We were back at RHS Wisley gardens in June for the first time since 2018. The road works, although a bit of a pain, didn’t impact on the show. The new venue, the Hilltop Science Centre was a vast improvement on the cold marquee and the old Hillside events centre we had in 2018.

There was plenty of room for the show and trade stands to be sited in one hall. Also, there was a separate hall where talks were given. Martin Rogerson displayed some of his edited photography which was playing on a screen throughout the day and was very impressive.

The only negative thing about Wisley is the leaving time, which is late in comparison to other shows; you cannot leave until all the public have left the site. Then there’s the waiting for your turn to go bring your car up to Hilltop. However, if you attend and exhibit at the show and are prepared for the wait, it really isn’t that bad.

Asteranthera ovata, from South America, exhibited by Tim Lever. This was the first plant that caught my attention. It was a little unusual with its bright orange flowers. The plant shown was two or three years old. Tim said it was classified as a vine; however, he said it definitely isn’t. It grows to about 18 inches in Aberconwy’s propagation house, humid and not in full sun. In the wild it grows in temperate rain forests.

Viola philippii

In the Intermediate Section was this teeny tiny little Viola philippii (now classified as a synonym of Viola microphylla). This rare little plant exhibited by Alex O’ Sullivan looked lost in the pot. However, the tap root is 15cm long and Alex said it should flower in about a year. The flowers are either white or pink, it’s grown in 50% lava with perlite, vermiculite, John Innes, sand and clay making up the remainder. In the wild, it grows at high altitude in volcanic soil.

I’ve included a photo taken by David Haselgrove and published in The Alpine Gardener, Vol 85 Dec 2017 page 405, to show how it grows in Chilean Andes.

Samolus spathulatus

Another plant grown from seed by Alex. This plant was one of four raised from 20 seeds sown. The seed is like dust and was obtained from Michal Rejzek, a hobbyist grower who collects seed. Alex grows the plant in 50% John Innes 50% lava. Sown in 2021 it first flowered 2023 from a single rosette that then died off and grew another. Lovely intricate neat little plant.

A Farrer Medal must be awarded to a plant in flower. If one of sufficient quality cannot be found, then Best in Show is awarded; this opens the way for a foliage plant to receive the award. I was very pleased to see Michael Sullivan receive this award for Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Arctic White’.

This same plant was put forward for a  Certificate of Merit at the East Anglia AGS show earlier in June; why it never got the certificate I don’t know but I’m sure ‘Best in Show’ more than made up for it [it did receive a Certificate of Merit at the East Cheshire show – Ed].

Michael grows the plant outside all year with no cover. It’s grown in reused compost with added grit. In early spring he uses a mixture of wet soil and sand to cover the top of the plant and hoses it well in, this fills the gaps, if any, and he waters the plant well during spring.

Martin Rogerson exhibited a very nice Sempervivium erythraeum from mountainous regions of Bulgaria. Grown from a single rosette in 2009, it’s a very slow grower rarely seen on the show bench these days. Martin uses 50/50 grit and John Innes No 3.  The plant had just been repotted; its biggest pest is the dreaded vine weevil.

This very pretty Allium insubricum from the Italian Alps was also exhibited by Martin. Grown in 50/50 John Innes and grit, it was last repotted 3 years ago and lives in an outside sand plunge. I believe it can be grown in the garden but away from more vigorous plants as it would surely be lost. My plant pales in comparison.

Araiostegia perdurans (syn. Davallia perdurans).

This curious fern, exhibited by Ben & Paddy Parmee, looked like it was climbing out of its pot. The plant is 10 years old and is grown in ericaceous soil. Paddy was working with Kevin Hughes at Heale Garden. Kevin was potting up the fern when a piece broke off, Paddy recovered the broken piece and grew it on. The plant is over wintered in a cold greenhouse and all the dead fronds are cut off. In summer shade is provided. It can be grown in a shady part of the garden where it will travel almost like a fictional Triffid, hence why it looks like it is trying to escape the pot. It almost looks like it’s going to get up and start walking.

Miniature gardens with accessories

Like Marmite you either love them or hate them. I obviously love them; they are fun to create, the grandchildren love them and most people who see them start smiling. I was pleased at how my miniature garden display was received at Wisley by young and old alike.

The garden I entered in the show received a Certificate of Merit; I was surprised but happy. I created it specifically to get a reaction from the judges and it certainly did the trick. I think it made everyone laugh including the judges, job done!

Reporter: Anne Vale

Photographer: Don Peace