Several flowering spikes of this O. provincalis relative in tip top condition impressed the judges and won the day. Very attractive, the yellow lips of the flowers dotted with red and the foliage immaculate - quite an achievement.
I have a feeling this Kalmiopsis is destined for better things but it was certainly the best pan of Ericaceae on the day. Just look at the flowers still in bud - this will take some stopping at the next show!
Another exhibit from Carl Hardick receiving a certificate of merit. Raised from seed, this species comes from desert areas of Iran and Afghanistan and is not surprisingly difficult to maintain.
Normally one of the most undistinguished of Frits but the tubby bells of this ssp from S Turkey, make this an altogether more refined plant. The flowering stems are shorter as well making a pleasing plant for pot work.
There is quite a lot of variation in stature both the rosettes and flower stems of this species and this is by far the neatest I've seen. Don Peace knows a thing or two about Androsace's and I reckon he's got a winner here.
Judged the best exhibit in a 19cm pot, this stocky juno saw off all the other small pan candidates. Raised from wild collected seed, the broad foliage may indicate the influence of another species but it certainly was attractive. Timing is everything with Juno's and this plant caught it just right with the maximum number of flowers open on the day.
New/rare saw some seldom seen junos and in it's better forms, this species can be unbeatable with deep blue veined flowers on short stems. The down side is a miffy habit, it is not the easiest to keep happy. Two clones were present in the pot - let's hope seed will set.
The final juno offering, seen in close up here. I aitchisonii is unusual in having branched flowering stems which rise up from the densely packed narrow channelled leaves. The yellow is a particularly deep shade as seen here and red purple forms are known in cultivation.
Very rare in the wild, this limestone cliff dweller from W Iran is closely related to the following species but the flowers are solitary and scapeless, with a very long tube. It is just as rare in cultivation right now.
Another W Iranian cliff shaded cliff dweller, cushion forming but with strikingly different flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels opening pale then becoming deep yellow. Only time will tell if these two species settle down into cultivation....
Despite an outwardly tough appearance, this Primula remains desperately rare. The name is derived from the kidney shaped or round leaves. When seen flowering well and the picture of health seen here, it is hard to know why it doesn't do better in cultivation.
Well I suppose I snapped this a bit late but despite having lost a few flowers, this super little plant from Claire Oates showed just why it received a Farrer medal the previous week. Perish the thought that only rare or difficult plants win the major prizes.......
This was a good day for orchids and Richard Manuel received a certificate of merit for this stunner. Some 20 cm tall the deep purple side lobes contrast well with the pale central dotted area.
Probably as big a plant as has been seen on the bench to date, this new introduction from Sikkim / Tibet is proving to be challenging.
An AGS medal for your enthusiast having transported these heavyweights up the motorway. Five junos: Iris, graeberiana dark form, Yellow falls, Iris willmottiana 'Morning Sky', Iris vicaria and Iris bucharica plus Fritillaria bucharica.
Ian Kidman is unstoppable right now with strength in depth in a number of classes leading to the open Aggregate. A very good six pan topped the list: Androsace muscoidea, Dionysia viscidula x freitagii in two forms, Primula Broadwell Milkmaid, Androsace laevigata and Primula 'Tony',
Well, that's all for now and I'm having a 'week off' so more news from the Midland show in two weeks time.........
