage too.

[angie]

Chris thanks for posting the pictures. Looks as if was a great show. This is when you wish you had went, seeing all those lovely flowers.

Darren well done with your two firsts 

Maggi that's great that Maureen made it, hopefully I will hear all about it when she gets back home.

Angie

[ChrisB]

thanks for the id Darren.  That pot full was certainly a show stopper for me.  Must take years of patience and understanding to get that result.  Sure did enjoy the day.  Thanks especially from me to John who took time to show me how he creates those wonderful mini gardens, sorry I didn't get that far to take pics but it just gets better every year, and to David Boyd who took time to talk me through how to care for my growing collection of hepaticas (he slipped me a bit of one of his wonderful Millstone Merlin's on my way out, how lucky am I?).  Its all over far too soon but the weather has been great so I'm back out in the garden today, weeding and splitting clumps of this and that, and putting all my pots back where they belong.

[veteran vet]

For once I had a camera at the show but did not have time to take a single photograph...the huge entry meant judging finished late...just in time for the official public entry...did the sales tables no harm as there were plenty people through the door all looking for plants..then lunch in a pub in Hexham, then a judges forum took up most of the afternoon...suddenly the day was over, just managed to get a look around. However Susan Tindall had her new camera to play with so I 'borrowed' some of her pics
Androsace muscoidea...exhibitor Trevor Harding...I do not have too many exhibitor names but will put in when I do
Paraquilegia grandiflora...Ian Kidman....had to have been very close to the Farrer
Primula allionii 'Raymond Wooster'

[veteran vet]

I'm getting a bit 'annoyed' to put it mildly re difficulty with my postings, all of which should be in keeping with size etc but which site says I can not post last try
 Cyril Lafong P A Broadwell Milkmaid
P allionii bench...Ian Leslie in red jacket talking to group chairman Peter Hood, further down, Ray Drew new AGS Director of Shows
Bench view...Glasford Sprunt, Ian Kidman, Brian Burrow, Geoff Mawson to name some

[Maggi Young]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble George, the server must be very busy and that is what is holding up your posts. Bear with it, we are enjoying the photos.

[veteran vet]

The bench of the 'Large Open'
Show sec Peter Maguire trying to be difficult
Fritillaria caucasica
Tropaeolum austropurpureum

[veteran vet]

P. a. 'Saracen'
Its Lewisia time again, here is L tweedyii
Androsace lehmanianna
Narcissus alpestris...shown by Alan Furness

[veteran vet]

There are a few more to do yet but thats all for the moment...as I said earlier these pictures were taken by Susan Tindall...hope her ferry was on time and the sailing was calm...she should just be getting home now...and she was taking time out from her sales table to use her new camera for the first time (bought on the advice of Peter Maguire I may say)...its always interesting to see how others view a show and what catches their eye or is of interest. I do hope there will be more pictures from other forumists as it was a really good alpine display...sorry I let the side down, day just zapped by

[Lesley Cox]

Stil no word on the blue eggs?

[Diane Clement]

Stil no word on the blue eggs? 

I think they were duck eggs - Chris will confirm.

[ChrisB]

No, they are chicken eggs for sure.  Sometimes I go feed them if Pearl and Mike go away.  Can't remember the name of the breed but they are chickens for sure.  They are the same as any other eggs to eat, but the shells are a pale blue colour.  And they had been laid 24 hours before the show too, as Pearl had given me the last of her eggs the day before.  Well done chickens.....

[mark smyth]

Araucana chickens lay blue eggs

[Gail]

I lost my araucanas to a fox but here are some pics of the eggs, a chick and an Araucana at the National Federation show.