2007

SRGC Show Report
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The Discussion Weekend Show, Clydebank 2007
report by Sandy Leven
Clydebank is home to many of the ocean going luxury liners of the last
century; home to John Brown's shipyard where the Queens were built;
Singer sewing machines made here are still used in all four corners of the
world.
What a change then to have plants from all parts of the world come to
Clydebank!
We even had two Transatlantic Ambassadors from the USA who made the
crossing, not by sea but by air, landing jus over the Clyde from the hotel
at Glasgow airport.
Panayotti Keleidis, from Denver, with Sandy Leven and with Ian Young
Bill Brown from New York state
We also had a Scandinavian members
From Sweden Peter Korn with Susan Band
Our Viking friend from Norway is Knut Lunde with jean band and Julia
Corden
Also from Norway Geir Moen here with Ian Young and Margaret Glynn,
from Balymena
The Beardsmore hotel was built to accommodate the relations of private
patients who were expected to use the adjacent hospital. Another dream
into which millions of Government money disappeared is now Scotland's
National Hospital. If the hospital care is as good as that which we
received in the hotel then take me there when I get sick!
The Beardsmore hotel
There is so much public space in the hotel, reminiscent of hotels in
Dubai. For this report the show is more pertinent than the rooms and the
food but neither of these could be faulted. The show was excellent too.
A Wee bit of history.
Twice best in show here and at Ponteland the previous week.
The Jim Lever Trophy for Best Cyclamen was won by the Best Plant in
Show, Jean Wyllie's Cyclamen hederifolium an exquisite mass of pink
flowers. SRGC rules allow one plant to win a Forrest medal only once in a
season, so since Jean triumphed the previous week at Ponteland she
could not take home a second medal for her show stopper. Still everyone
knows the rules and the Cyclamen was indeed the best in show. In his
lecture Cyril Lafong expanded on the rule by pointing of that his plant of
Sebaea thomasii could have won three Forrest medals in one season
because it stays in good form for so long. Jean also had Most Points in
Section 1 and took home the Mary Bowe Trophy.
Stan da Prato swept the boards again in Section 2
Crocuses and Colchicums
Still enough of rules, and back to plants. The Discussion Weekend show is
smaller than other but always has interesting plants. Where better to
start than with 'autumn crocuses'. Alongside the true Crocuses these
Colchicums more than held their own. Colchicum speciosum album is one
of the most magnificent autumn bulbs, with huge goblets of purest white.
In the garden wee slugs always make mine look as though they had been
blasted with a shotgun. The smaller Colchicum autumnale flore plena
album always give a good show. The bulbs produce a succession of
flowers over a long period. Colchicum 'Water Lily' likewise has a
succession of flowers.
Colchicum speciosum
Colchicum autumnale flore plena alba
Colchicum 'Water Lily'
As well as these big examples which all do very well in the open garden
there were two examples of the diminutive Colchicum cupannii - the
usual pink and a white form which was new to me.
Colchicum cupannii and the white form
Many species of 'true' crocuses are just starting into flower in early
October.
Crocus kotschyana cappadoicus
Crocus speciosus
Crocus hadriaticus, nicely presented
Call the fire brigade! Mark Smyth's plants of Nerine sarniense including
this brilliant vermilion form [Sam Wolsey] were startling. Not hardy
outside in Scotland I wonder how much protection they need to flower in
Northern Ireland. I struggle to get mine to flower. I suspect I need to
feed them more.
Nerine sarniense 'Sam Wolsey'
Tony Rymer showed two fine pans of Oxalis in his 3 pan bulb entry.
Nearest the camera is Oxalis mason rum. Allium thunbergii is at the back
.You will have gathered I have forgoten the name of the pale Oxalis in
the middle. [A pale form of O.pes-caprea?]
I thought my snowdrops looked OK but they were not a patch on Kath
Rimmer's panful of Galanthus reginae olgae.
Galanthus reginae olgae
Barry and Cathy Caudwell managed to flower the regal looking
Zephyranthes candida , the white rain lily from the River Plate area of
Uruguay.
In 1513, the plain of the Rio de la Plata was so carpeted with bazillions [a
word meaning infinite numbers whish was in this bit of information] of
Zephyranthes candida, that the Spaniards who "discovered" it called it
the River of Silver.
Remember the film 'The Battle of the River Plate'? Remember the pocket
battleship 'Graf Spee'? Remember Montivideao? Remember John Gregson,
Anthony Quayle and Anthony Finch? Well if you do you are as old as I am.
One of the first pictures I went to! I saw in Freuchie, Fife, in the local
hall. Every time the reels had to be changed the lights went on. Black
and white. Thanks Barry and Cathy for bringing back memories and all
with one white flower. I don't remember any Zephyranthes in the film!
Zephyranthes candida from the Silver River Valley and Abernyte!
Gentians provide a great splash of colour at the Discussion weekend
show. Ian Christie and Tim Leven vied for the honours in the gentian
classes.
Ian young disguised himself as a Cyclamen but was spotted a admiring the
gentians
Ian and Anne Christie and Tim Lever
Gentiana 'Limelight'
Gentiana 'Angus Beauty'
Gentiana 'Shot Silk'
Gentiana 'Silken Giant'
Gentiana 'Saltire seedling'
Ruth and Tony Rymer with Darren and Susan Sleep admire the wonderful
Presidential Gentians
Without doubt Jean Wyllie's Cyclamen hederifolium was this year's best
Cyclamen but there were other smaller stars on the bench.
A big plant of the diminutive Cyclamen intaminatum from Glassford
Sprunt, who is shown above with Malcolm McGregor.
Class 1 was dominated by Cyclamen. Sandy Leven won the class and the
East Lothian Trophy with C.africanum, graecum and hederifolium
Sparaguea umbellata from Margaret and Henry Taylor
Foliage
Celmisia semi-cordata ssp aurigans, still splendid my favourite Celmisia
shown by Alan Furness Celmisia semi-cordata ssp, aurigans
Celmisia longifolia, also Alan's
Alan Furness with Jim Jermyn
Harvey Shepherd explains the finer points of fern cultivation to Ron
Nurse.
The fern is Cystopteris alpina
Salvia daghestanica
Microchacrys tetragonal
This guy has changed from being a Helichrysum into Ozothamnus
coralloides.
Coprosma 'Marble King' from Brian Smethurst
The immaculate Brain and Shelagh Smethurst
People and other flowers
I don't want know what Davie was telling Maggie but he was obviously
pleased
Roger Smyth appreciates how much work the show secretary has to do.
David Mowle and Dora Holmes
Isa Hall and Bette Ivey deep in conversation.
Maureen and Brian Wilson enjoy the evening
Peter finds a £20 note!
John with Jean in fall back position
Fred and Ian relax after a hard days listening!
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