AGS Pershore Show 2025

When we arrived at the show, it was still overcast, but the forecast was for sun most of the day.  Before I started in earnest photographing the plants, I turned my attention to the artistic entries, for this is one of the few shows with an Artistic Section.

Paintings of Alpine Plants in habitat

The Open section starts with classes for paintings of alpine plants in their natural habitat. Rannveig Wallis won the three painting class with three delicate renditions of Trillium – T. catesbaei, T. decipiens and T. nivale.

In the one painting class she won again, with a rendition of Fritillaria tubiformis, which captured beautifully the soft greyish bloom on the petals.

Portraits of alpine plants

Next we had classes for portraits of alpine plants, showing characteristic habit, but not requiring habitat.  These were both won by Caroline Jackson-Houlston.  Her three paintings were of Gentiana ligustica, Fritillaria olivieri, and Primula Gold-laced Group.

In the one painting class she entered a fabulous painting of Helleborus x hybridus, which was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the judges.

Painting in a Creative Style

The next class entered is for a painting in a creative style, intended for art which is not in a traditional botanical style, possibly in a much looser, impressionistic, or graphic style.

Lesley Travis entered a painting of Cyclamen purpurascens, copied from a photograph, which filled the canvas.  This, in fact, is very much in the style of paintings which used to be entered in the earlier classes for paintings of plants in their natural habitat, though those past paintings were done with extreme precision.

When viewed close-up, you could see that it did not perhaps have the neat botanical accuracy of the paintings in other classes, but it looked fabulous from a little further away, and won the Florence Baker Award for the best painting, drawing or piece of needlework.

Design

The final entry in the Open section was a design by Caroline Jackson-Houlston, which was initially a bit of a puzzle for me.  It was based around the letter ‘P’, using flowers, leaves and seedheads of poppies.  But the design made the slogan ‘P is for Polly’.  Reading the notes beside it brought enlightenment.  This is a piece painted to raise funds in memory of a young cancer victim, clearly adapted from an original design ‘P is for Poppy’.

Intermediate Section

The Intermediate Artistic section also started with a class for paintings of alpine plants in habitat.  This depiction of Ranunculus calandrinioides by Rosemary Walker showed some potential – the judges liked the way she filled the canvas, but needed more precision to be awarded a first place.

Portraits of alpine plants

In the Intemediate class for portraits of alpine plants, Lesley Travis took first place with this painting of Aquilegia flabellata var pumila, ahead of Dionysia ‘Zdenek Zvolanek’ exhibited by Sandra Clements.

Part of an Alpine Plant

The next class was for paintings of the flower(s)or other part of an alpine plant.  Lesley Travis won again, with this painting of Hepatica japonica flowers, ahead of Cyclamen hederifolium by Rosemary Walker.

Painting in a Creative Style

Lesley Travis also won the Intermediate class for a painting in a creative style, with this image of crocuses enjoying the sunshine.

Monochrome Drawing of an Alpine Plant

In the class for a pen or pencil drawing, Sandra Clements produced a wonderfully detailed close-up picture of Ophrys tenthredinifera, beating Lesley Travis’ Erythronium umbilicatum, and Rosemary Walker’s Cyclamen.

Intermediate Section Design inspired by Alpine Plants

There were two entries in the Intermediate design class.  The first was a Cypripedium rendered in cross-stitch by Georgina Instone, designed as a panel for one side of a trinket box.

The second, winning, entry was by Sandra Clements, giving her design for silver earrings modelled on Narcissus cuatrecasasii, complete with a photo of the finished earrings.  I didn’t get a chance to talk to Sandra at the show – I only saw her from a distance.  When I heard that she was wearing these earrings at the show, I was particularly disappointed to miss her.  Fortunately, she was also wearing them at Chelmsford the following weekend, so I was able to correct my omission.

Needlework

The last class in the artistic Intermediate section is for a piece of needlework.  This was won by Georgina Instone with this picture of Cyclamen coum.

Display of Hepatica

All through the run-up to the show, there had been a frisson of excitement that Josh Tranter, having returned to Ashwood Nurseries, was going to stage a display of some of their best Hepatica cultivars.

Ashwood Nurseries’ displays are widely and deservedly renowned, and this one was no exception.  Filling three tables along one side of the hall, with staging using upturned pots to raise up the back rows of plants, it contained a fabulous array of plants in a huge range of colours, and shapes.  This magnificent display was awarded a Gold Award; the only reason it wasn’t a Large Gold was the absence of supporting ‘educational information’.

Hepatica insularis

Everyone had their own favourites.  Later on, I managed to take a few of my own favourites away to my photography table and photograph them more formally.  First a pretty pink Hepatica insularis.

Hepatica japonica forma magna

I loved this deep pink form of Hepatica japonica forma magna.

Hepatica japonica deep yellow

I think everyone was amazed by the little collection of yellow cultivars on the display – especially this one, the deepest yellow of them all.

Display of Iris

In front of the stage was another interesting and informative exhibit, by the West and Midlands Iris Group, which was a little overshadowed by the Hepatica display, but nevertheless received a Silver Award.

Now I could turn my attention to the AGS show proper.  I was delighted that as the morning wore on, the sun burned through the cloud, and the busy show benches were bathed in sunshine.  I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

The sun brought everything to life.  This Narcissus (I didn’t get the name, possibly N. cordubensis or one of the other jonquils), was glowing with the backlighting.

Three large pans of Cyclamen coum

Ian Robertson staged a wonderful three-pan exhibit of three large pans of Cyclamen coum, in magenta, pink and white.

Three small pans of Iridaceae

Near the stage where I had my studio set up was the class for three small pans of Iridicaeae.  Already the crocuses were starting to look tired in the sun.  These entries were from David Carver and George Elder respectively.

Six small pans of Rock Plants

Bob and Rannveig Wallis won the AGS Medal for the small six pan class with a collection that sparkled in the sunshine.

Ipheion dialystemon

After the gloom the previous weekend, it was a pleasure to see their Ipheion dialystemon enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Narcissus cantabricus

At the back of the six pan entry were two pans of daffodils which looked lovely backlit by the sun: the Narcissus x susannae which I photographed at the South Wales show, and a fine pot of Narcissus cantabricus.

Eranthis x tubergenii Guinea Gold

Other plants which the sunlight drew me to were Don Peace’s Eranthis x tubergenii ‘Guinea Gold’, and Pleione ‘Riah Shan’, and two fine pots of Crocus chrysanthus ‘Romance’ exhibited by Brenda Nickels.

Before long, judging had finished and the hall was packed with people.  It was good to see so many visitors to an AGS show. [ Thanks to my wife Helen for these two pictures. ]

Crocus tommasinianus

It was time to photograph the best of the crocuses before they collapsed from the heat.  First Crocus tommasinianus, exhibited by Christine Jarvis in the Intermediate section.

Crocus sieberi ‘Firefly’

Another pan feeling the heat a little, from Georgina Instone.

Crocus pestalozzae subsp violaceus

George Elder’s lovely pan of Crocus pestalozzae subsp violaceus won him a Certificate of Merit.

Crocus ‘Rainbow Gold’

David Carver exhibited a small pan of this recent hybrid.

Crocus dalmaticus CEH 537

Bob and Rannveig Wallis showed a wild-collected form of Crocus dalmaticus which was a far remove from the neat, pointed-petal form we are familiar with at shows, which Robert Rolfe used to grow so well (first picture).

Crocus sieberi var tricolor

Bob and Rannveig also showed a fine pan of this familiar form of Crocus sieberi.

Crocus pelistericus

The Crocus Award went to Ian Robertson for his large pan of the difficult Crocus pelistericus.

Crocus pelistericus MESE 380

Personally, I preferred the perfect goblets of John Dixon’s much smaller pan.

Tulipa sogdiana

Another plant I targeted while the sun was still pouring in was this little tulip from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Colchicum kesselringii

It would be easy to mistake this little bulb for a Crocus, but it is a tricky Colchicum from the icy mountain valleys of the ‘Stans, exhibited by Tony Goode.

Lee Martin used to grow this really well (see second picture) – I haven’t photographed a good pan of it since his passing.  Tony should take a leaf out of Lee’s book, and use dark chippings to make the plant stand out.

Iris vicaria

This beautiful Iris was exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Daubenya aurea

As usual at this time of year, George Elder exhibited the wonderful flowers of this South African bulb, in both yellow and orange-scarlet forms.  These attracted much attention.  There is also a deep red form which he didn’t have in flower this year.  This is a plant which I have found relatively easy to germinate, but difficult to raise from seed to flower.

Eranthis x tubergenii ‘Guinea Gold’

I returned to take more formal shots of Don Peace’s Eranthis, which won a Certificate of Merit, but somehow the backlit shots I had taken earlier pleased me better.

Narcissus ‘Dinah Rose’

Turning now to Narcissus, let’s start with the beautiful hybrid ‘Dinah Rose’, raised by Jim Archibald and exhibited here by George Elder.  I have photographed it many times since I first encountered it in 2007.  I have also grown and lost it several times.

Narcissus ‘Candlepower’

I always love this perfect miniature daffodil, here exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Narcissus hybrid AW 4216-4-20

David Carver brought small pans of some new and interesting hybrids, first this one from Anne Wright.

Narcissus hybrid BD5092

This is the second of David Carver’s hybrids, raised by Brian Duncan by crossing N. ‘Maria’ with N. triandrus concolor.  A very short plant, but with large robust flowers.

Narcissus scaberulus

Finally, I was delighted to see and photograph this tiny jonquil, again exhibited by David Carver.  A plant I have known for 30 years, but never had the opportunity to photograph.

Galanthus ‘Augustus’

There were plenty of snowdrops still in evidence.  Show secretary Gail Devries exhibited two of them in one Novice section class: G. ‘Augustus’ and G. ‘Treasure Island’, which helped her towards the Henry Hammer Cup for the Novice section aggregate.

Galanthus nivalis ‘Scharlockii’

Moving on to the Intermediate section, Denise Bridges showed this pretty green-tipped cultivar.

Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp vernalis ‘Luca’

Roy Skidmore presented us with a very compact pan of a spring-flowering cultivar of Galanthus reginae-olgae.

Galanthus elwesii ‘Lodestar’

Anita and Mike Action exhibited this dainty potful.

Galanthus ‘Rodmarton Aldebaran’

Again from Anita and Mike, this was a Rodmarton cultivar I wasn’t familiar with.

Intermediate Section exhibitors

My wife Helen caught some of the Intermediate Section exhibitors discussing snowdrops.  Keen rivals, but also friends with a keen interest in the same plants.  From left to right: Anita Acton, Toby and Christine Jarvis, and Mike Acton.

Galanthus ‘Fieldgate Tiffany’

In the Open section, Diane Clement had good pans of snowdrops.

Galanthus ‘Margaret Owen’

I have photographed Galanthus ‘Godfrey Owen’ several times, but this was the first time I have encountered ‘Margaret Owen’, again from Diane Clement.

Galanthus ‘Straffan’

‘Straffan’ has always been a reliable cultivar for growing in pots to show, here by Don Peace.

Galanthus ‘David Shackleton’

The Audrey Bartholomew Memorial Award for the best pan of bulbous plants went to Don Peace’s pan of ‘David Shackleton’, which won the Farrer medal the previous week at the South Wales show.

Hyacinthella glabrescens

Bob and Rannveig Wallis showed this pretty little Hyacinthella.

Muscari inconstrictum Cyprus form

Bob and Rannveig also exhibited two strikingly different forms of Muscari inconstrictum – first the Cyprus form.

Muscari inconstrictum Levant form

The Levant form, also exhibited by Bob and Rannveig, has a different colour scheme, and is much more robust.

Corydalis hyrcana

One final plant from Bob and Rannveig Wallis.  Their huge entry brought them the Mooney Cup for the Open section aggregate.

Pleione ‘Riah Shan’

I loved the way Steve Clements’ big pan of Pleione ‘Riah Shan’ had developed, looking like lines of soldiers advancing across a parade ground.

Hepatica japonica

We have already seen the wonderful display of Hepatica from Ashwood Nurseries.  Here are a few from the show benches; this first one exhibited by Christine Jarvis in the Intermediate section.

Hepatica japonica

Lesley Travis showed this fine specimen also in the Intermediate section, winning her the Susan Clements Memorial Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate and Novice sections.  Lesley also won the Tomlinson Tankard for the Intermediate section aggregate.

Hepatica japonica ex ‘Tessin’

I have grown familiar with Bob Worsley’s dark magenta Hepatica japonica raised from seed from ‘Tessin’.  But Don Peace now has two similar seedlings, perhaps in a lighter shade, and this is one of his.

Hepatica japonica ex ‘Zartlilla’

Bob Worsley exhibited this white seedling.

Hepatica japonica ‘Sayaka’

Bob also exhibited a pale-pink cultivar which I very much liked.

Dionysia iranshahrii JLMS02-55/GS

I was pleased to see new green growth, and a scattering of flowers, spreading across this tight cushion of Dionysia iranshahrii, exhibited by John Dixon.

Dionysia curviflora ENF93/11

A nice small cushion of Dionysia curviflora exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson, from a clone originally raised from seed by Nigel Fuller.

Dionysia hybrid ‘Christie’

This Dionysia hybrid exhibited by Paul and Gill had aged to almost green now, from its chocolate and caramel tones at the Wisley show (first picture).  I’m not sure that the colour change is an improvement.

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

Meanwhile, John Dixon’s wild-collected hybrid from D. esfandiarii had developed lilac tones since its yellow appearance at South Wales (first picture).  I have included a shot of John’s notes to give the history of this hybrid.

Dionysia hybrid ‘Zdenek Zvolanek’

The Ashwood Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot went to Paul and Gill Ranson for their plant of D. ‘Zdenek Zvolanek’.

Cyclamen alpinum leucanthum

In the small pan classes, Roy Skidmore exhibited a pretty little white form of Cyclamen alpinum.

Cyclamen elegans

Ian Robertson produced a striking specimen of Cyclamen elegans – very neat with huge flowers – and won a Certificate of Merit.

Cyclamen alpinum

Finally, the Farrer medal for the best plant in the show went to this superb large pan of Cyclamen alpinum, again exhibited by the maestro, Ian Robertson.

As always, thanks to all who contributed to the success of this show: Gail Devries the show secretary, all the helpers, judges, stewards and exhibitors.  To the nurseries who provide the big attraction for the public, and in particular a special mention for Ashwood Nurseries and Josh Tranter for the magnificent display of hepaticas.  That will live in my memory for a long time.