Alpines for the Enthusiast started out in 2001 and after all the web gremlins of the past two years, it was tempting to call it a day. However, I'm constantly told what an important resource the images here are, a web presence remains therefore and also - time for an update! The pressures of other committments and lack of time to rewrite the whole site (although that is a long term aim!) has meant I need to keep things simple! The plant and seed lists became a 'bridge too far' and I've had to take stock of what I have time to actually accomplish - they are now discontinued until further notice! As Assistant Director of AGS shows, I'm still heavily involved in the AGS show scene and still photographing..... The blog will be the place for uploading images from now onwards!
There have been 86,000 visits to the site (WOW) - many thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed the content here......
The 2008 seedlist is now ready and with many items in short supply, I will send an updated list on request - email me for details.....
An Autumn show at Loughborough was just what I needed to kick start me back into alpine blog action!! Follow the menu the blog and enjoy pictures from this show.
Hopefully with long Winter evenings approaching, I will find time to fill in the 'gaps' and bring you some shots from a few of the Spring shows etc - keep looking.....
Many of you will know of my long standing problems in sorting the website problems out. There are only so many hours in a day and to speed things up, I have decided to incorporate a 'blog'. This will save the tedious chore of writing all the code for show reports etc and these will now be featured in this presentation (see the new link on the menu bar). I think you will actually find this an improvement as I can now load much bigger images (but you may have to make do with fewer words when I am busy!!) This medium is also the ideal environment to report on my trips out and about and a recent visit to the Dutch Alpine Garden Society meeting is also featured.
The show season is just around the corner, I'm now an Assistant Director for my sins - just hope I still have time to take those pictures!!! Oh and then I'm off to Vancouver for the Western Study Weekend - happy days.........
A big overhaul of the website should see all of the dead links and lost images repaired? I've also updated the Lecture list and the plant / seed list areas are virtually up to date. You can expect business to be back to normal on the show report scene too and I'm hoping to get to Loughborough Autumn show on Saturday.... I've temporarily disabled the gallery section due to frustrating dead links but this will be back soon!! .........
I was overwhelmed by the encouragement to keep the show reports going - thanks to you all far and wide. Lots of pictures to upload and I've started with a Blackpool SRGC/AGS report with more to follow. (The gallery will take a little more time but I'm getting there!!) .........
Always a favourite show and my annual chance to meet friends old and new from North of the border. Plenty of alpines to die for, Dionysias were looking particularly good and the seed raised classes were dominated by this stunning pan of Fritillaria gibbosa - click to see more ............
Loughborough is always a popular show for exhibitors and public alike. This was a partucularly good one with an amazing tally of just under 800 plants. I've only scratched the surface with a few images - use Narcissus cantabricus var petunioides as your gateway to the show.......
Apologies for visitors over the past few weeks which have seen 'terminal' problems with much of my virgin freespace!! The change of 'Virgin' to 'Virgin media' and aggregation of email addresses under one broadband address meant that nearly all of the additional freespace was lost and hence at least the last two years of accumulated images. I'm using a new host for the show pages and have rewritten the code - with luck they will be around for years to come?? (The gallery will take a little more time to rewrite!!) Is all this worth it I ask? Let me know by email if you find these reports enjoyable and worthwhile?? Maybe I need some encouragement to keep it up! .........
Apologies for visitors over the past few weeks which have seen problems with my server and a lot of lost material. I've worked a little magic and everything should be back to normal, all the image files are back uploaded and the show archive is complete(but please let me know if you find a dead link!) A couple of new lectures have been added to the list and the seed list is reasonably up to date.........
A quiet but full of quality show. Lewisia and Daphne were the dominant genera with a good selection of a whole host of 'others'. Soldanella hungarica which won the main award at Harrogate the previous week was still going strong and is your link to the show.........
A monster of a show with a bench creaking 710 entries of such high calibre that no less than seven certificates of merit were handed out. Typical was this stunning Narcissus watieri x gaditanus exhibit as your doorway to the show......
It was hard work all the way with exhibitors struggling to make their entries for what is normally a bumper show. Primulaceae generally were thin on the ground for this time of year but Corydalis continue to gain in popularity and class - yet another superb Corydalis sewerzowii is your link to the show, just a click away ......
The cold weather was taking its toll on multiple entries and this was the first show I can recall without a six pan entry. Nevertheless, it was quality all the way with Corydalis and Primulaceae well represented Clicking on this certificate winning Dionysia bryoides will take you there ......
Many species may be delayed in putting in a show appearance due to the prolonged cold snap but juno Iris can be relied upon to put in an appearance at the early shows. Iris rosenbachiana 'Tovil Dara' was judged best plant of bulbous plants at Loughborough - use as your link to see more .......
Despite the summer heat, flowering plants dominated the benches at Pershore proving that July can be just as colourful as spring given the right plants. Campanulas continue to be the dominant genus - click on Campanula fragilis to see more......
Judging for the Farrer medal managed to contrive, this perhaps the ultimate three pan exhibit. Which would you pick? To find out the winner click on the image......
A great show, full of high quality plants including Ericaceae, Primulaceae and a host of bulbous plants in particular Fritillaria which were well represented. A superb selection of Fritillaria crassifolia ssp crassifolia is your link to the pictures......
Mild weather swept across the country and with plants moving into flower the benches at last began to creak! An exceptional assembly of Primula allionii forms, Corydalis and Saxifraga - they were all there with a superb pan of Arcterica nana 'Redshanks'. Iris rosenbachiana is your link to the show, just a click away ......
Dionysias can rule the main awards at this time of year (and here is a pretty good example) but not so at Blackpool. A superb juno took the main honour and whilst a little down in numbers due to the recent cold snap, it was quality as ever. Clicking on Dionysia bryoides will take you there ......
The prolonged cold snap in the UK had seriously affected entries but the usual genera were there, albeit in smaller numbers. Dionysias held centre stage, with Primulas, Cyclamen, Fritillaria and plenty more genera on show. Clicking on this lovely Hepatica nobilis var japonica will take you there.......
A revised version of the 2004 plant list (sorry UK only) is available by email on request .........
It's May and alpine shows at this time of year feature a diverse range of plants. Some genera such as Androsace continue to be well represented and best on the day was Androsace studiosorum 'Doksa' - click on this to see more......
Also, the lecture page has had a radical overhaul to reflect the upgrade to digital presentations.....
For UK visitors, a current plant list is available for April (I haven't got time to update completely the web page). This list will be exhausted quickly as there are few plants left.
Finally, can I thank you all for visiting (40,000 anticipated soon!) and the kind comments. Do let me know what you like best about the site or anything you want more of (time permitting!!)
Good growing everyone!
It's middle of the spring show season, the venue the middle of the country, the result anything but middle of the road. This was the biggest gathering of exhibits yet. Something for everyone here, even a Farrer medal orchid and lots of juno Iris including this certificate of merit worthy Iris willmottiana 'Morning Sky' clicking on which will take you there......
Spring finally has sprung and the benches were creaking at Tottington! New Dionysias were holding centre stage in new/rare with rarely seen (so good)Androsaces catching the eye. A click on this particularly stunning Asphodelus acaulis will take you there......
No you're not dreaming, this is one of the views at Blackpool. Well, at least a close up of one the views amongst a photographic display given a gold award at the show! Of course there were numerous plants amongst the landscape - click this to see more......
Loughborough show proved irresistable to seasonal change with the usual assembly of Dionysia, Primula allioni forms and early season bulbs. No shortage of contenders for the honours including the delectable Fritillaria davidii - the rest are just a click away......
If you've visited before, a quick glance here will update you with "whats new!"
See you soon.......
A review of the 2003 plant list (sorry UK only) with effect from September.........
Flowering plants were at a premium following heatwave conditions for the previous month. Quite a few treasures emerged however and the foliage classes were at their best. Campanulas continued to give of their best, including C. x Stansfieldii - click here to see more......
Violas from all corners of the globe featured at Macclesfield. Alan Taylor assembled a quality line up of plants including the Farrer medal winner and this very floriferous Viola pedata. Click on the Viola to see more ......
This is a good time of year for the larger juno Iris and my back certainly knew it after carrying several 30cm pots into the show! A top class show with over 750 plants on display. Click on the car boot to see more ......
If you look carefully around the car park at a show, you come across some sights amongst the shopping. It's often suggested that the "Farrer medal plant announces itself as you enter the show hall - well this one offered a fair announcement in the car park! ......
Loughborough show proved whatever the winter has thrown at exhibitors, enough plants have flourished to provide the perfect start to the Show season. Dionysias both old and (very) new were present in profusion - the link exhibit (click to go to the show)seen here, Dionysia viscidula x freitagii EGW-MK 91/1, looks pretty impressive but there was even better plant in store......
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