Friday night was a long, late affair for me, with an unmissable invitation to a university reunion, so it was a severely sleep-deprived, and somewhat hungover show photographer who turned up at Rainham at 8am on a beautiful but rather unappreciated morning.  If it wasn't for the kind assistance of my wife Helen with late night transportation I wouldn't have been there, so many thanks are due to her.

Almost before I got out of the car, I could hear exhibitors grumbling about the parking arrangements. Changes at the school have meant that they are no longer allowed to park on the grass, or on the paved paths adjacent to the show hall, and instead have to carry all their plants 50-100 yards further, depending on how early they arrived, and where they managed to park.  By the end of the day the effects of this were showing clearly, with some creaking backs and very wobbly knees in evidence.

Once I had transported my stepfather David Philbey's plants, and placed them in the right classes on the bench for him to titivate, I had a chance to go to the back of the hall, where Janine Doulton and her helpers had done a wonderful job of putting up the art, somehow finding room for the whole of a large entry; it made a great backdrop to the show, which was itself as full and impressive as I can remember at Kent.

Whilst judging is still in progress, there is a limited amount a show photographer can do.  Usually (if not shopping or seeking breakfast, I use this time to take general views of the benches, and of groups of judges in action, but this time Doug Joyce was helping by doing that, so I took the opportunity to photograph the exhibits we usually do in situ.

Miniature Gardens

I started with a display of miniature gardens by Anne Vale. Inspired by the introduction of the new class to the schedules (a pan planted as a miniature garden), Anne has created a series of pieces of whimsy, complete with buildings, figures and even a miniature greenhouse.  These pans have had, like marmite, disparate range of reactions from judges.  Some reel away in horror, but others have been entertained and almost charmed; appreciative of the appeal that the display might have for younger visitors.  I might add that my manipulated images seemed to have a similar effect on the art judges at Kent; at least one was appalled to find a flower with teeth.

Small 6 pan class

There were two entries in the small 6-pan class, from Bob and Rannveig Wallis on the left, and from Ian Robertson on the right.  The exhibit from the Wallises was deemed the better of the two, but it was deemed not worthy of a first and the AGS Medal.

Large 6 pan class

In the large 6 pan class there were again two entries.  The AGS Medal went to David Hoare on the left.  The judges courted controversy with the entry on the right by Les Cheeseman, by deciding that the 3 grisebachii-type saxifrages were not sufficiently distinct, and declaring the entry NAS (not according to schedule).  There was much debate over this for the rest of the day.

Tropaeolum hookerianum subsp hookerianum F+W 8632

Joy Bishop exhibited this lovely yellow tropaeolum (with great guile - the twining stems are laced carefully over an artificial support).  Unfortunately the pot was deemed too large for a 19cm class by Kent's new weights and measures authority, though all bar the very rim of the pot would pass successfully, so I was welcome to remove and photograph it whilst judging continued.  

Selaginella kaussinella

Now I was searching for plants which were not first in their class, which could be taken to be photographed.  This fascinating Selaginella was exhibited by Cliff Walker in the Intermediate cushion class, but was only given a second.  I don't know whether it was felt not to be a cushion, or whether the shape was too irregular to satisfy the judges, but for me that was part of its charm.

Narcissus watieri

Nigel Fuller once again exhibited his large pan of Narcissus watieri, in perfect condition, but it was judged to be second to a pan of Narcissus bulbocodium (arguably much easier to grow) where the flowers were lost amongst the foliage.  Another happy exhibitor.

Adonis amurensis Hanazono

Another plant which failed to please the judges was this double form of Adonis amurensis, exhibited by Ian Sharpe.  Definitely worth a photo or two.

Hyacinthella glabrescens

Bob and Rannveig Wallis exhibited an interesting and pretty little white form of Hyacinthella glabrescens.

Dionysia curviflora JCA 2800-3

At this point the judging reached its conclusion, and the Farrer Medal winner was brought straight to my table to be photographed before the show opened.  The judges had managed to save themselves from Nigel Fuller's wrath by selecting his dionysia.  By the time I had carried it back to the bench (following the huge pan of N. watieri), I was in dire need of a cup of tea and a rest.

Pleione Shantung Ducat

Over the years, I have on several occasions photographed yellow pleiones, but very often the photos only serve to highlight the fact that the flowers are tiring.  I was excited to see this pan from Ian Robertson on the bench looking fresh and pristine, and photographed it as soon as I was able, to capture that perfect condition.

Crocus vernus subsp albiflorus

The Crocus Award was contested by two pans of this crocus, the first (left) from Maureen Ledgerton, and the second (right) and ultimate winner a small pan from Robert Rolfe.

Cyclamen alpinum f. leucanthum

Ian Robertson exhibited this small pan of C. alpinum, which attracted much attention for its very neat flat panel of little white windmills, and was awarded the Northdown Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot.  I took several photos to try to capture the appeal of its very distinctive floral display; I think perhaps the angled lighting of the third photo reproduces it best.

Hepatica acutiloba

Rosemary Hillyar won the Sastre Trophy for the aggregate in the Novice section, and also the Invicta Trophy for the best plant in the section for this lovely hepatica.

Muscari armeniacum Gul

Next to it was this fine pan of muscari exhibited by Kit Strange.  Last year I photographed it exhibited by her partner Steve Bratley, but apparently it has been taken under Kit's wing to encourage the vigour you can see here.  I think perhaps Steve would now like the plant back.

Cyclamen pseudibericum

In the Intermediate Section, the Jean Elliott Trophy for the aggregate went to Audrey Dart.  I particularly liked the leaves of this C. pseudibericum.

Saxifraga Allendale Desire

In the Intermediate small 3-pan Audrey Dart showed this delightful little Sax cultivar, accompanied by the hepatica below.

Hepatica pubescens

This is always my favourite hepatica, with its pink petals fading to white in the centre of the flower, and dark stamens, here exhibited by Audrey Dart.

Narcissus panizzianus

One final plant from Audrey Dart.  This fine miniature narcissus 4-5in tall won her the Longfield Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate section.

Fritillaria striata

Moving into the Open Section, this plant from John Kemp is an old favourite which I have photographed many times before, but it looked particularly fine and fresh this year, perhaps because of the late start to the season.

Fritillaria carica

There were a number of different forms of F. carica on display.  The first (greener than it appears in the photo) came from Robert Rolfe and was awarded a Certificate of Merit.  The second (pictures 2 and 3) was grown from Jim Archibald seed (JJA 492.401) sown in October 1994 by George Elder (it takes a lot of patience to be an exhibitor).  The final form here was exhibited by Jim McGregor.

Fritillaria bucharica

Jim McGregor also exhibited this F. bucharica, also given a Certificate of Merit.

Dionysia Hyperion

Paul and Gill Ranson exhibited this new dionysia cultivar.  I found and photographed the smaller one first, and then encountered its larger sibling.

Dionysia Prometheus

A near white Dionysia cultivar from Paul and Gill Ranson.

Saxifraga Tysoe Burgundy

This new saxifrage cultivar exhibited by David Hoare was given a Preliminary Commendation by the Joint Rock Garden Committee.

Saxifraga Allendale Bravo

The JRGC also considered this much larger pan of saxifrage, exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook, and decided on an Award of Merit.

Fritillaria japonica

Another Preliminary Commendation went to this charming little (2-3 in) fritillaria exhibited by RBG Kew.

Narcissus bulbocodium var conspicuus

Jim McGregor was given a Cultural Commendation by JRGC for this pan of narcissus.

Androsace aff flavescens

Eric Jarrett exhibited this well-flowered pan of A. flavescens.

Dionysia Gerben

A large and well-flowered plant of D. Gerben made a perfect yellow cushion, also exhibited by Eric Jarrett.

Dionysia aretioides

Eric Jarrett also exhibited this very high domed Dionysia aretioides.

Dionysia mozaffarianii

One final plant from Eric Jarrett, a dionysia I have seldom photographed, but particularly like, with the long tubes holding the flowers well away from the cushion.

Dionysia Markus

This dionysia exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson received an Award of Merit from JRGC.

Dionysia Hale Bopp MK94101-1

Another little dionysia cultivar from Paul and Gill Ranson (they seem to have an endless supply of these), this time a lovely cream colour, a bit like a very refined version of Monika.

Dionysia iranshahrii x bryoides query MK0357-11

Another hybrid from Michael Kammerlander seed, again from Paul and Gill Ranson.  Presumably the seed parent was known to be D. iranshahrii, the pollen parent believed to be D. bryoides, as the plant seems to show some similarities to that.

Dionysia hybrid 08199-1

One final dionysia hybrid, this time from Nigel Fuller.

Narcissus bulbocodium var citrinus

As well as the miniature gardens, Anne Vale brought this lovely daffodil.

Narcissus Tete a Tete

My stepfather David Philbey wasn't very happy with the quality of his primulas, and the competition reflected that, but this pan of a common garden plant won him an unexpected first in the class for a garden hybrid narcissus.

Tropaeolum hookerianum subsp austropurpureum F+W86

As well as the yellow tropaeolum I showed earlier, Joy Bishop exhibited this neat pan of the purple subspecies.  The artfully concealed framework keeps it tidy, whereas my own plants, also in full flower, are trailing across the bench this year, up and over anything with a flower stem, and tangling with a few cacti and succulents kept in hanging pots in the greenhouse (insufficient attention paid to them in the winter).

Hepatica japonica Saichou

There were many hepaticas on the bench; I thought this one from Ian Sharpe was particularly fine.

Saxifraga Sissi

Between the billowing mounds of Cumulus, another little pink cultivar caught my eye, exhibited by Maureen Ledgerton.

Primula hybrid 2007-3

An attractive primula hybrid from Nigel Fuller.

Cyclamen libanoticum

Ian Robertson exhibited this pan of C. libanoticum

Fritillaria kittaniae

Ian Robertson also brought this interesting little striped fritillaria.

Fritillaria aff assyriaca

Another unusual fritillaria from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Fritillaria yuminensis

By contrast I see and photograph F. yuminensis every year at shows, but it is one of my favourite plants with its graceful twining stems.  This one was grown by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Fritillaria gibbosa

John Kemp produced this F. gibbosa, grown from seed sown in 2000.

Fritillaria stenanthera

Also sown in 2000, and demonstrating the patience of both exhibitors, was this pan, grown by George Elder from JJA 503.209 seed.

Iris nusairiensis

A lovely iris from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Hyacinthella dalmatica grandiflora

I always admire this plant, grown by Joy Bishop, but it isn't widely available in the trade.

Hyacinthoides reverchonii

I don't know how Bob and Rannveig Wallis manage to produce such a compact and striking exhibit from H. reverchonii.  My own plants have been expelled from the bulb frame, and planted out to contrast with the yellow flowers of Epimedium x perralchicum.

Romulea subfistulosa

Finally, I managed to catch George Elder's R. subfistulosa from South Africa with its flowers fully open - magnificent.

All in all, a magnificent show.  I was exhausted, partly because of the numbers of large pots (it would be hard to choose the heaviest of these), and partly because I didn't start out in great condition.  I would like to thank David Hoare and his shrinking band of loyal helpers for all they did to make the day such a success, and hope they can resolve the issues with car-parking before the autumn show later this year.

Cyclamen identity

I received an email querying whether this cyclamen exhibited by Ian Robertson was C. libanoticum or C. pseudibericum f. roseum.

So I asked a friend of mine, and cyclamen expert, Martyn Denney.  This is the reply I got:

"Hi Jon,

First the key split between the two species and then some general observations.....

Mouth of corolla 10-13mm (0.4-0.5in) diameter, corolla pale rose-pink to whitish; leaf-lamina angled but not toothed - C. libanoticum

Mouth of corolla 3-6mm (0.12-0.24in) diameter, corolla pink to magenta-purple; leaf lamina toothed but not angled - C. pseudibericum

General observations:

1) The leaves of Ian's plant have a mottling in the outer part of the hastate pattern.  This type of mottling is characteristic of C. libanoticum but not of C. pseudibericum.  If you look at the outer area in the leaves of the Hoyle's pseudibericum, it is different.

2) The margins of the leaf lamina are not dentate as they are in C. pseudibericum.

3) The leaf lamina size is far larger in relation to the plant than would be seen in C. pseudibericum.

4) The slight yellowing/browning of the leaf lamina margin towards the apex is characteristic of mature leaves of C. libanoticum but not C. pseudibericum.

5) The corolla is a completely different stature to that of C. pseudibericum, in particular the mouth is broad where in C. pseudibericum it is narrow.

6) The shape of the corolla lobe basal blotch is characteristic of C. libanoticum. Whilst this is variable to some degree the underlying shape is that of a seagull.  Attached is a selection of C. libanoticum blotches from wild specimens.  Note that in all cases the blotch descends into the corolla tube and in fact is often mirrored inside the tube.  In the case of C. pseudibericum the blotch does not generally descend to the tube, is essentially semi-circular, and has a white band between it and the mouth of the tube.  This last part is the most important bit.  In C. pseudibericum f. roseum the shape of the blotch can sometimes be less clearly semi-circular and take on some bird-like characteristics, but there is always a white band between it and the mouth of the tube.

 

The attachment showing C. libanoticum blotches.

Attachment showing C. pseudibericum f. roseum blotch

7) The ratio of corolla lobe length to width in C. libanoticum varies from 1.9:1 to 4.1:1 so comments about stubbiness are not significant.

Trust me, Ian's plant is definitely C. libanoticum.

For further information about Cyclamen libanoticum see the report of the March 2014 field study in the Cyclamen Society Journal 38 (1) pp. 8-17 (June 2014)."

Thanks Martyn