Adequate compensation for the absence of some exhibitors and their plants was to be found in the form of three excellent yet differing displays. The first, an exhibition of pencil drawings depicting mountain landscapes (it’s just amazing what can be done with graphite); the second, a display featuring photographs of alpine plants promoting the AGS and the East Lancs group; and the third, a collection of Bonsai, with their creator spending the whole day chatting with people whilst demonstrating his skills, transforming a nondescript conifer into a beautifully styled Scots pine.

Fewer plants there may have been yet the quality was good, the competition keen and as always there were some which were new to me and well worth a second look.

In class 87, “one plant new or rare in cultivation”, a three-year-old plant of Stellaria roughii (Brian Burrow) caught the eye. In the wild it can be found on the gravel screes of South Island New Zealand at around 2000ft where it blends perfectly into the rocks, dying back to spend the winter underground and re-appearing when the snow recedes. Grown from seed in a standard mix of JI2, composted bark and grit with the pot standing on a damp bed of grit in a cold greenhouse, it requires full sun to keep it neat and compact.

On the other hand, Mukdenia rossii, (Tommy Anderson) a plant from Korea and northern China is readily available from many nurseries. Grown primarily as a garden plant for its leaves, which turn to various shades of red in the autumn, the five petalled, starry flowers are often overlooked. By chance there were two exhibits on show, one with leaf and one without which afforded me a closer and worthwhile inspection of the very tiny flowers. Growing in a woodland, ericaceous compost with plenty of grit, this four-year-old plant had already been in flower for five weeks, standing on a shallow 30mm damp sand plunge in a cold greenhouse.

The Merlewood Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate Section was awarded to a well flowered plant of Soldanella hungarica (Frank Dobson). Seeing this lovely plant brought back fond memories of two stalwarts of the AGS, Jim and Wilma Wright who, long ago at the north of England show of 2006 were awarded a Farrer medal for an immaculate exhibit of this deep purple, large flowered species of Soldanella. Imagine my surprise and delight when informed that this was the very same plant passed on by Wilma for Frank to look after. Re-potted into a JI soil-based compost with plenty of grit, it is kept well-watered and outside in the partial shade of a privet hedge. In the wild it can be found growing in the cool, moist snow melt conditions in the alpine meadows of the Carpathian Mts.

Cassiope wardii (Cliff Booker) is not often seen on the show bench, so this two-year-old small but healthy plant was another pleasant surprise. Due to the thick, hairy, unbranched stems being most unsuitable for taking cuttings it is difficulty to propagate and once established it has a tendency for sudden die back. However, if the two new young shoots appearing through the top dressing were to be gently teased away from the parent plant and carefully potted up in a gritty ericaceous compost, I was reliably informed that they could produce new plants. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to try this as too many people throughout the day were admiring it!

On the other the hand, the large flowering, upright, bushy Cassiope selaginoides (several exhibitors) is just a little more obliging, with cuttings best taken in June of young leaf tips providing some success, but as with other Cassiope, it resents the summer heat and is best kept cool and moist with some shade.

So much for my personal selection, now for some of the plants which impressed the judges.

Ranunculus amplexicaulis (Chris Lilley) was awarded the Jim Lever Memorial Trophy for the best pan of Ranunculaceae. Grown from seed sown in 2019 and potted on into a standard mix of one-part JI2, one-part composted bark and two parts grit, with an occasional potash feed, this beautiful buttercup is kept moist but not saturated, outside in the garden open to the elements.

The Leander trophy (Mark Childerhouse) for the best three pan exhibit in a pot no more than 19cm was contested by just two exhibits. Both were outstandingly exquisite; both were from the same exhibitor and not surprisingly from the same exhibitor who won the trophy last year. Saxifraga spruneri is a rare and endangered species in the wild and for many, including myself, it was a joy and privilege to see it for the first time. Not easy in cultivation, all three of the plants were displayed to perfection.

An outstanding, fifteen-year-old plant of Paris quadrifolia (Peter Hood) received a Certificate of Merit. A native to the British Isles, it was the best of its kind I have ever seen and a serious contender for the Farrer medal. It is a woodland plant grown in a compost made up of JI3, grit and leaf mould which is kept moist throughout and given the occasional liquid potash feed. Peter now has a dilemma; does he risk leaving it in the pot where it may become too congested or should he plant out in a cool, shady area of his garden? I suspect that it will remain in the pot and appear on the show bench once more.

A Certificate of Merit was also awarded to Saxifraga pubescens “Snowcap” (Brenda Nickels). Although not a difficult plant to grow this specimen was nigh on perfection and clearly in the hands of a skilful grower. Using a standard 50/50, JI2 and grit mix, the pot is sunk into a sand plunge in a cold greenhouse and regular turning of the pot is essential to achieve even flowering. So reliable and readily available, this Saxifrage has been known to dominate the AGS shows at this time of the year.

Draba “John Saxton” (Frank and Barbara Hoyle), is a hybrid between Draba ossetica and Draba rosularis. Remarkably, this plant had already been in flower for over two weeks before being placed on the show bench, which is unusual, for many varieties of this genus, including both parent plants, usually begin shedding petals like confetti as soon as it becomes warm and sunny, or following pollination by flies attracted to the perfumed promise of nectar.

Plunged in a moist sand bed up to the rim of the pot and regularly turned throughout the year to avoid scorching and to achieve even flowering across the cushion, it is an easy plant to grow in a gritty JI2 compost. Somewhat surprisingly but to the delight of the exhibitors it was one of three plants grown by them to be awarded a Certificate of Merit.

Their second Certificate of Merit was awarded to a plant which was found as a seedling growing in the sand plunge adjacent to Hymenoxis acaulis, the assumed parent, with pollen received from either Hymenoxis torryano or Hymenoxis lapidicola, both of which had shared the greenhouse the previous year. Your guess is as good as mine. Potted up only 6-7 years ago, the growth rate has been good with an annual increase in the number of flowers. Unfortunately, it is a magnet for aphids and success with cuttings is low due in part to the very hairy leaf stems which are prone to rotting.

Their third Certificate of Merit was awarded to an Androsace of unknown heritage (very likely A. sarmentosa), the label having been lost along with the grower’s powers of memory. Whatever the species it is very, very easy to grow and to propagate. As the rosettes multiply and increase in size, they lower themselves onto the gritty surface of the compost and eventually take root. Pots soon become overcrowded with ever increasing new rosettes which, when removed along with their stolon and placed in the damp sand plunge, will readily root.  Nothing could be simpler.

The genus Androsace has performed well this year with various forms of A. villosa being awarded the Farrer Medal at no less than three of the AGS shows.  Lengthy discussion failed to determine the identity of that which received the judges’ vote here at Whitworth, although most were confident that it is not var. kosopoljanskii as originally thought. Does it really matter? The plant was simply labelled Androsace sp., which I assume is sp. both for species and for spectacular.

As usual it turned out to be a great day providing the opportunity to acquire new plants, discuss the merits or otherwise of those on show and generally have a good catch up with fellow enthusiasts. Our congratulations and thanks must go to the new show secretary Alan Elwell and the team of volunteers from the East Lancs. group who worked so hard to make the day a success. Special thanks must also go to the slowly dwindling number of exhibitors who brought along so many of their wonderful plants for us all to enjoy.

Reporter: Frank Hoyle
Photographer: Jon Evans