Hampshire

Since October 1962

Monthly meetings consist of a lecture / presentation, refreshments, raffle, plant sale and display table. In March/May look out for our plant and photographic competitions and in April we hold our annual plant sale at one of our open garden events. Garden visits are arranged throughout the year. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be hosting a series of meetings at Chilworth Hall plus some Zoom lectures through the winter months for those who prefer not to attend in person.

Content

Welcome

Welcome to the Hampshire Alpine Garden Society Webpage.

Our friendly, active group has been established since October 1962 and one or two original members still turn up occasionally!

We currently have a membership of 100+ and they range from those new to alpine gardening to experts with a wealth of experience.

We have an excellent programme of lectures on a wide range of topics, always stimulating and interesting. We serve tea, coffee and biscuits and there is a chance to chat to other members of the group. We have a raffle, a plant sales table and a display table each month.

In March we have a competitive plant show for the David Benton Rose Bowl and in May a photographic competition for the Margaret Hedges Trophy. April sees the Annual Plant Sale which we all look forward to with much excitement and takes place at one of our Open Garden events! Several open garden events are organised in the spring and summer.

Membership of our group is open to all – you don’t have to be an AGS member, although always recommended to enjoy the wider benefits of the Society. Do come along as a visitor and see if you’d like to join us regularly. You would be most welcome.
Contact Details and Subscription

Contact Details

Ben Parmee (Secretary): Tel: 02380 265672 or 07501 083504

Email: Ben.Parmee@alpinegardensociety.org

Subscriptions

AGS members: £10. (Joint £14)

Non-members: £11.00. (Joint £15)

Visitors: £2.50 (per meeting)

Students: Free
Events programme

2023 – 2024 Programme of Meetings and Talks

2023

28 September 2023 – At Chilworth Hall

Joe Sharman – known as ‘Mr Snowdrop’ Joe runs Monksilver Nursery.

‘Cyclamen’ – showing many of the species, their origins, and how to grow them in our gardens

26 October 2023 – At Chilworth Hall

Bob and Rannveig Wallis – AGS exhibitors and shows’ judges and tour guides.

‘Moorish Bulbs’ (covering trips to Andalucia and Morocco)

23 November 2023 – At Chilworth Hall

David Hazelgrove – Past President of the Alpine Garden Society.

West Coast South Africa in September

14 December 2023 – Via Zoom – note this is the second Thursday

Seasonal meeting including the quiz written by David Butcher and short presentations by Group members.

2024

25 January 2024 – via Zoom

Michael Myers – Michael is a horticulture tutor at Craven College in Skipton.

‘Dwarf Bulbs throughout the Year’

22 February 2024 – via Zoom

Ian Young – has been heavily involved in The Scottish Rock Gardening Club for many years.

‘Nature Gardeners Tutor’

28 March 2024 – At Chilworth Hall

Christopher Bailes – Past President of the Alpine Garden Society.

Growing hardy orchids in the garden – from obscurity to ubiquity…?

Plant Competition: The David Benton Rose Bowl is awarded to the winner of the Plant Competition

March/April – Annual plant sale and open garden events – Dates to be announced.

25 April 2024 – At Chilworth Hall

Annual General Meeting and …

Martin Sheader – Group member and AGS Exhibitor, Shows judge and AGS Tour guide.

‘With the AGS in Patagonia, 2022’

23 May 2024 – At Chilworth Hall

Jon Evans – Jon is best known as the AGS Shows photographer.

‘Plant photography at AGS shows’

Photographic Competition Presentation and Results. The Margaret Hedges Trophy for the photographic competition winner.
Next Meeting

Hampshire Alpine Garden Society

Meeting at Chilworth Hall

7.30pm Thursday, 28 September 2024

Speaker: Joe Sharman

‘Cyclamen’ – showing many of the species, their origins, and how to grow them in our gardens

Joe is known as ‘Mr Snowdrop’ and runs Monksilver nursery based near Cambridge. Last time Joe spoke to us he gave his snowdrop talk so this time he will give a fascinating talk on Cyclamen. Joe gives talks across the country and has been a regular at the AGS ‘Snowdrop Day’. Joe can also be found at many plant fairs such as Great Dixter and the Shaftsbury Snowdrop festival.

For more info: Email Ben.Parmee@alpinegardensociety.org / ring 07501 083504

Directions / venue http://chilworthhants.org.uk/index.php/village-hall/
Open Garden Event and Plant Sale

Next Hampshire Group Open Garden Event and Plant Sale

Paddy and Ben Parmee open their garden for spring alpines and the Group’s annual plant sale during the spring. There are expected to be at least three open garden events in 2024. Paddy and Ben’s alpine garden featured on Gardeners World, episode 4 2022 and various magazine articles have been written/photographed about their garden.

The garden is opened in February showing Paddy’s collection of Snowdrops, March/April for early alpines and May/June for later spring flowers. Each opening also features a plant sale.

AGS Members and friends are invited to join Paddy and Ben at their garden in Chandlers Ford to enjoy Alpines at their best.

AGS Groups – if you would like to arrange a visit specifically for your Group, please contact Ben to arrange a date. (Details Below)

Details:

Venue: 179 Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, SO53 1JH

Entry: Free entry – donations for refreshments to support the Hampshire AGS.

Date and Time: TBC

Parking: Please park in Cuckoo Bushes Lane 50 metres to the North or other nearby street parking.

We look forward to seeing many of you on xxx.

Best wishes Paddy and Ben

Please contact the Secretary on 07501 083504 or 02380 265672; Email Ben.Parmee@alpinegardensociety.org
2023 Plant and Photographic Competitions

2023 Online Plant and Photographic Competitions – The Results

Please see the results and picture galleries for both competitions in the relevant sections below.
Newsletters

Hampshire AGS September 2017 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS January 2018 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS September 2018 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS January 2019 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS September 2019 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS January 2020 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS September 2020 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS January 2021 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS September 2021 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS January 2022 Newsletter

Hampshire AGS September 2022 Newsletter
Useful Links

Hampshire and Dorset AGS Facebook Page

Hampshire AGS Twitter Page

Hampshire AGS Instagram Page

Paddy’s new ‘Alpine Gardeners’ Facebook Page which is a blog of our garden

AGS Members Facebook Page

2023 Photographic Competition Winning Entries

Results followed by the Judge’s Comments

1st Steve Lobley – Meconopsis

I placed this image first for several reasons. The exposure is spot on. We can see details throughout. The composition is presenting the flowers on a slight angle. The crop although tight is understandable as it prevents the bright petals interfering with the image. I like the simplicity of just the three colours.

2nd Paddy Parmee – Snowdrop and Crocus

I liked the simple composition but also the care to get a separation between the crocus and the snow drop. A well-deserved 2nd place

3rd Steve Lobley – Saxifraga cotyledon Arieta

It is the quality of the lighting that lifts the image to have 3rd place. The flower pot is slightly distracting. If it could have been placed in a more attractive container temporarily it would have scored higher.

Highly Commended

Ben Parmee – Fritallaria meleagris

I thought the crop into a square works well. Although the background is a little bright it does mean the flower stands out well with a good separation.

Jo Whitfield – Erythronium Joanna and Hellibore seedling

Good area of focus a little more detail on the lower flowers would help the image.

Ben Parmee – Pulsatilla vulgaris

Nicely taken photo in natural habitat. Good control of the background although a little bright.

Further Judge’s Comments

Angela Lobley – Tulips

This one deserves a mention for it’s imaginative presentation in a letter box format.

Christine Hughes – Erythronium in the Garden

The flowering part of this plant has been kept carefully in focus. It is a guess that the flowers are quite small and we are observing a plant we would not necessarily see without the attention given to the detail.

Steve Lobley – Fritillaria camschatensis Aurea

Another image that has been simplified to just three colours. The square crop suits the triangular shape. The background is slightly distracting with the series of parallel lines adjacent to the stem.

Thank you to everyone who entered and to Steve Lobley who put together the delightful presentation of all the entries which was shown at the May meeting. Every entry was very worthy of its place in the competition and made for a lovely finale to our programme.

2023 Plant Competition winning entries

Results

Plants in Flower:

1st and overall winner Mike Powell – Cyclamen libanoticum

2nd Dot Sample – Narcissus Arctic Bells

3rd Paddy Parmee – Muscari Mountain Lady

Plants Grown for Foliage:

1st Ben Parmee – Tsuga sielboldii

2nd Angela Lobley – a collection of Sempervivum

3rd Ben Parmee – Prunus sylvestris Tarrango

Jim Archibald Award given to Group Members Robin and Sue White

The Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee meets regularly at plant shows around the UK. The committee is made up of members of the Royal Horticultural Society, Alpine Garden Society and Scottish Rock Garden Club.

The Jim Archibald Award

After running a nursery for some years, Jim Archibald travelled the world collecting specimens and seeds. His annual seed lists offered a range of unusual and rare plants, and their introductions were always erudite, well informed and witty. This award in his name is presented by the RHS Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee in recognition of significant personal achievement relating to rock garden and alpine plants.

We are absolutely delighted that the Jim Archibald Award has been awarded to our long-standing Group members and supporters Robin and Sue White of Blackthorn Nursery fame. This prestigious award by the RHS is in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the propagation and development of Alpine Plants.Well done Robin and Sue, very well deserved and thank you for your continued support.

See pictures below courtesy of David Hazelgrove