Ponteland (Newcastle) Autumn show 2011

[Peter Maguire]

Just back from the Newcastle Show at Ponteland. Very successfull show for the two Alans' (joint show secretaries) revised show schedule. Plenty of plants (about 450 I believe), with lots of autumn colour from foliage, crocus and cyclamen (only 3 Gentians though).
Success story of the day - David Boyd won the Forrest medal, his first, and an Award of Merit, with a lovely plant of Nerine humilis. Much cheering at the prize presentation! 
Photos downloading at present, so they will follow later.

[Peter Maguire]

Photos of the plant, and the lad himself talking to Sandy Leven behind the plant on the showbench. (The slightly 'wooden' poses are because the light was so poor I had to ask them to stand very still for the photo)

[johnw]

A stunning potful of Nerine, it dioesn't get much better than that!  A well deserved award.

johnw -  a chilly start to the morning with a biting wind, now +20.5c.

[Maggi Young]

How beautiful... and a Forrest  medal for a great grower... what else could we ask for? Congratulations, David!!

[cycnich]

Well done to the lad, what a nice change to see something different win a Forest or Farrer other than the usual safe Crocus, Sternbergia or Cyclamen. Maybe the judges have at last seen the light or maybe we have some new judges?. I expect its a one off and they will be back to the comfort zone next year, not too taxing on the old brain!. Well done David Boyd, cracking plant.

[David Nicholson]

Two good up-front lads there

[Peter Maguire]

Perhaps I ought to asked Sandy to face the camera. 

[David Nicholson]

Perhaps I ought to asked Sandy to face the camera. 

You'd have to stand well back Peter!

[Stan da Prato]

the first batch of people  setting up just after 8 am

[Stan da Prato]

second batch - as people staged their plants they moved to the hot rolls dept, the excellent info board from the local group or the nursery stands this year down at show level no longer up those stairs

[Stan da Prato]

third lot -judging taking place,assorted activities including eating - the home baking being again excellent- then getting ready to open for the public - the last two pictures could be  the basis for caption competitions??

[Stan da Prato]

a couple of views of the hall then a tour of the plants - hopefully others will  provide better close ups  and more detail/info.
Starting with the bigger pots -classes 2/3 - it seemed no entries for class one this year. Then trios of shrubs; single shrubs;large conifers; large cyclamen; foliage cyclamen then  ferns

[Stan da Prato]

more plants still in the big pots area. cushions; various bulbs, three pan bulbs; autumn foliage; 3 pan class for foliage effect; grey plants; variegated plants; 3 pan with fruit/cones etc.

[Stan da Prato]

now along the bench with succulents; mini gardens; then into smaller pots starting with the six pan then various plants;gesneriads;saxifrages then  single pans of  shrubs

[Stan da Prato]

now small conifers; cyclamen for flower and foliage; small ferns and gentians-only three in the show.