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Early Spring AGS Show, 2022

March 19, 2022

This was the second show to be held at Theydon Bois Village Hall. The first was in 2020, pre-pandemic, when we had cool, changeable weather, including a short-lived hail storm. This year was very different with brilliant sunshine giving a springtime feeling to the event. The show venue is conveniently located for access by road, but also by public transport, Theydon Bois being the penultimate station on the Underground Central Line from central London to Epping, with only a short walk from the station to the village hall.

The layout of the show was improved this year with refreshments located in the old village hall, while the plant sales and show were in the newer hall, reducing the crush around plant stalls that was evident in evident on the earlier occasion. There was good range of well-grown plants on the benches, but the number of exhibitors and exhibits were down compared to the 2020 show, likely the result of the clash in dates with this show and the Kendal Show, a situation one hopes can be avoided next year.

Alpine Garden Society 2022 Early Spring Show View

Alpine Garden Society 2022 Early Spring Show View

Ian Robertson’s exhibit in class 1 was awarded an AGS Medal, and it was from this group of six plants that the Farrer Medal plant was selected. This was a large pan of the slipper orchid, Cypripedium formosanum. This magnificent, well-flowered plant was the clear choice for best plant in show. C. formosanum has a restricted distribution in the wild, growing in the central mountains of Taiwan, where it is found in forest and bog habitats.

Cypripedium formosanum exhibited by Ian Robertson wins Farrer Medal at Alpine Garden Society Show

Cypripedium formosanum exhibited by Ian Robertson wins Farrer Medal

Clare Oates showed Primula ‘Ellen Page’. This distinctive European primula hybrid is one of my favourites and Clare showed it to perfection. Unlike some hybrids which completely cover the foliage with flowers, ‘Ellen Page’ presents its short stems of flowers surrounded by contrasting foliage rosettes. The petals are unusual in being un-notched and edged in silver farina.

Primula hybrid Ellen Page exhibited by Clare Oates

Primula hybrid Ellen Page exhibited by Clare Oates

Clare also benched a well-flowered pan of Fritillaria carica which was awarded a Certificate of Merit. The nodding, greenish-yellow flowers are held on stems above grey-green foliage. The species is found in western Turkey where it grows in stony, usually limey soils at 200-1,500m.

Fritillaria carica exhibited by Clare Oates - Certificate of Merit

Fritillaria carica exhibited by Clare Oates - Certificate of Merit

Paul and Gill Ranson exhibited two plants of Dionysia ‘Selene’. This f2 hybrid was raised from Michael Kammerlander seed. Michael’s many hybrids are invariably the result of open pollination, so although the seed parent is known, the pollen parent is often open to conjecture. In this case the seed parent was D. bryoides and the likely pollen parent D. tapetodes. This beautiful hybrid covers it domed cushions with primrose-yellow flowers, much paler than many other hybrids. Paul and Gill grow their dionysias in a mix of 60% 1-3mm grit, 20% J.I.2, 10% Seramis and 10% Perlite.

DIonysia 'Selene' exhibited by Paul & Gill Ranson

DIonysia 'Selene' exhibited by Paul & Gill Ranson

Another Dionysia hybrid shown by the Ransons was Dionysia ‘Dove’. Most of the ‘white’ dionysias produce to date have had a touch of cream in the flower, but ‘Dove’ has clear white flowers, albeit with a yellow eye. This hybrid was raised by Nigel Fuller, once again from Michael Kammerlander seed. The seed parent is a D. archibaldii x D. curviflora hybrid – the pollen parent is unknown.

Dionysia hybrid Dove

Dionysia hybrid 'Dove'

Master orchid grower Barry Tattersall showed an exquisite pan of the mirror orchid, Ophrys speculum, which was awarded a Certificate of Merit. At flowering, the leaves begin to yellow as the plant prepares for its summer dormancy, so it is usually difficult to exhibit this with pristine foliage. Barry grows this orchid in a mix of chalk molehill soil, John Innes no. 2 and grit, giving plenty of light when in growth over winter. O. speculum occurs through the Mediterranean region and flowers are pollinated by a species of scoliid wasp.

Ophrys speculum exhibited by Barry Tattersall

Ophrys speculum exhibited by Barry Tattersall

John Dixon exhibited two well-flowered pans of Fritillaria aurea, one of which was awarded a Certificate of Merit in Class 76. John was given his original stock by Robert Rolfe some 35+ years ago and was originally a Paul Furse introduction. Compared with later introductions, this selection has shorter stems when in flower and fuller, non-flaring bells with marked tessellation. It is a snowmelt plan, enjoying cool conditions throughout the year and benefitting from being kept in a barely moist plunge during its summer dormancy. After an autumn watering, John gives occasional overhead watering at regular intervals through the winter, except when sharp frosts are forecast. He grows it in a 50/50 mix of John Ines no. 2 and sharp grit with a sprinkling of sand and fine composted bark.

Fritillaria aurea exhibited by John Dixon

Fritillaria aurea exhibited by John Dixon

The Geoff Smith Salver was awarded to a well-flowered, pristine pot of Narcissus fernandesii in Class 121, grown by Steve Clements. This attractive strongly-scented species is native to the Iberian peninsula. The taxonomy of this group of jonquils is undergoing revision.

Narcissus fernandesii exhibited by Steve Clements

Narcissus fernandesii exhibited by Steve Clements

Alex O’Sullivan exhibited a plant of Primula odontocalyx f. alba in Class 123 (for a plant new or rare in cultivation) sporting a single white flower. Petiolarid primulas are native to the Himalayas and China, and typically require cool moist conditions, not easy to provide in southern England. The species is mat forming, and Alex grows it in a mix of John Innes no. 2, grit and perlite, kept in shade throughout the year. This white form is now listed by Kevock Gardens under the cultivar name P. odontocalyx ‘Snow Flurry’.

Primula odontocalyx alba exhibited by Alex O'Sullivan

Primula odontocalyx alba exhibited by Alex O'Sullivan

Reporter: Martin Sheader

Photographer: Jon Evans