New England Primula Show

An invitation to my first American Primrose Society show was wonderful experience with 'Sowing Growing Showing - A Primula Triathlon' to be the conference talk. It wasn't all work however.....
In between photographing birds in the gardens of Tower Hill Botanic Gardens and eating rather well, I conjured up a basic studio to photograph a few of the Show plants.....

I like the way, the two premier award winning plants got their own podium!

Primula 'Belarina Butter Yellow' shown by Deborah Wheeler.

And Primula 'Spring Pastel' with its eye-catching two tone flowers

Ever popular for garden or showbench is Primula sieboldii - the white flowered form here with contrasting pink tubes, shown by Mary Molloy.

Primula 'Dawn Ansell' another of Mary's plants.

Three exhibits from Rodney Barker - 'Primula sieboldii alba and P. sieboldii 'Red Rover'

Followed by Primula veris.

A nice red form of Primula veris shown by Judy Sellars.

Primula vulgaris provides a few botanical curiosities. The leaf like green flowers of Primula 'Francesca'.

Or 'hose in hose' flowers....

Flowers don't come more striking than Amy Olmstead's Garnet 'Cowichan' followed by her Primula 'Gold Lace' and Primula farinosa.

Another nice display of 'Gold Lace'

I'll finish with this close up of this best auricula  'Fancy seedling' shown by Judy Sellars

I really enjoyed that - hmm, how about a UK Primula show next year??

AGS South Wales show

South Wales opened the AGS show season with many fine plants to be seen. The 'show stopper' was undoubtedly this perfect pan of Galanthus plicatus 'Sophie North' which scooped the Galanthus Goblet (best Snowdrop) and Farrer medal for best in show. Nice one Don Peace!


I've singled out one flower here of this stunning clone of Iris unguicularis 'Pelopponnese Snow', courtesy of Robin White.



Another outstanding exhibit from Don Peace and a certificate of merit for Colchicum kesselringii



George Elder's Crocus cvijicii was one of many fine specimens benched by him....



Crocus minimus 'Bavella' shown by Ian Robertson.



A bit of artistic poise from Robert Rolfe's Crocus reticulatus ssp reticulatus, a Serbian clone (AP 27952)


The above two may take some tracking down but No problem of availability where Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor' is concerned



Two views to enjoy the beauty of this pristine Crocus vernus ssp albiflorus.....





No surprise to see a certificate of merit awarded to Dave Richards for this evenly flowered specimen of Cyclamen alpinum forma leucanthum!



Other Cyclamen highlights for me - Cyclamen coum with white pink flushed flowers



Close up to show the 'different' shape and poise  of Cyclamen elegans flowers (Bonb and Rannveig Wallis)

Daphne jezoensis (Robin White)

Recent introductions of seed have ensured we can enjoy the diminutive Dionysia khatamii



Not too many Frits on display but here's a couple headed by Fritillaria karelinii (at least that's what it may be?) - Joy Bishop



Fritillaria uva-vulpis (Bob and Rannveig Wallis)

The green virescent flowers of Galanthus 'Cowhouse Green'



Evenly flowered pan of Galanthus ikariae



Iris 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' is still around, mass produced by the Dutch....



But you may need to search out Narcissus asturiensis (Eric Jarrett)



Search and wait even longer for this as yet unnamed fine cross of Narcissus cyclamineus x N alpestris (Bob and Rannveig Wallis)



Ornithogalum nanum (Ian Robertson)



Ian also had this wonderful Pleione humilis in his six pan exhibit.....

Finally - lots of discussion as to the legitimacy of Rebutia aylostera as a 'foliage exhibit. It certainly has effect!

AGS Loughborough Show

The cold winter has ensured that plants normally in fine fettle at this time of the year were had even better coverage of flowers - some tricky decisions had to be made by the judges!!

Here's the best in show - a fantastic pan of Dionysia curviflora, grown by Nigel Fuller






Best pan of bulbous plants was Colchicum szovitsii, nice one Diane Clement!






Geoff Rollinson can do no wrong with Saxifraga 'Coolock Gem' - once again winning the Saxifraga group salver






In good company with Saxifraga lilacina grown by Mark Childerhouse, awarded a certificate of Merit






Corydalis is always a dominant genus at Loughborough and these two were my pick of the pots!

Corydalis ledebouriana.







Corydalis seisumsiana.






The later flowering Crocus were in fine form with this panful of Crocus dalamticus






A close up of the intricate markings on Crocus heufellianus 'Carpathian Wonder'






Dionysias by the dozen and the recipient of the 80th Anniversary award was Dionysia afghanica...






Dionysia bryoides earning a Certificate of Merit.....






A couple of classy Fritilaria exhibits, firstly Fritillaria alburyana.






and Fritillaria pinardii....






As the Snowdrops season draws to a close, a large pan of Galanthus virescens:






Claire Oates presented two exceptional exhibits, both being awarded a Certificate of Merit.

Hepatica japonica alba






Narcissus cyclamineus






Primula allionii 'Pinkie' is rarely seen so large and perfectly covered in flowers






Primula bhutanica...






Best plant from the Americas was Scoliopus bigelovii from Bob and Rannveig wallis






Striking foliage interest provided by Anisotome imbricata...






Finally, two striking examples of the in vogue genus - Ypsilandra!

Ypsilandra cavilierei






Ypsilandra thibetica






No stopping me this year, images from Blackpool will follow.....