It is often a very enjoyable journey to Wimborne, and this year was no exception. Accompanied by my wife Helen (my step-father and usual comrade David Philbey is finding it difficult to manage a full day at a show these days), we drove down and across the New Forest in bright early morning sunshine. We arrived early, as I was bringing most of the artistic exhibits, and soon set to to help layout the classes and arrange the photos.

There was a note of sadness that John Chappell is having to retire as artistic secretary, and I would like to thank him for his many years of hard work which have made possible the presence of an artistic competition at this sure. I am sure that the show has found a capable replacement in David Hughes.

Show photography was made tricky this year by the stiff breeze outside, which meant that I couldn't operate outside, or even (as last year) in the light of an open fire escape open, so the photos are all taken in the light from a high north window. As the day wore on the artificial light in the hall tended to predominate. Coupled with that, my camera decided to play up. First the LCD display started flickering, and then when completely blank, so I couldn't review the images I had taken. I carried on, using the viewfinder and trusting that the images were OK, but the camera kept locking up sporadically so I could focus, but couldn't take pictures. Each time this occurred, I had to turn off the camera and remove the battery; I found out when I got home that each time it happened the camera had failed to write one or more images to the memory card, with the result that between 10% and 20% of the images I took are lost. The camera is now at a repair shop, but I suspect the estimate for the repair may make replacement a more sensible option.  Fortunately I seem to have some pictures left of everything important, though some general hall images, two of the non-competitive exhibits and a number of plants I liked personally have vanished.

Salvia cyanescens
The Farrer Medal went to this beautiful plant exhibited by David Richards, and conveyed to and from the show by Simon Bond. Congratulations to David; we have seen this specimen at summer shows for the last two or three years, but this was as good as I have seen it.

Iris cycloglossa
The runner-up for the Farrer, awarded a Certificate of Merit, was this lovely (extremely heavy) pot of Iris cycloglossa.

Pleione chunii
Another Certificate of Merit went to this pan of pleiones exhibited by Ian Robertson.

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum
Ivan Pinnick was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this pan of Eriogonum. I knew as soon as I saw it that I would have to photograph it, and that it would be difficult to get a very striking picture.

Loasa nana
Martin and Anna Sheader were awarded a Certificate of Merit for this pan of Loasa nana. The genus is renowned for being the South American 'stinging nettle'. Though they assured me that this species didn't have a sting, it was covered in suspicious hairs, and I didn't test it out; it even smelled like a stinging nettle.

Martin and Anna staged a second plant which I also photographed, in case the pictures turned out better.

Rhododendron leucanthum
The final Certificate of Merit went to Cecilia Coller for this rhododendron.

Saxifraga Southside Seedling
The New Forest Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate or Novice sections exhibited by a local group member went to Russell Beeson for this saxifrage.

Primula auricula
The Downland Trophy for the best plant in the Novice section went to Christine Hughes for this primula. Christine also won the John Blanchard Cup for the Novice section aggregate.

Saxifraga Kathleen Pinsent
This was one of several silver saxifrages (and by no means the largest, though the largest I could photograph easily), exhibited by Brian Sulman, who won the Wessex Trophy for the Intermediate section aggregate.

Trillium grandiflorum 'Flore pleno'
The Stanton Award for the Open section aggregate went to Ivor Betteridge who brought a car-load of alliums, conifers, and this very fine, albeit heavy pan of trilliums.

Artistic Award
The Artistic Award for the most points in the Artistic Intermediate Section (photography only) went to John & Clare Dower.

Large 6 pan
The AGS Medal for the large 6-pan class went to Lee and Julie Martin for this fine collection of plants, including the outstanding Iris cycloglossa, and the dianthus which appears below.

Dianthus squarrosus
From Lee and Julie's 6-pan exhibit.

6 pans of Lewisia
For once, Lee and Julie had competition from Martin Rogerson, with six large pans of lewisia.

Lewisia cotyledon hybrid
The biggest and heaviest lewisia from Martin's exhibit. I only photographed this late in the day when Martin offered to carry it over to the photography table. "Just give me a yell when you have finished with it" he said. Of course, when I had finished with it he was nowhere to be seen; they see me coming.

Small 6-pan
The AGS Medal for the small 6-pan class went to Cecilia Coller, with this grouping, including the campanula following.

Campanula rupicola

Exhibited by Cecilia Coller as part of her winning small 6-pan exhibit.

French Alps
David and Christine Hughes produced a fine display of photographs from a trip to the French Alps which really captured a sense of place. They were given a Bronze Medal.

Photos from the Artistic Section
Christine Hughes also did well in the Artistic Section; this set of three images were among her best.

Display of Botanical Art
Linda Pitt received a Silver Medal for a display of botanical art. Unfortunately, the pictures of the full display are among those I have lost, but here are two of the individual images, Dactylorhiza maculata and Primula japonica.

Sarracenias
There was also a very fine display of Sarracenias which wasn't judged. Again I have lost the pictures. These plants attracted a lot of attention, not least for the curious scent of their flowers. Since I was taking photos within about 3 feet of it all day, I became inured to it.

Ferraria schaeferi
A 'curious' scent was also produced by my pot of Ferraria schaeferi. This is the first time I have ever persuaded this South African bulb to flower, and I was very pleased with it. The flowers last for just a day, but it has been in bloom for over two weeks. At the show, three flowers were open. I am including some pictures taken earlier in the week in my greenhouse, when it was easier to photograph.

Allium shelkovnikovii
The bulbous classes were dominated by alliums. Ivor Betteridge exhibited several pans of this one, of which this was perhaps the best.

Allium bodeanum
Also from Ivor Betteridge. I love this one.

Allium oreophiloides
This lovely little onion was exhibited by Cecilia Coller.

Allium oreophilum Kusavli Curl
Another unusual small onion from Cecilia Coller.

Allium tolmei ssp. tolmei

Smaller still was this allium from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Triteleia ixioides Starlight
Not an allium, but onion-like, and in a three-pan exhibit with alliums, this was exhibited by Cecilia Coller.

Gladiolus floribundus
A beautiful South African gladiolus from George Elder.

Gladiolus parvulus
A tiny and unusual South African gladiolus, exhibited by Robin White. There was a lot of debate about this; some of the judges believed it was a Dierama, but the informed botanical opinion was that it is indeed a gladiolus, albeit an unusual one.

x Jancaemonda vandedemii
This fine specimen was also exhibited by Robin White.

Calceolaria corymbosa ssp. floccosa
Another magnificent plant from South America exhibited by Martin and Anna Shaeder.

Rhododendron trichostomum
This is always one of my favourite rhododendrons; the ones in my garden are a delight. This one was exhibited by Ian Sharpe.

Genista pilosa var. minor
Exhibited by Martin Rogerson; he doesn't only grow lewisias.

Inula rhizocephala
Exhibited by Don and Heather Hyde. I believe this plant is monocarpic and will die after flowering; it is crucial to save and sow the seed.

Linum Gemmells hybrid
This linum was exhibited by Russell Beeson; it was exceptionally well flowered.

Oxalis Clemence Knight
A lovely oxalis from Joy Bishop.

Oxalis Hemswell Knight x. laciniata Seven Bells
A new oxalis hybrid exhibited by Dot Sample.

Red Cacti
Tim has already posted pictures of the three red cacti exhibited by Vic Aspland, but here are mine anyway.

Mediolobivia brunescens

Rebutia krainziana

Rebutia potosina

Cypripedium parviflorum x. calceolus
Vic's wife, Janet Aspland, exhibited this lovely little orchid.

Sedum pilosum
I was delighted to see that Simon Bond won a first for this excellent pan of the monocarpic Sedum pilosum.

Penstemon debilis
An unusual penstemon exhibited by Joy Bishop.

Androsace bulleyana
Exhibited by Rick Lambert

Saxifraga facchinii
Also exhibited by Rick Lambert.

Olsynium biflorum
This South American bulb was also exhibited by Rick Lambert, flowering exceptionally well.

Myosotis albosericea
Exhibted by Peter Farkasch.

Delphinium beesianum

For each plant I photograph, I try to take at least three different shots:

a) one with the label and the exhibitor's entry card, so I know what and whose the plant is

b) a picture of the plant as a whole

c) if it looks photogenic, a close-up.

With the gremlins pilfering my memory card, in this case it is the first of these shots I have lost, with the record of whose plant it is.

I *think* it was exhibited by Peter Farkasch, but my apologies if it was someone else's plant.

Dodecatheon pulchellum
This plant was exhibited by the lovely Jean Morris, who was sitting chatting to me and my wife about the artistic section, and needlework in particular, when I photographed it.

Silene hookeri var. bolanderi
A very neat plant exhibited by Graham Nicholls

Pelargonium Ardens

Last but not least. This plant was one of my favourites at the show. It was exhibited in the Novice section by Christine Hughes. In a class all on its own (plant from the Southern Hemisphere), it was nevertheless ignored by the judges who clearly felt it was not according to schedule.

Thanks to Bill Squire and all his team who make this show such a pleasure to visit. And thanks to all those who carried plants for me, in at least one direction.

Now I need to reorganise the artistic exhibits, and repack them ready to take to Pontefract in 10 days time.