South West Show Rosemoor April 2017 - Show Photographer's Diary - Gardeners' Diaries

Show Photographer's Diary

This entry: South West Show Rosemoor April 2017 by Jon Evans

This year the South West show had moved from its familiar (but expensive) location in a school to the south of Exeter to the RHS Garden at Rosemoor, which made most people's journeys 50-60 minutes longer, and meant that a number of exhibitors and helpers decided to give it a miss. Certainly the five o'clock start caused me problems throughout the day, and the constant presence of Jim Almond at the photography table was necessary to inject energy and enthusiasm.

However, the additional journey was a fairly easy drive with lovely views, climbing up and over the north Devon hills into the cloud, with brown foaming streams beside the road hinting at heavy rain over the previous few days.

Unfortunately, the new exhibition centre at Rosemoor, which had been intended to house the show, is still some six weeks from completion, and a temporary solution in two smaller rooms meant that space was at a premium. The plant sales area was intended to be in a marquee adjacent to these rooms, but heavy rain last week meant that the marquee could not be used sensibly or safely, so instead the nurseries were relocated to a room some 200 yards away. Exhibitors' parking was in a rather muddy building site adjacent to the show. None of this was ideal, but represented a lot of last minute changes and headache for, and hard work by the show secretary and his helpers; however, the prospects for next year are exciting, with the show staged in an excellent new hall surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Any complaints about the distance, or the temporary arrangements, were quickly quelled by the warm of the welcome from Jon, Kana and the other Devon members, and the small coterie of regular exhibitors from the southern half of England were busy at work staging their entries.

Around the walls of the show, in the limited space available, were displays advertising the local groups, an excellent display of needlework from Jean Morris, awarded a Gold Medal, and part (space was limited) of the World of Alpines display I put together (originally in 2008, but extended subsequently) for the Woking and East Surrey Local Groups. This was developed from members' photos for the joint display we run at Wisley every year, and aims to provide entry-level information for the public about alpines in the wild, and ways of growing them in cultivation. It was rewarding to see so many people reading and making notes from this display. My wife Helen had kindly accompanied me to help put it up; fortunately she was able to take a long nap in the car later in the day.

Despite the rigours of the journey the previous day (many of the plants had been in a warm car since Thursday), Lee and Julie Martin managed to muster enough firsts to win the Exeter Trophy for the Open Section aggregate; here are their entries for 3 large rock plants, and 3 plants from one continent.

x Cyclonysia intermedia

Of course, Saturday was a special date, and the exhibitors had taken this to heart, with an unusual intergeneric hybrid appearing in the class for plants new or rare in cultivation, exhibited by the cryptic 'April Fewell'.

Rosulate viola

Having eliminated the entry discussed above, the judges were faced with two further entries - a new dionysia seedling, and a puzzling and unfamiliar rosulate viola with buttercup yellow flowers. Upon forensic examination by the judges, the latter turned out to be a silver saxifrage rosette carefully adorned with flowers from a yellow violet, perhaps V. biflora. Unfortunately the judges' examination involved the careful testing and removal of the flowers, which destroyed the exhibit for photographic purposes.

Wurmbea marginata

In an adjacent class George Elder exhibited the difficult South African bulb Wurmbea marginata, grown from seed sown in 2010. Fortunately this was in a small pot, for it needed to be carried at arms length to escape a rather unpleasant scent.

Pleione Marion Johnson Bubs

When judging finished, and the show opened, it was for a while absolutely packed with visitors, and it was impossible to move around the show carrying plants, so I focused on plants from the Novice and Intermediate Sections which were adjacent to the little side room (with excellent light) where I was doing the photography. First was this lovely Pleione from first-time exhibitor Ben Parmee - it will be most impressive when it has increased to fill a pan.

Fritillaria meleagris

Ben Parmee's pot of Fritillaria meleagris, dug up from the garden, won the Otter Trophy for the best plant in the Novice Section, and helped him towards the Dartington Trophy for the section aggregate.

Fritillaria thessala subsp reiseri

The Intermediate section was dominated by Jim Loring, whose exhibits included a number of excellent fritillaries which brought him the Dartmoor Trophy for the section aggregate.

Fritillaria acmopetala subsp wendelboi

Another fritillaria from Jim Loring with fascinating markings.

Fritillaria affinis subsp tristulis

Another Intermediate section fritillaria from Jim Loring.

Cyclamen persicum

The best of Jim Loring's plants was this cyclamen, which won the Cornwall Trophy for the best plant in the section, and the Cyclamen Society Salver for the best cyclamen.

Veitch Trophy

On another table adjacent to my photography area was the class for 3 small pans of bulbous plants, for which the Veitch Trophy is awarded; this year it went to George Elder.

Erythronium Margaret Matthew

Exhibited by George Elder as part of his three pan entry.

Narcissus Solveig's Song

Exhibited by George Elder as part of his three pan entry.

Fritillaria mutabilis

The third and final member of George Elder's winning entry for three pans of bulbs.

Fritillaria

The class for three pans of Fritillaria had three strong contenders in it.

Fritillaria alfredae subsp platyptera

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Fritillaria fleisheriana

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Fritillaria bithynica

Exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin

Fritillaria theophrasti

Exhibited by George Elder

Fritillaria crassifolia subsp kurdica

In the adjacent one pan class exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Fritillaria aff montana

Exhibited by Martin Rogerson

Fritillaria davisii

In the large pan classes, Roger Clark was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this pan of F. davisii.

Fritillaria reuteri

The East Devon Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot, and 'Best in Show' went to this fritillaria from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Narcissus bulbocodium

Moving now to narcissus, Bob and Rannveig Wallis showed several small pans of N. bulbocodium.

Narcissus x consolationis

This is a fancy name for the hybrid N. bulbocodium x triandrus, exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Narcissus triandrus hybrid

Another N. triandrus hybrid exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis, this time much closer to N. triandrus.

Anemone pavonina

Dot Sample produced a pan of Anemone pavonina which was in perfect condition on the day.

6 vases of cut flowers

I took the opportunity to photograph something I don't usually do - the entries for six vases of cut flowers, the first from Barry Starling and the second from Lee and Julie Martin.

Miniature Flower arrangements

Next to these was the class for miniature flower arrangements. These were put together by Barry Starling, Paddy Parmee, and in first place, Mavis and Sam Lloyd.

Miniature garden

Next to these were the miniature gardens, where Mavis and Sam Lloyd again triumphed.

Primula gracilipes

Exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin

Primula nghialoensis

Dick Fulcher exhibited this unusual and unpronounceable primula.

Dionysia khuzistanica DZ100-48-ENF1

However, the Peter Edwards Memorial Trophy for the most points in the Primulaceae classes went to Paul and Gill Ranson with an array of dionysias, including this.

Anemonella thalictrioides

This exhibit of three different double pink forms of Anemonella thalictrioides by Anne Vale attracted a lot of attention. I should point out, however, that whatever it is, the one at the front is not 'Cameo' which should have very pale pink double flowers.

Anemonella Oscar Schoaf

Martin Rogerson was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this pan of Anemonella Oscar Schoaf.

Trillium albidum

There were several trilliums at the show, starting with this from Lionel Clarkson.

Trillium maculatum

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Trillium pusillum

Exhibited by Anne Vale, and yielding the best picture of the day.

Epimedium leptorrhizum

Mike Morton brought two fine pans of Epimedium in full flower; I always find the new leaves on E. leptorrhizum particularly attractive.

Tropaeolum azureum

Also from Mike Morton

Viola brevistipulata hidakana

It was unusual to see this viola at a show in Southern England, but it had come down from more northerly latitudes with Lionel Clarkson.

Eucomis regia

Green pineapples, grown from seed sown in 2006 by George Elder

Agapetes smithiana var major

Roger Clark exhibited this unusual member of the Ericaceae.

Iris pumila JJA 199.590

Lee and Julie Martin exhibited this wonderfully coloured form of Iris pumila. Apparently this collection number also yields purple seedlings.

Iris lutescens

A chance seedling, but a very beautiful one from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Iris attica

Also exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Iris suaveolens

The very heavy Iris suaveolens exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin.

Pleione grandiflora hybrid

By contrast, this pot was lighter than air, and shot straight up when I laid hands on it. Bob and Rannveig Wallis won the Graham Lovell Salver for the best pan of Orchidaceae with this pleione.

Rosemoor Garden

I would like to thank the local members for all their efforts in trying circumstances to make this show happen, and for the warmth and friendliness with which we were received.

By the end of the afternoon (the show closed at 4pm), I was exhausted, and it was hard work packing up all my gear and the display, even with assistance. However, I had had the good fortune to be brought an excellent lunch twice, by two lovely ladies, my wife Helen, and the equally charming Kana, and somehow managed the energy to make a quick excursion into the wonderful garden.

We didn't have time to make a thorough exploration - we didn't see massed Narcissus cyclamineus, or Erythroniums, though I suspect they are there somewhere, but what we did see was beautiful on a lovely spring day, and will encourage us to go back next year, perhaps staying for a few days so we can see the garden properly when the Narcissus bulbocodium are at their peak, rather than going over as you see here.

These aren't great photos by any means - just quick snapshots with my pocket compact at a point where I had neither the time nor the energy to focus on the photos, but it was a good way to unwind and prepare for the return journey, and they should give a little flavour of the garden at this time of year.

Narcissus bulbocodium

There were wonderful stands of Narcissus bulbocodium in several places around the garden; sadly, all were a week or two past their best, but a visit in mid to late March must be a delight.