AGS Early Spring Show 2025

As we walked across the race course towards the show marquee, the sun had just risen above the buildings, and was beaming at a low angle through the fog, and over a thick frost.

Looking away from the sun, there was a clear fog bow making a complete arch over the race course.  I was excited – it is a long time since I have seen one – but entering the marquee I couldn’t find anyone who would show the slightest interest.  All were too busy with their early morning business.  Still, it made my morning.

In the show hall the exhibitors were moving their entries around, and grooming or titivating their plants, particularly those which had been left in the marquee overnight, and had been subject to the low temperatures.  Alan Newton had an Hepatica on the floor next to the outlet from a fan heater – every stem had drooped until the flowers were almost resting on the gravel.

In the sales hall, it was the calm before the storm.  The exhibitors hadn’t finished staging, and the public hadn’t arrived.  Other societies and local groups were busy organising their stands and putting up posters.

Before long, this part of the tent would be heaving.  I was busy in the show by then, but Doug Joyce took the opportunity to take more photos as customers arrived.  Most of the following images are his.

Alpine Alex

Alex O’Sullivan (Intermediate section exhibitor and hardworking teacher) was trying out a new avatar as Alpine Alex, small nurseryman.

Edrom Nurseries

Edrom had brought a huge range of plants down from Berwickshire, including a fascinating range of (very expensive) Japanese Hepatica cultivars.  Fortunately, that bug hasn’t bitten me yet.

Gwaun Valley Nursery

Andrew Lovell from Gwaun Valley Nursery has been at virtually every show so far this year, with a wide range of bulbs, including some unusual and expensive South African species.  Unfortunately, that bug has bitten me, but I am mostly managing to resist at the moment.

Aberconwy Nursery

Tim and Rachel Lever had their usual array of spring alpines.  I did succumb and buy a plant here – Rachel had kindly brought me, by request, a plant of the lovely early-flowering scented white Camellia transnokoensis.  I particularly love the pink tipped buds.

Hartside Nursery

Neil and Sue Huntley had travelled down from Alston in Cumbria with lots of spring bulbs, some interesting dwarf conifers, and boxes of packets with dormant Roscoea tubers.  Like everyone else this early in the morning, they were wrapped up well against the cold.

W & S Lockyer

It was good to see Simon Lockyer and his plants.  Simon is an old friend of mine from the days when I used to take my stepfather David to National Auricula and Primula Society shows, and Simon and his late father Bill would be there.  He always has a good selection of spring bulbs at very reasonable prices, and I meant to go back and buy some dwarf daffodils, but never made it.

Pottertons Nursery

Robert Potterton was there, in an orange bobble hat and puffa jacket, looking cold, but again with a fine array of plants.

Other nurseries at the show included Jacques Amand International, Moore and Moore plants, and Primrose Bank Nursery.

Not forgetting, of course, a warm welcome from the AGS Members plant stall.

Several AGS local groups were setting up publicity displays, including the Bedfordshire group, the Mid-Anglia Group and the Essex Group.

Near the main entrance there was a Tombola, and a publicity stand for the main society.

Elsewhere in the marquee, other gardening societies and groups were setting up their stands.  Here are:

• The Hardy Orchid Society
• The Hebe Society
• The Essex group of the Hardy Plant Society
• The Essex group of Plant Heritage
• The Southend group of the British Cacti and Succulent Society.

Other stalls were selling produce rather than plants:

• Dan Cooper’s Garden tools
• Bardfield vineyard
• Cherry Tree Preserves (and Four Seasons Hampers and Bakes)
• Energetic
• Field of Cheese and Mad Mike’s Chilli Jam
• Four Seasons Hampers and Bakes
• Ivy Cottage Bees
• Rudi’s Homemade Chilli Jams and Chutneys.

Southend Bonsai Society

The Southend Bonsai Society put on an excellent display of Bonsai trees, which received a Gold Award from the AGS judges.

The show benches were almost deserted now, with rows of plants awaiting the attention of the judges and stewards (who were busy organising themselves and drinking coffee).

And they’re off…

Soon, the judges lurched into action, with groups of three making their way slowly along the classes.

Six small pans of Rock Plants

Bob and Rannveig Wallis’ entry in this class was deemed not worthy of the AGS Medal.  That seemed a bit draconian to me, but I am just the photographer.  I particularly liked the juxtaposition of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus (blue), and its purple variant (var. violacea); it gave me a chance to capture the colour difference between the two.

Six small pans of Rock Plants from Seed

However, Bob and Rannveig did win the Jane Baldry Trophy for six pans grown from seed.

Soon the show was open to the public, and the room filled with people, including exhibitors checking their results, and tallying their own aggregates.

Dionysia mozaffarianii

Normally I start by photographing the crocuses, and other plants I think will deteriorate in the heat of the show hall.  There was little chance of that at Chelmsford.  I needed to leave the crocuses and tulips in case the tent might warm up and force them to open.

Instead I started, whilst judging was still finishing, by focusing on a few small Dionysia. I was pleased to get images of Dionysia mozaffarianii in flower, exhibited by John Dixon.

Dionysia hybrid CIA 232-3 (TBG 6) (esfandiarii x jamzadiae)

I photographed John Dixon’s wild-collected hybrid from D. esfandiarii at both the South Wales and Pershore shows.  Now the colour had evolved again, to a soft peachy pink.

Mark Childerhouse exhibited a very similar plant as D. esfandiarii x. revoluta, which he received from the collection of the late Nigel Fuller.  I suspect it may turn out to be the same thing.  But the colouration of Mark’s plant was more varied – the flowers hadn’t all opened at the same time.

Galanthus samothracicus

Soon, I started to operate more methodically, working my way around the show, starting with the Novice section.  Here I found plants from a new exhibitor, Michael Heseltine, though I should probably refer to him as the Rt Hon Lord Michael Heseltine.

This unusual snowdrop caught my eye; it is limited to three localities on the North Aegean island of Samothraki in northeastern Greece. It is believed to be related to G. nivalis which is not known in the Aegean.

Galanthus ‘Trymlet’

The Essex Award for the Novice section aggregate went to Louise Nicholls, who exhibited this pretty snowdrop cultivar.

Hepatica japonica

In the Intermediate section, Christine Jarvis won the class for three plants from the same genus with three Hepaticas, including this deep magenta Hepatica japonica seedling.

Hepatica japonica

Christine also won the Intermediate section class for a plant grown from seed with another Hepatica japonica seedling, this time a salmon pink.

Saxifraga ‘Loxley’

I was pleased to see a fine pan of Saxifraga ‘Loxley’ from Alex O’Sullivan – a sign that the season is moving on.

Cyclamen persicum

This Cyclamen won a red sticker for Michael Heseltine.

Pleione ‘Eiger’

Peter Hurren won the Epping Trophy for the Intermediate section aggregate.  His plants included this fine pan of Pleione.

Narcissus ‘Bowles Early Sulphur’

Doug Joyce was taking notes of the daffodils at the show for the RHS Daffodil, Snowdrop and Tulip Yearbook, so he asked me to photograph some of them, including several from the Intermediate section.  This was exhibited by Debbie Leonard.

Narcissus ‘Fairy Gold’

Maurice Bacon exhibited the rather charming Narcissus ‘Fairy Gold’.

Narcissus ‘Arctic Bells’

Peter Hurren always has an array of daffodils and other spring bulbs at this show – this was his.

Narcissus ‘Oxford Gold’

Last year Peter Hurren won the Geoff Smith Salver, for the best pan of bulbous plants in the Intermediate and Novice sections, with his pan of ‘Oxford Gold’ – this year it was runner-up.

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’

I think this was the first plant of Peter Hurren’s I ever photographed.  In 2012, he won the Crocus Spoon for the best pan of Crocus in the whole show with it.

Scilla mischtschenkoana

This year, the Geoff Smith Salver, for the best pan of bulbous plants in the Intermediate and Novice sections, went to this lovely pan of Scilla, again exhibited by Peter Hurren.

Crocus aerius

In the Open section, there were a few more crocuses; I had to wait until after lunch to catch them at their best.  This Crocus aerius from Bob and Rannveig Wallis was considered by the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group (formerly the Joint Rock Garden Committee), and received an Award of Merit and a Cultural Commendation.

Crocus hueffelianus ‘Harry Hay’

Steve Clements exhibited a named cultivar of Crocus hueffelianus.

Galanthus ‘Fieldgate Tiffany’

I photographed Diane Clement’s pan of this at the Pershore show, but it still looked good.

Galanthus ‘The Wizard’

Diane also exhibited a small pot of ‘The Wizard’.

Narcissus ‘Betty Mae’

I very much liked this Narcissus exhibited by Alan Newton.

Three large pans of Narcissus

The class for three large pans of Narcissus had two impressive entries, from Bob and Rannveig Wallis (left) and Steve Clements (right) (photos by Doug Joyce).

Narcissus perez-chiscanoi

Included in Bob and Rannveig Wallis’ three-pan exhibit was this fine pan of Narcissus perez-chiscanoi.

Narcissus alpestris ‘Nadder Moon’

However, the real star of this exhibit by Bob and Rannveig was this pan of Narcissus alpestris ‘Nadder Moon’, which received a Certificate of Merit.

Narcissus ‘Candlepower’

Bob and Rannveig’s Narcissus ‘Candlepower’ was another plant I photographed again, having captured it the previous week at Pershore (first picture).  Note how the colour has faded from almost lemon yellow to pale cream in the course of a week.

Narcissus alpestris x cyclamineus

In the smaller pot classes, Bob and Rannveig exhibited two little hybrids of their own raising, first this unnamed cross between N. alpestris and N. cyclamineus.

Narcissus ‘Eira’

I first saw this hybrid when Bob and Rannveig exhibited it in 2008.  Since then, I have photographed it a number of times, but it is still one of my great favourites.

Fritillaria ariana

We always expect to see fine exhibits of Fritillaria from Bob and Rannveig, particularly since Bob is Chairman of the Fritillaria Group.  Here is a lovely deep pink form of Fritillaria ariana.

Fritillaria rugillosa

This is a species which was recently named (2021), although it has been in cultivation for longer, as an unknown species.  Nevertheless, it is a particularly beautiful little plant, and I photograph it every time Bob and Rannveig exhibit it.

Fritillaria stenanthera

The best of Bob and Rannveig’s fritillaries was this larger pot of Fritillaria stenanthera, which was awarded a Certificate of Merit.

Iris chrysopetala

This is a new name (published in 2022) for the yellow forms of what used to be exhibited as Iris bucharica.  The name I. bucharica is retained for those forms which are prominently bicoloured with yellow falls and white claws and standards.  Bob and Rannveig have now adopted this new name on their labels.

With so many fine plants in the show, it is no surprise that Bob and Rannveig won the Elliott Bowl for the Open Section aggregate.

Whilst I was taking photos, the area behind me was full of activity – first a panel from the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group (formerly the JRGC) was inviting questions from the public, and attempting to answer them.  I wanted to stop what I was doing, and ask more questions.

Following that, Razvan Chisu gave what sounded to be a fascinating talk about growing alpines. [These photos again taken by Doug Joyce].  Later Diane Clement gave another talk, but Doug didn’t catch her on camera.

Anemone caucasica

Moving away from bulbs (monocotyledons), here is a lovely tray of Anemone caucasica seedlings exhibited by Alan Newton.

Eranthis x tubergenii ‘Guinea Gold’

Don Peace still had one pan of winter aconites tight enough to exhibit.  I imagine those he exhibited at the Pershore show the previous week elongated significantly during the course of the show, in the sunshine.

Correa ‘Mannii’

Michael Sullivan presented an entry of three different Correa cultivars in the class for three pans of shrubs.  For some stupid reason I thought they would be in a light, peaty soil; I had forgotten who grew them !  The first was the bright red Correa ‘Mannii’.

Correa ‘Alinta’

The other Correa I photographed was this pink hybrid cultivar, I think of Michael’s own raising.  This went before the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group (what acronym should we use – RARGE ?!) and was awarded a Preliminary Commendation.

Helleborus lividus

David Millward, who had travelled down from Scotland for the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group meeting, exhibited Helleborus lividus.

Gymnospermium albertii

Peter Hood exhibited a small plant of the golden yellow Gymnospermium albertii.

Primula allionii ‘Roya Snow’

This little white clone of P. allionii was one of my stepfather David Philbey’s favourites, so it was good to see it on the show bench again.  This was collected originally from the wild by Jules Fouarge, but I imagine the plant exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson was one that David had given to Nigel Fuller, and which was passed on to Paul and Gill after Nigel’s untimely demise.

Primula ‘Lindum Tempest’

The second little Primula I found to photograph is this very dark little hybrid exhibited by David and Liz Livermore.  The name indicates that it was bred by Martin and Dreena Thompson, but it is one that my stepfather David never acquired.

Dionysia ‘Claire’

Now to show some more of the many Dionysia species and hybrids on display.  This first hybrid is one which was raised by Nigel Fuller and named for his grand-daughter.  Again, I suspect that this is a plant which was rescued from his collection, and is now grown by John Dixon.

Dionysia ‘Elegance’

Paul Ranson told me that he thought this Michael Kammerlander hybrid was lost to cultivation until he received a small plant from Nigel’s collection.

Dionysia ‘Hyperion’

By contrast, this is one of Paul and Gill Ranson’s own seedlings, which makes a very attractive plant.

Dionysia tapetodes PMR16R2803/2

This form of Dionysia tapetodes was grown by Paul and Gill Ranson from a plant collected by Hermann Fuchs in Turkmenistan.

Dionysia ‘Corona’

This perfect lilac dome won the Lingen Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot for Mark Childerhouse.

Dionysia ‘Monika’

The biggest Dionysia in the show was this plant, which won a Certificate of Merit for Alan Newton.  Again, it is a plant he inherited from Nigel Fuller, who exhibited it at the Early Spring show in 2023, the last time I saw him before his death.  Definitely the heaviest pot I carried all day.

Dionysia tapetodes ‘Brimstone’

The Ione Hecker Trophy for the best pan of Primulaceae went to Paul and Gill Ranson for this yellow dome.

Hepatica nobilis pyrenaica x insularis

Bob Worsley exhibited a pretty little pink Hepatica hybrid.

Hepatica japonica ex Mayumi

Don Peace had a bright magenta form, grown from seed.

Hepatica japonica forma magna

The best of the Hepatica was this big white-flowered plant from Don Peace, with lovely magenta anthers, which received a Certificate of Merit.

Hepatica x schlyteri

It was well into the afternoon now, and time to return to a few plants I had been waiting for to open.  Alan Newton’s deep purply blue Hepatica x schlyteri had finally, long after judging, raised its drooping flowers far enough to look the camera in the eye.  This is the plant I found sitting in front of the outlet from the fan heater first thing in the morning.

Romulea clusiana

Bob and Rannveig’s Romulea was open wide.

Ipheion dialystemon

Returning to Bob and Rannveig’s entry in the class for six small pans of rock plants, the Ipheion had deigned to open. Would it have made a difference if the morning had been warmer, and the flowers were open for judging?

Tulipa polychroma

Steve Clements had a big pan of Tulipa polychroma.

Tulipa lownii

Elsewhere, Bob and Rannveig had small pans of tulips opening, first these lovely white flowers with pink backs.

Tulipa regelii

The fabled Tulipa regelii, with its ridged leaves, was also finally open. This pan brought Bob and Rannveig a Certificate of Merit, plus a Botanical Certificate and a Cultural Commendation from the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group.

Helonias thibetica

Last but not least, or lightest, this pan of Helonias thibetica (formerly Ypsilandra) won the Farrer medal for a delighted Diane Clement.  The pictures with Diane in were taken by Doug Joyce.

I was exhausted by the time I had finished, but glad to have been so busy.  Despite health concerns and other issues, show secretaries Anne and Steve Vale had organised a fantastic show, so many thanks to them, and all the helpers, nurseries, exhibitors, stewards and (even) judges who all contributed to making the show a success.