Lee and Julie Martin are making a bit of a habit with this stunning panful, recipient yet again of a Farrer medal! Very uniform and not a hint of damage or brown tips to the foliage.
A fine potful, part of a superb large pan exhibit from Bob and Rannveig Wallis. Large broad campanulate flowers with uniform appearance - testimony to years of patient increase.
One of my favourite species and a very obliging plant for photography. The flowers when mature face outwards and look at you rather than recurving downwards. Easily raised from seed, this species also increases well vegetatively.
This is a variant of the widely grown I pumila but a lovely colour form with flowers of reddish violet. The very prominent beard is stained blue - a delightful combination.
This species is North American in origin with large upward facing flowers. The white form seen here is most commonly available and is superb but blues and pinks are possible.
I have never seen this grown so well, a high alpine species which is certainly in the 'difficult' class presented by Peter Erskine. A long cold winter is mandatory (use of a fridge may help).
Another very scarce Fritillaria, seen in close up here. N. Iraq and W. Iran are not the best places for plant hunting at present so a nice surprise to see this small ssp.
Small but very choice and difficult to get to any size. This hybrid is an F2 seedling from Nan Watson. Pin eyed and neatly overlapping petals pale yellow with a deeper eye at the centre.
Another somewhat 'miffy' hybrid, this time descended from D Monika.
A delightful and no doubt complex hybrid involving P vulgaris / P juliae and possibly P elatior. The flower heads arranged at various heights giving an almost 'candelabra' appearance to the plant.
A late flowering 'Lindum' clone with the usual flower power. The lilac blue flowers have a crinkled texture.
A gorgeous little Narcissus which the grapevine tells me was also doing rather well at the Northumberland show. Increases well and a perfect miniature for pot work.
No doubt the orchid growers can tell me more about this very nice bee orchid. Fantastic flowers, seen in close up with iridescent shiny blue mirror on the lip.
The recent John Watson / Anita Flores collections have yielded several excellent cushion plants. Very neat in flower, the tubular flowers, flared at the top, sitting on top of the foliage
Quite rare in cultivation with ssp glaucoviridis being the main representative. This is smaller plant with single flowers and more narrow foliage, altogether more attractive.
Another small six pan success for your enthusiast. Iris zenaidae, Cyclamen pseudibericum, Corydalis ex Vermion Snow, Corydalis solida dissecta, Primula Aire Mist and Primula Tony.
The Spring season rolls on with more alpine treasures to come from the Chesterfield show next week.........
