AGS NORTH MIDLAND SHOW at CHESTERFIELD 14th April 2012

[ranunculus]

Just back from the AGS North Midland Show at Chesterfield today and delighted to announce that the show, though reduced in quantity of exhibits, was as successful and as pleasing to the eye as always.  Hearty congratulations to Show Secretary; John Savage and his well-drilled team on such a splendid event.
The Farrer Medal for the best exhibit in the show was won by North Wales stalwart, Ian Leslie from Bangor with a remarkable flowering dome of Benthiamella patagonica. His fifth Farrer I believe.  Congratulations to one of nicest people on the show scene.

[Maggi Young]

Congratulations to Ian Leslie.... he's got at least one Forrest Medal, too, y'know.

A long round trip for Ian to the Show.. but he'll be happy this evening.

Have you even had a chance for some supper, Cliff?

[ranunculus]

We had a substantial lunch, Maggi (practise for the Pudsey Pig) ... and a pint ... hence the shaky images. 

A batch of photographs from the show today ...

[ranunculus]

... And more ...

[ranunculus]

... And more ...

[ronm]

A truely heart felt thank you for posting these Cliff! Inspirational 

[ranunculus]

You are more than welcome Ron ... and some more ...

Others to follow in the morning ...

[Maggi Young]

The pan of Primula juliae in pic DSC6162 is delightful. Nice to see plants which can be great garden plants, though often a little weather-beaten, looking so perfect on the show bench.

Good, too, to see so many "erics" on the bench... is this a sign of a new popularity for Ericaceae ?

[ranunculus]

Another batch or two from the insomniac ...

[ranunculus]

... And more ...

[Lesley Cox]

That gorgeous Rh. dendrocharis again, and I always enjoy seeing a smartly grown Celmisia.

[veteran vet]

see we have a good many pictures already up from the show..was another long day but the show was very well supported although the primula classes, usually a feature of this show, were way down in number.
Allium elburense (not sure if spely correctly) Ivor Betteridge...a nice pan, very clean leaves which is not so easy to achieve
Andromeda polifolia 'Nikko' John Savage, we used to see this quite often but I dont recall seeing it for a while
Androsace vandellii Geoff Rollinson won the award for the best european cultivar...was at least a 25cm pan
Androsace villosa taurisa Lionel Clarkson
Anemonella thalictroides 'Betty Blake' Michael Agg...I have always been a bit 'iffy' re this form but this was good
Anemonella thalictroides 'Oscar Schoaf' from Don Peace...this anemonella has been a must for the shows this year and for me at least with my plants, has been in show condition for a few shows
Aquilegia grahamii from Ian Leslie...I think its the first time I have seen it and I liked it very much...only 6-7 inches high
Arisaema amurense from Martin Rogerson

[veteran vet]

Some more and then rest for this evening
Foliage classes are always well supported show I have one picture
Aruncus aethusifolius shown by B&S Smethurst
Cliffs picture of Ian Leslie's Farrer Medal plant of is worth repeating, the same one that he had at Cleveland the week before but now in full flower power
Benthamiella patagonica
Trevore Harding had a good show with some splendid plants, as a three pan with
Cassiope 'Snow Bird' won the best palant in <19cm pan and was Best Ericaceae
His 3 pan also had a small but pristine
Gentiana verna and in another class he exhibited
Cassiope x wardii...not the best of pictures as it is really a lovely plant
Daphnes always have plenty of 'wow' factor and
Daphne petraea 'Grandiflora' shown by Dave Charlton certainly did the trick yesterday. I was lucky enough to catch robert Rolfe photographing it outside, hence the better picture
Ian Kidman produce a very nice
Daphne calcicola which brought many admiring glances...I got a cutting from him last year, growing well (for now), I hope it gets to this size

[veteran vet]

Just time over a cup of tead for a few more...as were are in the D'ds
Dionysia involucrata alba from Tony Lee and
Dionysia involucrata from Margaret Pickering...both plants still have plenty to come so should hang on for next week at Solihull
Dionysia microphylla also from Margaret Pickering
Draba cappadocica from Tony Lee
Draba dedeana and Lionel Clarkson...my single plant has not performed too well this year, choosing to flower over an extended period rather than in a burst of flower power
Draba rosularis from John Richards
There were several Erythroniums on the bench, at least two in pristine condition
Erythronium californicum shown by the hard working Ju Bramley
Erythronium oregonum shown by Les Brown gained a certificate of merit

[veteran vet]

seems the server did not like my pictures so will just try again