AGS Shows: KENT SHOW 2009

It looks like a fantastic day, David. Thanks for posting the pics, I don't know where you found the time to take them, with a Show secretary's hat on, and exhibitor. I think modesty prevents David from saying who won the Farrer, and although I can't read the exhibitor's card, I can see it was part of a six pan entry of saxifragas, so I guess congratulations are due to you David. Well done!

Tonight's batch of 'official' show pictures are from the Kent Show. Kent was a show dominated by cushions, with huge dionysias, saxifrages and primulas. Normally, there are wonderful bulbs as well, but there were fewer than normal this year.

I find when taking the official pictures that I tend to concentrate on smaller cushions, in part because that is where the new cultivars and species appear.

There is also a weight consideration. Carrying one of David Hoare's huge pots from his six pan entry composed of saxifrages is one thing; taking each of the six in turn is quite another, though all were worthy of photographs.

But I also find that photographs tend not to do justice to the larger cushions, magnificent though they are in the flesh. The individual flowers tend to look small and it is difficult to capture their beauty. I hope that this lack of photographs doesn't offend some of the growers; I am always happy to satisfy a polite request to take a photo, if you feel your plant is particularly fine this year.

This time, let's start with the Farrer Medal, awarded to the hard-working show secretary, David Hoare

Not often seen on a show bench

Now some dionysias. First, the best plant in a 19cm pot.

A fabulously elegant plant; the flowers are just neatly arranged without being packed too tightly together

I can't think when I have ever seen a tapetodes as perfectly covered with flowers, and a lovely deep yellow.

This plant was in C section, and won the award for the best plant there.