Blackpool AGS Show

A general view of the show as show secretary Lionel Clarkson surveys the scene....

Let judging commence!  A picture of concentration :-)

Cyclamen alpinum forma leucanthum

Best in Show and worthy winner of a Forrest medal was this pan of  Cyclamen alpinum forma leucanthum grown by Dave Riley. A wonderful flat topped floriferous achievement!

The Duncan Lowe award went to Robert Rolfe, his Fritillaria aurea was judged the best exhibit in a 19cm pot.

Stella and David Rankin won the Narcissus Salver with this fine panful of Narcissus jacetanus.

The 'smallest' trophy winner on view.... Androsace ochotensis.... from Geoff Rollinson

Voted the best foliage plant (Kirby cup) Helichrysum pagophilum exhibited by Frank and Barbara Hoyle

A well established pan of Callianthemum kernerianum shown by Lionel Clarkson

Primulas were much in evidence as ever. A superb large pan of this slow growing 'favourite' - Primula 'Joan Hughes', grown by Martin Rogerson and worthy Certificate of Merit winner!

Brian Burrow brought a lovely range of seed raised P. allionii. Primula allionii BB 01/5/1 was particularly eye-catching.

And Primula allionii x marginata BB 08 25 4 from Brian, as dark a hybrid as they come!

Quite a number of petiolarid Primulas were on show, including  Primula 'Arduaine' grown by Don Peace.

 A tastefully top dressed pan of  Primula sessilis, exhibited by Margaret and Henry Taylor

Primula nana x sessilis - Another fine pan from the Taylors

One of Alan Oatway's red sticker plants - Primula 'Tantallon' -  helping him to achieve the Novice section aggregate

A large long tom ensured this showy Iris rosenbachiana 'Harangon' stood head and shoulders above other exhibits. The judges were impressed too and ensured Sam Sutherland received a certificate of merit.

Iris aucheri 'Olof'  A closer look at the flowers of this former 'Shooting Star' with the darkest of dark purple flowers - exhibited  by Fred and Pat Bundy.

Another fine pan from Ivor Betteridge - Iris svetlanae

A nice potful of Iris reticulata 'White Caucasus' from Robert Rolfe

The cold weather meant snowdrops were still very much in evidence. Don Peace would normally have taken  Galanthus plicatus 'Sophie North' to South Wales a month earlier in a 'normal' year.

Another fine potful - Galanthus ikariae, from Don Peace

John Richards brought a couple of pans of Galanthus. This ebay money spinner Galanthus woronowii 'Elizabeth Harrison' is rather attractive and the only known 'yellow' representative of this species.

Another new diminutive 'spiky' Galanthus nivalis 'Mini Muffin' exhibited by John Richards

A close up of Galanthus 'Penelope Ann' shown by Pat and Fred Bundy

A couple of Crocus fine crocus specimens. Plenty of flower power with Crocus kosaninii grown by Alan Furness

 Crocus cvijicii was one of open section aggregate winner Ivor Betteridge's excellent range of plants

Les brown's eye-catching specimen of Corydalis integra

Diane Clement's pan of Colchicum szovitsii - opening pale pink.

One of the most popular genera on the nursery stands was Hepatica. Hepatica japonica 'Orihime'  nd the following plant were from Della Kerr's lovely three pan exhibit.

 Hepatica japonica 'Shirayuki' Lovely low growing plants covered in double flowers.

Derek Pickard ensured some of the 'older' established Dionysia species, such as Dionysia lamingtonii were still being grown to a high standard

Along with the relatively new introductions like Dionysia termeana, again from Derek

Dionysia 'Tess' exhibited by Tony Stanley, who took the Intermediate section aggregate

Not a bad assembly given recent weather conditions!