The last week has been a little problematic for me.  My car started to make an intermittent clatter, which on Wednesday suddenly developed into a burst auxiliary belt and a busted alternator.  A mobile mechanic visited, diagnosed, ordered parts, and promised to come back on Friday to fit them.  

Since I had agreed to do the show photography at Pershore, I sought a backup plan, then started to clean 18 pans of Rhodohypoxis for the show.  So when, at 8pm on Friday evening, the mechanic decided that the new alternator was identical in all respects except the electrical connection, and a different replacement would have to be procured, I was very glad to be able to invoke plan B.  

I am hugely endebted to Mike Morton and Janet Pepper for arriving here just after 6.30 on Saturday morning to give me a lift to Pershore, with space for all my photographic gear, and able to find room for three of the pans of Rhodohypoxis.

We drove up to Pershore through clearing drizzle and low cloud.  It was a bit of a surprise to find that the show had reverted to its original location at Pershore - a gloomy windowless hall with murky orange toned lighting.  Fortunately, I had been show photographer here several times before, before the show was moved to Tewkesbury, and I knew just where to set up a studio to be able to photograph the plants in good light.

After a bacon butty and a cup of tea, having staged my three plants, I set to work.  Of course, finding a good location outside one of the fire exits to take the plant portraits doesn't help with recording the six pans, so let us start with those.

Large 6 pans of Rock Plants

There was only one entry in the large six pan, from Lee and Julie Martin.  Four cracking plants with two that were perhaps slightly weaker; I'm sure that Lee and Julie were disappointed when the judges decided not to award a first.

Small 6 pans of Rock Plants

In the small six pan class there was no such problem for Lee and Julie Martin, and the first and the AGS Medal was awarded, though to my eye this was a very similar entry; again four very strong plants were supported by two slightly weaker members.  This first provided a big boost for Lee and Julie towards the Hilliard Cup for the Open Section aggregate.

6 pans of Rock Plants from seed

In the class for six pans of plants grown from seed by the exhibitor, there was a single entry from Pauline Carless.  Again this was deemed not to be of sufficient quality for a first to be awarded.

Campanula pulla

The six pan entries have already demonstrated that, as so often, this was very much a campanula show, so I would like to move on to a small selection of those on the benches.  First is Campanula pulla, exhibited by Lawrence Peet.

Campanula Joe Elliott

Campanula Joe Elliott, also exhibited by Lawrence Peet, who went on to win the Florence Baker Memorial Trophy for the Intermediate Section aggregate.

Campanula cochlearifolia Tubby

Also in the Intermediate Section, a fine pan of Campanula cochlearifolia Tubby exhibited by Lesley Travis.

Campanula Blue Pearl

Lesley Travis also exhibited this campanula.  This was an interesting plant and one I would like to know more about.  An internet search under this name only throws up forms of C. carpatica, so it is clearly not well established in the trade, and it would be interesting to know its parentage, which appeared to be similar to that of the following plant.

Campanula myrtifolia x asperuloides

In the Open section Martin and Anna Sheader exhibited this lovely (self-made ?) hybrid between two tricky species.

Campanula Margaret Brine

David Richards exhibited this campanula hybrid, which I first remember seeing at the same show in 2011, when it was exhibited by Graham Nicholls.

Campanula Joan Beeston

Now a new cultivar, which looks like it has C. raineri in its ancestry, named in honour of the late Joan Beeston, raised by Aberconwy Nursery and exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin as part of their large six pan entry.  This plant was given an Award of Merit by the Joint Rock Garden Committee.

Campanula asperuloides

The class for one pan of campanula was hotly contested, arguably containing the two best plants in the show, and caused considerable debate among the judges, but in the end the runner-up was deemed to be this fabulous plant exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson, which was nevertheless awarded a Certificate of Merit.

Campanula fragilis

The winner of the campanula class, and of the Farrer medal, was this perfect blue ball of Campanula fragilis, exhibited by Edward Spencer, a thoroughly likeable exhibitor from Derbyshire I haven't previously had the opportunity to talk to.

3 pans of Bulbous Plants

The Frank Badrick Memorial Trophy went to Bob and Rannveig Wallis for this grouping, including two familiar old friends and a new allium I haven't photographed before.

Allium caesium

The first plant in Bob and Rannveig Wallis' three pan was this allium, which I have photographed before in previous years, with rather more success.

Calochortus clavatus var recurvifolius

The second plant in Bob and Rannveig Wallis' three pan was a calochortus which again is a regular visitor to the show.

Allium species JCA 17537

The final plant in Bob and Rannveig Wallis' three pan was this interesting allium raised from Archibald seed collected in the Zeravashan Mountains in Uzbekistan.

Allium kurtzianum ACW 2372

There were several pans of this little allium on the bench, the finest produced by Vic and Jan Aspland, which was awarded a Certificate of Merit and a Cultural Commendation from JRGC.

Allium paniculatum

Another great plant from Lee and Julie Martin's large six pan exhibit.

Allium serra (?)

Another attractive little pan of onions from Mavis and Sam Lloyd.  This plant has been exhibited for a number of years under this name, but to my eye it appears to be very similar to A. paniculatum above, and having examined my pictures of it closely, and searched the internet for pictures of it growing in California, I struggle to believe it is correctly named.

Androcymbium striatum

This plant is another old friend; George Elder has exhibited it for a number of years at this show.  This year it was particularly short and neat, though with only four flowers, where there have been more in previous years.

Triteleia laxa Dexter

A very familiar form of Triteleia laxa, exhibited by Robert Rolfe.

Triteleia laxa Foxy

This much paler form, with blue stripes was exhibited by Alan Newton under the epithet 'Foxty', but it appears to be around in the trade as 'Foxy'. It is perhaps a little paler than 'Rudy', which also has the white stripe.

Arisaema costatum

This was an arisaema I haven't photographed before, exhibited by Dave Mountfort.

Arisaema fargesii

A very fine, photogenic arisaema from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Alstroemeria garavantae JJA 027-000

There were a number of alstroemerias on the show bench.  This one, looking a little like a tall form of A. hookeri, was grown from Jim Archibald seed by George Elder.

Alstroemeria hookeri

Lee and Julie Martin included A. hookeri in their small six pan entry.

Alstroemeria versicolor

Finally, this lovely plant was exhibited by Martin and Anna Sheader.

Dactylorhiza hybrid

Moving on to orchids, Alan Newton showed this interesting Dactylorhiza hybrid with dark unspotted leaves, which I think originated from Eric Watson.

Epipactis palustris

Brian and Shelagh Smethurst showed a fine pan of the normal (tall) form of our native Marsh Helleborine, Epipactis palustris.

Disa hybrid

Less favoured by the judges were two Disa hybrids, exhibited by Anne Vale and Paddy Parmee respectively.  I think these get marked down because they are the product of extensive hybridisation, like show auriculas, and because the judges have doubts over their hardiness, though the exhibitors were adamant that both would survive light frost.  Disa species and natural hybrids tend to be more acceptable to the judges.  Without the responsibility of judging them as an entry in an alpine show, I can only say that both were beautiful and I am very glad the exhibitors brought them.

Anoectochilus formosanus

I have photographed this little asian orchid exhibited by Alan Newton before, but as a foliage plant, so it was interesting to see the flowers.  This comes from Taiwan, some of the Japanese islands, and parts of mainland China; I very much doubt whether it is any hardier than the Disas.

Neottianthe cucullata var calcicola

Alan Newton staged the Anoectochilus in a three-pan exhibit with this lovely, tiny orchid from the Himalayas, which seems to be much less common in cultivation.  No more than two inches tall, but seen through the close-up lens it was beautiful.

Orobanche hederae

This is not an orchid, though it is similar to some, but our native Ivy Broomrape.  This plant is completely parasitic on ivy, and it was fascinating to see it grown in a pot (with an ivy plant) by Neil Hubbard.

Sarracenias

Ben Parmee brought many carnivorous plants to the show, including a nice three pan exhibit of sarracenias.

Sarracenia cv Juthatip Soper

Exhibited by Ben Parmee

Sarracenia cv Tygo

Exhibited by Ben Parmee

Sarracenia x moorei

Exhibited by Ben Parmee

Drosera binata Marston Dragon

Ben Parmee's carnivorous plants weren't all sarracenias.  This sundew attracted the attention of the show reporter.

Cephalotus follicularis

One final carnivorous plant, again from Ben Parmee, with little pitcher traps hidden amongst the moss.

Abies lasiocarpa Duflon

I always try to include a few plants from the non-flowering classes, and this desperately slow little conifer, exhibited by Vic and Jan Aspland, always appeals to me.

Juniper horizontalis Neumann

David Richards' big juniper won the Glebelands Trophy, now awarded for the best foliage plant, rather than the 'wierdest plant' which the judges found too challenging to select.  This year I might have chosen the Cephalotus as the wierdest.

Dryopteris erythrosova

I was very taken with the striking colour of this fern exhibited by Brenda Nickels.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Caroline Jackson-Houlston won the aggregate in the open Artistic section.  Although this wasn't one of her winning paintings, it was one I didn't recall seeing before. [Because there hasn't been an artistic section at Pershore before, paintings which have been exhibited before at other shows in previous years are admissible entries.]

Abrotanella forsterioides

The heaviest plant I carried all day was this huge cushion of Abrotanella from Tasmania, exhibited by Chris Bowyer.

Graptopetalum bellum

One of the joys of the mid-summer shows is the opportunity to see the shocking pink of this little succulent (formerly Tacitus bellus).  I thought this plant exhibited by Anne Vale was grown particularly well.

Sedum zentaro-tashiroi

Chris Bowyer was awarded a Certificate of Merit, and a Preliminary Commendation from JRGC, for this surprisingly heavy pan of sedum.

Sempervivum Mulberry Wine

In the Novice section, Lance Carless won both the Dudfield Cup for the aggregate, and the Wessex Water Trophy for the best plant with this Sempervivum.

Hesperoyucca whipplei subsp parishii (?)

Another succulent which I thought would make an interesting picture, again exhibited by Chris Bowyer.

Helichrysum ruholepis

An interesting helichrysum, which made a good photographic subject, again from Chris Bowyer.

Flower arrangements

At recent shows I have dared to carry and photograph the flower arrangements, and this was no exception.  The first arrangement, which won, was from Mavis and Sam Lloyd, but I thought the second, exhibited by Paddy Parmee, was unlucky with the lighting in the hall - taken out into daylight the subtle tones came to life.

Huanaca andina

John and Clare Dower submitted three plants to the JRGC without success - the first was this little composite from South America.

Tarasa humilis

A small but well-coloured seedling of Tarasa humilis, again from John and Clare Dower.

Rubus taiwanicola BSWJ317

This unusual rubus, exhibited by John and Clare Dower, which apparently makes attractive berries, was on sale on one of the nursery stands at the show.

Saussurea stella

Tim Lever has exhibited a number of plants of this wierd monocarpic thing from the Himalayas over recent years.  If this one does not set seed, it is the last.

Pelargonium auritum subsp carneum

Another familiar mid-summer exhibit from George Elder

Scutellaria suffrutescens Texas Rose

This lipstick pink scutellaria exhibited by Vic and Jan Aspland makes a good garden plant in a gravel bed or something similar.

Digitalis nana

One of the things I love about this show is that we regularly see miniature species of foxglove, this one exhibited by Alan Newton.

Thymus cilicicus

Another summer favourite, here exhibited by Martin and Anna Sheader.

Gentiana syringea

An annual gentian, exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson, but a plant I will always associate with Cecilia Coller, who grew it so well.

Hypoxis membranacea

Finally, what became of the three plants I managed to take with me to the show.  This hypoxis wasn't helped by the lack of light in the hall - all the flowers were open like little stars in sunshine the day before, and the day after - and I imagine the judges felt it was too leafy.

x Rhodoxis Hebron Farm Cerise

However, my big pan of x Rhodoxis won a first in the class for one rock plant - the first one for me in the open section since 2014.  I am now officially more than halfway to my gold medal; just 12 more to go !

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make this show happen, to all the exhibitors who brought plants, to Ian Instone for taking and posting the views of the show on the first page, and above all to Mike and Janet for giving me a lift.  It was unfortunate that after the excellent bacon rolls, there was nothing available for lunch except cake (let them eat cake), but I'm sure that is something that can be sorted out; I will make a mental note to bring sandwiches next year.