Most Farrer medals are perfect examples of their type and this 'old stager' is no example! There is no short cut to success and this specimen grown by John Saxton is some fifteen years old, disappearing under the wealth of bloom.
This exhibit, also grown by John is derived from original Ludlow and Sherrif 13284 material and judged the best plant in the small pan classes. Not an easy plant to please, summer drought or severe frost amongst other problems will cause its demise
It doesn't seem that long since the yellow flowered form began circulating in cultivation. This superb, well established large pan should bring this fine colour variant to the notice of a wider audience.
A great plant and seen here in top condition with just about every flower fully open and at their best. Youngsters will need time to settle and will be happiest in the open garden but they can be grown on in a pot as seen here.
Silene hookeri is an amazingly variable species both in flower colour and habit. This variety normally has the brightest coloured flowers which will fox a digital camera or two! I had to override the cameras default interpretation of the colour to try and give a realistic rendition.
From Greece, this mat former produces a succession of these soft blue typical Labiate flowers.
This crevice dweller from the Southern Alps is not often seen in cultivation. It has charm and is obviously happy growing within tufa plunged into the pot - would be equally happy outside in a wall.
With any particular plant there are exceptional forms and this is a typical example. Diane Clement staged alovely choice form of this Iranian species with much larger umbel of flowers than the norm.
Ornithogalums can provide a succession of species, flowering from Spring to early Summer. This is one of the later examples, an easy going European woodland species with attractive silvery white flowers of good size.
Alpine flowers do not come more showy than this choice offering. An easy plant in pot or garden provided good drainage and full sun are provided. In cool conditions the flowers will stubbornly refuse to unfurl - luckily the show hall was warm!
Many Arisaemeas are uninspiring in 'flower' or too tall. This Japanese species looks just right with deep purple and very attractive spathe, just inches over the grit.
A perfect mat forming species for a trough etc and as seen here in a 19cm pot, ideal for the showbench where it's accommodating habit of covering with flowers comes into play..
White flowered forms of many alpine plants are often considered 'superior'. It pays to select a good form where Ramondas are concerned as off white examples do not have the same charisma.
New to cultivation, a Chinese species with attractive soft textured foliage and attractive pink flowers which have an unusul leafy calyx - look closely, you can just see what I mean.
A good selection of ferns were present and this one earned quite a few admiring glances plus a certificate of merit!
I think this is the first time anyone has benched a sextet of Cypripediums? We'd all be happy to flower just one well, so this was quite an achievement from Barry Tattershall who gained his first AGS medal.
