The murky morning was soon forgotten on entering the hall where a good range of blue, white, yellow and pink flowers lifted the spirits. This is always a show that delivers the best of Gentiana, Crocus and Cyclamen as its main attractions, but the 408 plants assembled contributed broader interest in their overall diversity.

Success was had by both joint Show secretaries, Alan Furness taking the Forrest Medal – the show followed SRGC rules this year – with Crocus banaticus ‘Snowdrift’, the most vigorous of the several albino clones named (in effect taking the double: it won him a Farrer Medal down at the Kent Show last year), while Alan Newton received the Ponteland Bowl for the most points in the Open Section. Among his numerous entries, two in particular stood out.

A selected Aruncus aethusifolius seedling differs from the general run by growing much more slowly and retaining its foliage for longer: at this stage of the year it is transformed into an exquisite dome of soft raspberry. Probably never before exhibited, Gentiana rhodantha has a trailing habit, with pairs of heart-shaped leaves at pronounced intervals along the slender, prostrate stems. These terminated in one or two lilac-pink flowers with purple striping on the exterior of the trumpets and fringed plicae contrasting with the entire, ovate petal lobes. This is grown in sandy grit plus composted bark, and is an introduction from SW China (Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan) where it inhabits grassy hill slopes at between 1,800-3,400m.

Stalwart exhibitors Bob and Rannveig Wallis took the AGS six-pan class and receive an exceptional three Certificates of Merit for Hyacinthoides ciliolata, Empodium flexile and Cyclamen hederifolium subsp. crassifolium. The last of this trio now fills a 36 cm pot, reflecting its considerable age. It was raised from Cyclamen Society Expedition seed (CSE 93155) and was for a while identified as C. confusum before assuming its new title.

Saxifraga fortunei appeared in many guises, Christine Boulby again showing ‘Fumiko’, raised by Crûg Farm under BSWJ 6124 and named after a Japanese acquaintance. Previously seen at the same show in 2013, a comparison with the photograph taken then underlines its slow rate of increase [photo from the 2013 show].

The L.W. Browne Trophy went to Ian and Maria Leslie for Gentiana ‘The Caley’, whose smartly white-striped trumpets command attention, especially when staged amongst other more uniformly blue forms. Introduced by Ian McNaughton of MacPlants in 2009, it celebrates the 200^th anniversary of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in its long-established nickname form.