The AGS London Show will be held at part of the London Alpine Garden Show, organised in collaboration with the RHS, at the Lindley Hall, Vincent Square on Sunday 27th April. 

The show will be open to visitors from 11am to 4.30pm.  Entrance is FREE to RHS and AGS members on production of their membership tickets; other visitors can pay £8 for entry on the day (standard RHS admission prices). 

Staging for exhibitors is 4pm to 8pm on Saturday 26th, or 8am to 9.30am on Sunday; if you can bring any plants for the plant sales table (which we haven't had before), please do so.

What to look forward to at the show

-   Competitive show of alpine plants from Alpine Garden Society members

-   A stunning display from RHS Wisley Alpine section

-   Nursery stands from Evolution Plants, Wildside, Jacques Amand and Trewidden

-   AGS members plant stand

-   RHS Wisley and AGS advice desks

-   A beautiful AGS photographic and artistic competition and exhibits

-   Incredible mountain paintings from Sam Gare

-   A wide selection of books on alpines

-   A full talks programme

   -   12:30 Alpines in the garden  - Jim McGregor

   -   13.30 Alpines in the wild and in cultivation - Diane Clement,

   -   14:30 Alpines in the eastern cape of South Africa   Cara Smith, Team Leader Wisley Alpine Section, RHS

   -   15.30 Photography in the garden -  Doug Joyce, photographer 

-   Mezzanine cafe

Well, that's the London Show over for another year, and as far as I could see, a huge success.

My day started at 5.30am, unblocking a toilet which was brim-full.  Great, that certainly augured well for the day, and necessitated an unplanned shower before we left.  Fortunately, the drive in to Westminster was straightforward, and we arrived just after 7am.  The doors of the hall weren't due to open until 8, so that left time for a quick trip to Starbucks for a large Americano which propped me up for the manic morning which followed; I didn't get anything else until a hurried sandwich around 2.30.  By the time we got back to the show hall, exhibitors were shuffling quietly in and out.  The hall was nice and cool, but humming with life - busy people were staging plants everywhere.

Nurseries had brought plants from South Devon and Cornwall, as well as Tom Mitchell, who made two trips from Wiltshire, and local RHS regulars Jacques Amand.  This year we had about 350 plants entered in the competitive classes (up from c. 280 last year),  and new (to London) exhibitors from as far away as Newcastle, Chester, Wolverhampton and Pembrokeshire (oops Carmarthen).  All appeared to have had an easy trip into London and a good day, many leaving the hall and going out to visit the sites, shows and shops of central London.  Whilst still fewer than many of the other AGS shows, the plants were of a very high standard, and made a very impressive display.  This was augmented with a fine non-competitive display of alpines in pots by the Alpine Department at RHS Wisley.

Around the sides of the hall there were boards carrying the artistic classes.  With over 240 pictures entered, this made a wonderful backdrop to the plants.  In addition, I somehow found time last week to put together a small non-competitive display of photographs, to illustrate the more artistic side of photography.  Near the entrance of the hall, there was a small exhibit of wonderful large paintings of mountains by Sam Gare.

As soon as staging finished at 9.30am, the judges set off briskly, trailed, after some last minute organisation, by pairs of stewards.  The whole process worked smoothly, and by 10.30 we were turning the exhibitors cards over, and I went to tell the RHS staff they could let the visitors in.

What none of us were expecting, though we were delighted, was the huge number of visitors.  The hall was packed with lively, interested people from 11 through to 3.30.  All of us who were helping had a wonderful, but exhausting time, answering questions, and embarking on fascinating conversations about plants, photography, and gardening in general.  The nursery and bookstands were kept incredibly busy; by the end of the day there was little left on the Wildside Alpines stand, and the AGS plant sales table was empty apart from a tray of large plants of Primula allionii from David Philbey's collection.  He is trying to cut down on the number of plants he grows because is struggling to maintain them in good condition, and these plants were good named clones, 5-10 years old, being sold for £3 each.  Only half of them were sold, perhaps because people were put off by the need for alpine house treatment, or because they did not recognise the age and quality of the plants. 

The four talks that were given during the afternoon were extremely popular, and we had to double the number of chairs put out for them.  They provided an excellent introduction to the variety and beauty of alpine plants in the wild and in the garden, and how to grow them; thank you to all of the lecturers for making the extra effort to add this additional facet to the day.

I hope that in this flood of interest we managed to encourage a few to come to more of our shows, and perhaps join the society.  The only complaint I heard all day was that the show needed more nurseries selling 'genuine alpines' rather than woodland plants and bulbs.  I can only suggest that those who want to but lots of alpines visit more Alpine Garden Society shows - they take place all over the country, with at least 6, but often between 10 and 20 nurseries selling alpines.

Overall, the experiment of running this show on a Sunday was a great success.  I hope we will be running the show again next year, and that we can encourage more nurseries, and even more exhibitors to brave the unknown of bringing their plants into central London.  The success of this year's show should make that easier.

I would like to offer my thanks to all who helped with the show - all the AGS exhibitors and judges (particularly those who took a chance and came to London for the first time), the lecturers who gave the four talks, all the many people who came to help, both new and old faces, from all around London, but also from Pershore, who worked tirelessly all day, and by no means least to the RHS staff, both in public and behind the scenes, who contributed so much to the organisation and staging of this event.  It was a pleasure to work with you all. 

Finally, I would like to thank all the visitors who came to the show, AGS members, RHS members, and members of the public.  I hope you had a great day.

I have a very few snatched pictures of interesting plants I took during the day.  If no one else posts any photos, I will sort them out and post them once I have dealt with the huge mountain of boxes in the hall, where they got dumped last night.

Hi Everyone

Doug Joyce's official photos are now online here - http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/shows/results/shows2014/shows/london/photogallery.html

Helen Johnstone has posted some more excellent photos on her blog here -

http://patientgardener.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/london-alpine-show/

it is good to see the feedback she gets on her blog, and on her Twitter account - thank you Helen.
Finally some of Alan Newton's photos have found their way onto the SRGC website here -

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11760.0

I'm sure it was an exhausting weekend Alan, but I hope you enjoyed it.

As I have said, being show secretary, not only was I not the show photographer at London, but I didn't even have time for a proper look around the benches, to take careful shots of plants on the bench, so these are just a few snaps I grabbed between interruptions.  

There were many other plants I would have liked to photograph, and many I would have liked to do more formally, but either they were tired by the time I was taking photos, or I got distracted and missed that section of the bench.  I didn't try to photograph many of the award winning plants, knowing that they would have been done properly by the show photographer.

One of the highlights of the show was a wide selection of irises.

Iris reichenbachii

Many of the irises were brought all the way from Carmarthen by Bob and Rannveig Wallis, to provide an entry for six plants from the same genus, and the backbone of their entry for six pans of bulbous plants.  This is a dwarf form of Iris reichenbachii which was given an Award of Merit by the Joint Rock Garden Committee.

Iris acutiloba ssp longipetala

Again from Bob and Rannveig Wallis, this is an intriguing variant of Iris acutiloba, which I haven't seen often on the show bench.  Bob calls it their Ku Klux Klan iris.

Iris paradoxa v mirabilis x urmiensis

Bob and Rannveig Wallis also exhibited this pretty hybrid iris.  I'm sorry I didn't photograph more of their irises; if I had been show photographer there were 8 or 9 I would have captured.

Iris barnumae

Ray Drew staged an interesting 3 pan exhibit featuring this iris, and two hybrids between it and I. paradoxa ssp choschab.

Iris paradoxa ssp choschab(f) x barnumae fm urmien

Exhibited by Ray Drew

Iris paradoxa ssp choschab(m) x barnumae fm urmien

The reverse cross, also exhibited by Ray Drew.

Iris iberica ssp elegantissima

The most spectacular of Ray Drew's irises was this lovely form of I. iberica ssp elegantissima.  I hope Doug's formal shots of it come out well.

Iris schachtii

There were plenty of other irises as well, including an Iris cycloglossa from Colin Rogers with 15 or so buds, which was going to be spectacular the following day, but refused to open before judging.  This I. schachtii was exhibited by Cecilia Coller.

Wurmbea recurva

South African bulb specialist George Elder, brought two wurmbeas.  I find these difficult to grow, let alone flower. First the more familiar plant, W. recurva.

Wurmbea species

George Elder also brought this lovely unidentified Wurmbea, which demonstrates why some of us find them so attractive, and try to get them to grow in this country.

Calochortus amoenus

Bob and Rannveig Wallis exhibited this lovely Calochortus; Colin Rogers asked me where it was from, and was cross when I answered "Bob and Rannveig".

Gladiolus anatolicus

On the other hand, this charming little gladiolus, which was exhibited by Colin Rogers, did come from Bob and Rannveig !

Gladiolus carneus

Cecilia Coller showed a lovely pan of this South African gladiolus, which seems to be becoming more popular on the show benches in recent years.

Scilla pratensis

A lovely scilla from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Anacamptis laxiflora

As well as bulbs, there were a good number of orchids on the bench, including this attractive pan of the Jersey Orchid, from Barry Tattersall.

Cypripedium fargesii

Colin and Eliane Barr were awarded a Certificate of Merit, and a Preliminary Commendation from the Joint Rock Garden Committee for this pan of C. fargesii.  It had 3 or 4 flowers on, though the photo only shows one.

Serapias x godferyi

Barry Tattersall was second in this class with a fine serapias hybrid.  His plant was also awarded a Certificate of Merit for an exceptional plant, putting him, and it, in a small and exclusive club for plants which have received a Certificate of Merit, but didn't win their class.  Often the winners of the class in such cases are Farrer Medal plants.

Serapias neglecta

Another serapia from Barry Tattersall.

calanthe discolor

Pam Turtle staged a lovely pan of calanthe.

Pleione formosana Snow Bunting

Last but not least of the orchids I photographed, Cecilia Coller exhibited one of her signature plants, this white form of Pleione formosana.  She usually has this in flower at the London Show at the beginning of May.  The skill of the exhibitor can be seen in the fact that she was exhibiting it here, some 3-4 weeks later, in a very early season.

Erodium foetidum "Fran's Delight"

Cecilia Coller exhibited this attractive clone of Erodium foetidum.

Gentiana acaulis

I thought this was a lovely form of Gentiana acaulis, from Diane Clement.

Primula Coolock Violet

One of my local group members, James Lintott, won the aggregate award for the Novice Section.  This was one of his plants.  He also exhibited a nice pan of Iris reichenbachii, but my attempt to photograph that was interrupted, and I forgot to return.

Rulingia hermanniifolia

I always love this dwarf Australian shrub Cecilia Coller grows when it flowers.

Ledum groenlandicum Helma

A lovely pot of ledum from Sam and Mavis Lloyd came down in the van from Pershore.

Verbascum dumulosum

There were several plants of Verbascum dumulosum around the hall.  The most resplendent was exhibited by Jim McGregor.

Sedum humifusum

Clive Dart always grows this little sedum beautifully, and it makes a lovely carpet when the yellow flowers open.

Sempervivum cilosum

Michael Sullivan brought some huge pans of sempervivum.  This one was particularly attractive, with flowerheads starting to form.

Sempervivum ciliosum v galicicum from Mali Hat

Another signature plant from Cecilia Coller.

Cryptantha paradoxa

Moving on now to the new or rare classes, Peter Farkasch exhibited two little dryland plants from America called Cryptantha.

Oxalis laciniata Miradores de Darwin

Martin and Anna Sheader exhibited this lovely new form of Oxalis laciniata.  Inside the petals are a solid velvety pink (I didn't get a chance for a shot earlier in the day when they were open); outside they are attractively striped.  Sadly, they say it is even more difficult to grow than the normal forms of O. laciniata.

 

Junellia coralloides

For the last couple of years, Martin and Anna Sheader have been exhibiting a junellia which forms a trailing mat of pipe-cleaners as 'aff coralloides'.  This plant, exhibited by them as J. coralloides was noticeably more erect in growth, but otherwise very similar.

Saxifraga presolanensis

Another photo which failed for lack of attention.  This was a very intriguing saxifrage, exhibited by David Charlton.

Artistic Section

I would like now to look at a few artistic section entries which appeared at London for the first time.  Caroline Jackson-Houlston brought some wonderful watercolour paintings.  It is a wonder she was able to mount them; she confessed she had been up all night and was still painting the Ophrys at 4am before the show.  Let's start with 3 portraits of alpine plants.

Phlox divaricata

Exhibited by Caroline Jackson-Houlston

Aquilegia viridiflora

Exhibited by Caroline Jackson-Houlston

Ophrys ciliata

Exhibited by Caroline Jackson-Houlston

Viola biflora

Another painting by Caroline Jackson-Houlston

Cypripedium Parville

This painting by Caroline Jackson-Houlston won the Florence Baker Award for the best painting or drawing.

Oreopolis glacialis

Martin and Anna Sheader were awarded a Certificate of Merit for a 6 photo entry including this shot of Oreopolis glacialis

Muscari armeniacum (?)

Kit Strange's entry in the class for 6 portraits of alpine plants included this lovely shot of a muscari.

Digitally manipulated Carpets

Joan and Liam McCaughey were given a Certificate of Merit for 3 lovely images created by arranging components of a single original image to form carpet designs.

Ulster Carpet

Exhibited by Joan and Liam McCaughey

Turkish Carpet

Exhibited by Joan and Liam McCaughey

Chinese Carpet

Exhibited by Joan and Liam McCaughey

Iris taurica

Joan and Liam McCaughey also submitted 3 lovely images for the class for images from multiple originals.  In each case, mountains have been added to the background of the image which weren't there in the original shot.

Trollius europaeus

Joan and Liam McCaughey added the mountains in place of low cloud to make this shot of Trollius europaeus more satisfying.

Nassauvia pinnigera

Joan and Liam McCaughey added excitment to this shot by adding the mountains.

Where is the art in digital photography ?

Finally, I would like to show you a glimpse of my personal exhibit.  Rather presumptuously, I tried to discuss whether digital photography should be treated as art; the body of the discussion focused on the decisions which the photographer makes whilst photographing flowers, and whilst processing his images, and whether or not his or her choices are / can be made for artistic reasons.

I think most of the images in the display have been seen before, but this was an attempt to pick out some personal favourites.  The judges must have seen something they liked in it, because they gave me a Large Gold Award.