Holland - Dutch Alpine Garden Society

An invitation to speak to the Dutch Alpine Society, was always going to be met with the reply - "yes please!" Despite the earliness of the season, it was also a great a chance also to see how our Dutch friends grow plants.

My host was Eric Breed and I became a 'new member of the family' in Lisse for a couple of nights. The Saturday was quite busy with lectures to the group both in the morning and then after lunch. I think they enjoyed - they certainly made me most welcome!

The meeting was held at the University of Utrecht. With the Botanic Gardens on the campus and the Curator, Wiert Nieuman in the audience, as a fitting conclusion to the meeting - a small group adjourned to the gardens for a look around.








The highest mountain in Holland!!









The 'alpine balls' are the first things to attract your attention and these have featured in several garden related publications. Carefully layered and shaped slivers of rock have created a striking and functional home for a good range of crevice lovers. Following construction over ten years ago, the North side was planted with Haberlea rhodopensis, which has seeded around and established a huge colony. Daphne arbuscula was also growing well on teh sunny side.








We may have witnessed the finding of a few selected Crocus tomassinianus forms, the location of which was duly marked. A bank of naturalised Crocus had seeded about giving rise to some fantastic variation including this superb striped form.












There were some delightful drifts of snowdrops but the one which caught my eye in the rock garden was a well established stand of G. gracilis, at the peak of it's display.






The use of strata in both paths and walls was imaginative. It was both functional with wall based plantings and highly decorative.








I left Wiert becoming intoxicated by the scent of various flowers collected during our stroll.






Next, it was a short drive to the bulb-field and glasshouse of Sjaak and Aad de Groot. There were many many years of bulb growing in that car and Wim Lemmers waxed lyrical about his years of bulb growing and field study (and to think I had the temerity to include 'twin scaling' of single bulbs in my talk) - these guys propagate by the thousand.

It certainly is a culture shock and eye-opener to see the fantastic range of rare and desirable bulbs being grown outside. The light sandy soil, straw top dressing and careful maintenance of water levels in the surrounding ditch combining to provide perfectly managed conditions for bulb growing.






Here we had Iris hyrcana, bakeriana plus many more reticulata type hybrids in flower - totally unprotected.










A plastic cloche covered area was home for various juno Irises (now my eyes did light up). There were only two in flower: Iris rosenbachiana and I. stenophylla ssp allisonii. A traditional frame was also used to protect the junos and other more temperamental bulbs.










A final mouth watering treat of the non-alpine variety was in store. A huge glass house full of Cymbidium orchids - all peaking for the seasonal Valentine trade. I had only a few seconds before the camera lens misted up, this was hot stuff.....








Professional bulb growers can also enjoy their garden. Sjaak and Aad had created a mini mountain complete with gushing torrent which meandered down to a woodland setting where a collection of 80 odd named Snowdrop varieties were growing. You can tell from the motion effect of the water, light was now fading fast!







I left with many memories, mainly the people and plants, but also samples of the local spirits: Beerenberger and Koornwyn, both served straight from the freezer and madking for interesting nightcap sessions (the alcohol content ensures they never freeze). No wonder I slept so well!

There were also birds! I discovered that Eric shared my passion for birds and even though our quest for White-tailed Eagle drew a blank, I did come away with shots of the local White Stork pair......






The Eagle can wait until next time, as Eric advised me - we shall dig in!!

AGS Loughborough Autumn Show

The cream of Autumn alpines well represented at Loughborough and just to show rarity is not a prerequisite how about this fantastic specimen of Cyclamen hederifolium var albiflorum grown by Mike and Christine Brown. The rare and sweetly scented Cyclamen colchicum below was another fine plant from the same exhibitors.









In the hunt for major awards were these fine specimens from the Southern hemisphere - Trochocarpa thymifola and the Autumn fruiting Coprosma brunnea x petriei






Celmisias earn their keep by being show worthy all year round and these are two of the best examples - Celmisia semicordata ssp aurigans and Celmisia spedenii. A wait of many years is needed when/if flowers are produced on Lobelia keniensis but in the meantime it makes a fascinating huge rosette!









Crocus banaticus is one of the most rewarding Autumn Crocuses and with those shorter inner tepals almost Iris-like. The clone 'Snowdrift' shown by Robert Rolfe was much admired with a close view of the normal lilac-blue flowers and below seen in close up, a superb two-tone form.







Crocus laevigatus is a diminutive stunner and this white form is as good as they come!






The range of Autumn flowering Snowdrops is now increasing with Galanthus peshmenii becoming widely available. Two clones were on view here, the 'mainland' form with leaves developed at flowering time and the 'island form' seen below.








No sign of easing up on the production front, two Autumn Gentians from the Keith Lever stable: Gentiana 'Silken Giant' and G. 'Silken Night'.







A fine pan of Oxalis purpuraea 'Ken Aslet' = the secret is good light at all times to keep the foliage and flowers from becoming drawn.





Finally, the bright yellow daisies of Heterotheca alpina.

AGS Blackpool Show

Blackpool show struggled following a week of freezing temperatures allowing many plants from the previous week to put in a repeat performance. There was of course quite a few new exhibits to satisfy the needs of any alpine enthusiast including one or two 'new' Dionysias......

Paul and Gill Ranson are getting into the 'Farrer medal habit'. With two magnificent well covered pans of Dionysia viscidula x freitagii EGW MK 91/1 to choose from, the neater dome took the day.

Rhododendron Pemakoense is one of the earliest species to flower, this free flowering Chinese beauty is worth considering. Quite hardy but watch for hard frosts if considering exhibition.

How useful that Corydalis malkensis one of the more attractive members of Sect. Corydalis can be a plunge or garden weed! There is a plant portrait on this site if you want to know more but the picture speaks volumes, courtesy of Don Peace.

The first of the season's orchids were on display. Like the closely related Dactylorrhiza sambucina and with no danger of this becoming a garden weed, this diminutive species will need careful cultivation in a pot.

A well established pan of Iris maracandica with three flowers was awarded a certificate of merit. Very neat, with tightly packed foliage, the yellow flowers have a pronounced wing to the falls.

Many Fritillaria species are best viewed 'inside'. F. latifolia is most obliging with large dumpy flowers held just above the top of the pan. Whether this represents F. nobilis I'm not sure - it certianly is attractive however.

The business end of Fritillaria biflora (I've excluded the 30cm or so of stem. A Californian coastal species which is hardier than you would think but certainly needs cold glass protection in the UK.

Dionysia termeana is now becoming established from the recent introduction, this is proving to be variable in habit and flower. Ranging from a lax mat to tight cushion, all are gorgeous with a generous supply of yellow flowers.

Probably seen on display for the first time, the newly described Dionysia iranica was keenly viewed. The flowers are most unusual as they unfurl - almost Campanula zoysii-like just before they open. Note the  plastic pot, just to show that clays are not essential, the compost and watering regime are the critical factor

A new hybrid on the scene from Michael kammerlander. Dionysia Manuela is a cross of D. microphylla with D. archibaldii with roughly intermediate characteristics of both - and of course hybrid vigour, very attractive flowers.....

This cross of Primula allionii Crowsley x Joan Hughes between of the best darker P. allionii hybrids was much admired. This very neat form was raised by John Dixon and one of the most attractive on display.

The hall lighting didn't help in capturing the beauty of Primula allionii 'Alexina'. The flowers are actually a much deeper purplish hue, nestling at/amongst the foliage surface.

Only alpine afficianados would want to grow a cotton wool sponge! Haastia pulvinaris remains one of the greatest challenges to the alpine grower and provided care with winter water is taken, summer ventilation, masses of good luck - it is possible!

If the Haastia wasn't enough to whet your cushion appetite, how about this! Geoff Mawson has for the moment tamed Raoulia eximia,  this equally difficult vegetable sheep - still a lamb by wild comparisons but getting to 'spectacular' proportions and worthy of a certificate of merit.

A third AGS medal of the season for your's truly. Galanthus 'Straffan', Iris rosenbachiana, Fritillaria pudica, Cyclamen pseudibericum, C. coum and Primula allionii Lismore P94/9/2.

The busy March season continues with milder weather promised for East Lancs in a weeks time. Watch this space for further reviews.........