Wisley - Winter Cyclamen show

I plan to visit as show photographer, both of the Wisley Cyclamen Society shows taking place during the early part of the year. Here's a few photographic highlights from the Winter show - the full show report will appear in the Cyclamen Society journal. If you aren't a member, check out the website  for details of how to join and take part in the most amazing seed exchange, you could be growing some of these superb plants?

 The society has some fantastic growers and the best of the exhibits are detailed here.....


A15 first (Brian Mathew award for best Society collection or progeny thereof) Cyclamen coum f albissimum - Martyn Denny

A3 first (Jill Moore trophy for best C. coum in show) Cyclamen coum f album - Ian Robertson

B3 first (Moira Reid Trophy for best C. alpinum in flower) Cyclamen alpinum - Duncan Gates

A4 first Cyclamen coum ex kuznetovii - Steve Walters

B1 first Cyclamen coum - Steve Walters

B2 first Cyclamen coum - Steve Walters

A9 first Cyclamen parviflorum - Ian Robertson

A12 first Cyclamen persicum puniceum - Duncan Gates

A14 first Cyclamen persicum SSP 98347D - J Novis

A6 first Cyclamen persicum cultivar - Duncan Gates

A6 second Cyclamen persicum cultivar - J Novis

A11 first Cyclamen x wellensiekii - Ian Robertson

A11 second Cyclamen x wellensiekii - Ian Robertson

A16 first  Cyclamen hederifolium ssp crassifolium ex CSE 93155 - Pat Nicholls

A5 first Cyclamen graecum ssp candicum - Pat Nicholls

There always some non-Cyclamen plants of interest including these late winter flowering bulbs. All (I think) courtesy of Ian Roberson.....

Colchicum hungaricum

Crocus abantensis

Crocus atticus (a Pelopponese form)

Crocus herbertii

Crocus pelistericus

It's nice on occasions to admire individual flowers rather than a crowded pot!

Ashwood - Hepaticas and Snowdrops

As I was in the general area, a return visit was planned to get a few more images of the early flowering Hepaticas (there will be many more to see later!!)

Some vibrant early H. japonica forms were looking good, this one reminiscent of a certain once popuular Clematis! Well they are all Ranunculaceae :-)

Forms with petalloid stamens give the impression of double flowers....

The violet picotee edge to this one really works!

And how about this for a stunning 'red'

If there was just one form however that tempted me back, it was the fabled 'yellow' forms of Hepatica japonica. There are no plants spare and wont be seed either......  but one day, John will have raised enough stock for seed and plants to be offered, We will all have to wait patiently!!

Never mind the H. japonica doubles, there are one or two European doubles. This is Hepatica nobilis 'Petersens Plena'

You can't beat a good white Hepatica nobilis either and this one is destined for  seed production!

A few freshly emerged blooms of Hepatica transilvanica 'Lilacina' 

Another selection for the future to look out for too! Hepatica yamatutai can have flowers with a purple stained reverse, it really does enhance the appearance!

A few snowdrops were looking at their best. Galanthus 'Little Ben' certainly packs a mighty atom punch!

Another angle of Galanthus plicatus 'Trunps' is probably in many folks 'top ten'? It is well entrenched in mine!

Galanthus 'Fiedgate Prelude' from Colin Mason has striking inner markings

Finally, a wonderful species: Galanthus rizehensis, this robust form originating from Wisley.

I will be back from time to time.....  More Hepaticas to come :-)

Ashwoods - The Winter garden

I spent the day at Ashwood Nurseries, primarily as I was giving the annual Snowdrop lecture with 'More Special Snowdrops' the subject for the day. It all went very smoothly and after a superb lunch with John Massey, it was garden tour time......

Every man and his dog were making a beeline for John's new Hepatica house!

What an incredible sight! Imagine every Hepatica species in cultivation.  Add as many varieties and clones as you can think of... Plus stock plants galore, a latter day Aladdins cave :-)

It was very early days for flowers but I think you will see some images from here at a later date!

Over to the garden then......

Some of the really dark Hellebore hybrids plus Cyclamen coum album on a dull day made for really tricky photography!

He has a bit of a Deer problem!

But no problem in some stunning use of Hellebores as foliage subjects,

The pond and rock garden always make a beautiful landscape!

Despite the fact it was a Snowdrops day, the cold meant the flowers were tightly closed :-)

This is Galanthus 'Nothing Special' - ohne of Joe Sharmans selections, it looks pretty good though!

Galanthus 'Trumps' is one of Matt Bishop's finest and whilst it wont be cheap, a must for every Snowdrops garden!

Oh Oh, another dark - as black as is possible Hellebore hybrid!

Two particularly fine Hellebores were in prime flower. This is Helleborus 'Penny's Pink' plant of the day for me :-)

Helleborus 'Walburton's Rosemary' was in fine fettle too.....

The garden outside the house was brightened up by several Hamamelis selections. Is there a better shrub for the backbone of  the Winter garden?

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Sunburst'

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Barnstedt Gold'

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida'

What better image to finish on than the creator of this garden for all seasons. The man himself in full flow....