AGS/SRGC Hexham Show

[David Nicholson]

I love the Primula marginata "Shipton's Form", I must try to find one of those.

[Peter Maguire]

Final batch of plants from Hexham:

Hepatica hybrid - americana x acutiloba (David Boyd)
Cyclamen rhodium ssp peleponnesianum (David Boyd)
Fritllaria tubiformis (David Millward)

I was just taking pictures of plants that caught my eye as I walked around, and you may notice that many of them were exhibited by David Boyd. For those of you who do not know David, he is a very skilled exhibtor of plants with a particular interest in hepaticas, cyclamen and hellebores.

Peter

[Maggi Young]

You're going great guns, Peter!  Thank You!

According to a post by Chris B in the iris thread, I think Darren's Iris is I. suaveolens violacea.

That Broadwell Milkmaid gets about a bit, doesn't she? Must be the farm air!

Nice to see some of Boydie's plants...he is such a fantastic grower, though heaven knows how he manages to grow such good stuff when he is overun by those cats of his, you'd wonder anything survived those 'puddy tats'.... wonder what state his curtains are in?

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for posting the pictures Peter, I enjoyed them.

[Peter Maguire]

Maggi,

Yes, now that you mention it I was totally wrong about the Iris.

I'll put it down to the lack of sleep. I used to be a little disbelieving when Alan Newton was show secretary telling me tales of getting up at 5.30 on the morning of the show to get his plants ready after setting up the show until the small hours of the morning. Well this year, having finally got to bed by 00.50, there I was in the greenhouse at 06.00 cleaning pots (I managed a second prize!).

It would seem that a certain streak of madness is needed to show plants.

Peter

[Peter Maguire]

And finally from Hexham, for those of you who have not been to the Hexham show, I thought that a general overview of the show hall might be of interest -picture 1. Also the local group display of fishbox troughs was mentioned, there are two pictures of this display which won a large gold award from the AGS (does Chelsea beckon next, or are the team too exhausted?) - pictures 2 & 3. Also the obligatory photo of judges enjoying their job - picture 4 (from left to right: Geoff Mawson, Ian Bainbridge, Jean Wyllie, John Richards, Carole Bainbridge and Robert Rolfe. It might help someone put faces to names)

Peter

[ChrisB]

Hi, I got to the show too, and posted some pix elsewhere on the site, here are some that are not on this thread yet

[Lesley Cox]

The little iris is particularly attractive. Hopefully some seed will turn up in a list at some stage. And a great Haastia! In nature it grows into a dead flat cushion, extremely hard, with the shoots all of even length but I like this uneven version (the result of growing under glass probably), it's more interesting. (I don't mean a flat plant, it's a great humpy thing, just that the surface is smooth.)

[mark smyth]

I need/want to attend an English show!

[Darren]

Hi folks,
            The show was great and I agree with the comments above on that lovely Iris pumila. There was also a nice Iris suaveolens rubromarginata on the bench, with more blue/purple flowers than my 'violacea' and red margins to the leaves.

I'm still gobsmacked about winning the Sandhoe trophy. I was convinced that the card had been put in the wrong place until the Bainbridges convinced me otherwise. I almost left the plant in the car too....

Darren.

[SueG]

I also took some pics at Hexham so here are some other things which caught my eye!

a view down the benches
Peter M talking with Ron M with John Richards on left
the door keepers! David Boyd on left and I don't know the other names though they know me which is slightly scary!
Darren procreating on the showbench!
One of Davod B's hepaticas
Sue

[SueG]

More pics of plants
a study in purple
a nice cyclamen
the plant I wanted to take home with me Cymbidium
and a close up
Iris attica

[SueG]

and more
lupinus and a scilla and another iris
My other pics replicate ones already here or are not very good - my camera does not like the light in the hall so several pics are without flash and a bit too blurry to post.
I bought a number of plants - erythroniums, narcissus, asarum and sold lots more at the members plant table plus had a few plants in the show. I think there were more people there than the last couple of years - certainly felt like that, and there seemed to be a lot more plants in sections B & C.
Alll in all an enjoyable if exhausting day
Sue

[TC]

Susan
Primula Netta Dennis is a cross between Aureata and Gracilipes - so I was told.  It first appeared on the show benches about 8 years ago. Bob Meaden and I managed to get hold of a plant each which I carefully nurtured until I forgot to open the greenhouse door one day and came back in the evening to find it baked.  I have never seen it offered again by any nursery.  I suppose the only way to obtain one is to ingratiate yourself with the current growers or try crossing the plants yourself.

[Anthony Darby]

By heck: some show!