I'm sorry it has taken a while to get my photos from Pershore sorted out.  I have been busy, and the urgency felt lessened after Ian put his impressions of the show up so promptly.

It was a lovely sunny morning, driving up to Pershore.  Of course, the recent weather had been less than kind for exhibitors, with weeks of drought and high temperatures running up to the show, and the carload of Rhodohypoxis I was taking looked, for the most part, a little tired, where they had been perfect two weeks earlier.  

When we arrived at the show, we were fortunate to be able to borrow a trolley, as it is a long way from the car park to the show hall, and Rhodohypoxis tend to run to large pots.  The show hall was a revelation - cool and airy, and as you can see, well filled with plants in good condition.  At least my rhodohypoxis brought a splash of colour - see the foreground for a three pan entry of different species from the same continent.

Alpines in their Environment Photographic Display

Down one side of the show hall was an interesting display of photographs from John Hill, showing alpine plants in their natural environment.  John's photography has improved a lot since the days when he first started in the Artistic Intermediate section at shows.

Artistic Section

The artistic section as it now exists at shows is limited to paintings, drawings and needlework.

Celmisia semi-cordata

Janet Mathias won the Intermediate Artistic section with her paintings, including this image of Celmisia semi-cordata.

Gentiana acaulis

Liz Livermore's contribution to the Intermediate section was also notable, featuring this cross-stitch representation of Gentiana acaulis.

Caroline Jackson-Houlston

The Open section of the Artistic section was contested by two experienced artists, Caroline Jackson-Houlston and Rannveig Wallis.  Caroline's work included one of her prize-winning exhibit of Passiflora paintings from the recent RHS show, and a lovely design for tea plates featuring Hellebore flowers.

Rannveig Wallis

Rannveig Wallis entered much the same set of paintings I photographed at the Kent show earlier in the year, including these three lovely paintings of Fritillaria, and Iris barnumae.

Campanula zoysii

Moving now to plants, I will start with the Campanulaceae, which are, normally, at their peak at this show.  However, the uncomfortably hot dry weather had put paid to several potential entries, including Ian Instone's large pan of Campanula zoysii.  His small pan wasn't bad though.

Campanula arvatica

Ian Instone also brought a nice pan of Campanula arvatica, always one of my favourite campanulas.

Campanula asperuloides

Exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson.

Campanula fragilis subsp cavolinii

Exhibited by Chris Lilley.

Campanula hierapetrae

It was great to see Graham Nicholls back exhibiting at the show, and Campanula hierapetrae is always lovely, but here needed another week or so to be at its best.

Campanula rotundifolia subsp arctica Mt Jotunheim

The final campanula I photographed, from Lee and Julie Martin.

Rhodohypoxis

As I expected when I put them in the car, my Rhodohypoxis were good enough to win firsts in the Intermediate section, but not in the Open section.  
The best of them was this pan of a seedling from x Rhodoxis Hebron Farm Pink, which was nice and fresh, but the judges felt it was not far enough out, and very drawn.  It has been out in the sun in the middle of the patio since the end of April; this is how it grows, at least for me.

Alstroemeria garaventae

George Elder showed two different forms of this beautiful South American, one apricot and the other pink.

Alstroemeria pallida

In the same three pan class from George Elder, with one of the A. garaventae and another Alstroemeria was my favourite plant of the day, the wonderfully elegant Alstromeria pallida.

Androcymbium striatum

George Elder won the class for one pan of bulbous plants with this Androcymbium, which he always brings to this show.

Habranthus martinezii

In the small pan class for bulbous plants, George Elder showed this pan of Habranthus, but was only second.

Allium paniculatum

The winner of the small pan class for bulbous plants, and of a Certificate of Merit, was this allium from Lee and Julie Martin.

Arisaema fargesii

Bob and Rannveig Wallis brought a large pan of Arisaema fargesii.

Ponerorchis graminifolia

Peter Farkasch showed a fabulous, very large-flowered clone of this Chinese orchid.

Goodyera oblongifolia

The Glebelands Trophy, sadly now awarded for the plant with the most attractive foliage, and not, as it once was, for 'the wierdest plant', went to this pan of Goodyera oblongifolia from Neil Hubbard.

Pelargonium australe

Sam and Mavis Lloyd showed this attractive pelargonium - quite similar to P. havlasae which Cecilia used to show, and a plant with potential.

Pelargonium auritum subsp carneum

George Elder was awarded a Certificate of Merit for another of his regular summer show exhibits, this lovely pelargonium.

Pelargonium endlicherianum

Best in Show, and an Award of Merit from the Joint Rock Garden Committee, but no Farrer Medal, went to Peter Farkasch for this pan of Pelargonium endlicherianum.

Sanguisorba Little Angel

Anne Vale showed this interesting and attractive little variegated Sanguisorba.

Scutellaria suffrutescens

Exhibited by Vic and Janet Aspland.

Francoa chilensis

Exhibited by Steven Squires in the Novice Section.  This was grown from seed (in this case AGS seed) as Boykinia (Telesonix) jamesii, and is the second plant I have seen in the last month misnamed in this way.

Lewisia cotyledon

Exhibited by Brenda Nickels, who won the Intermediate section aggregate.

Graptopetalum bellum

Two plants of this, the first exhibited by Anita Acton in the Novice section, and the second, giving a better indication of what a wonderful plant this can be, from Anne Vale.

Cut Flowers

The cut flowers class went to Diane Clement

Gentiana rubicunda purpurata

In the new or rare classes, Brian Burrow was awarded a Preliminary Commendation for this gentian; I'm not entirely happy withy the colour but it is the best I can do.

Polystichum lemmonii

Still in the new or rare classes, another Preliminary Commendation went to Brian and Shelagh Smethurst for this fern.

Cryptogramma crispa

Brian and Shelagh Smethurst also showed this large pan of Cryptogramma, showing both sporing and non-sporing fronds.

Athyrium nipponicum var pictum

Another fern from the Novice Section for Steven Squires who won the Dudfield Cup for the section aggregate.

Cheilanthes lanosa

Again from Steven Squires, this fern won the Wessex Water Trophy for the best plant in the Novice section.

Three pans for Foliage Effect

The class for three pans of foliage was fiercely contested - in the end, first place went to Mavis and Sam Lloyd.

Rebutia albopectinata

Eric Jarrett showed a nice pan of Rebutia albopectinata.

Dionysia esfandiarii SLIZE 259

John Dixon was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this large cushion.

Three small pans of cushion plants

The Hilliard Cup for the Open section Aggregate went home with John Dixon, with a bootful of plants without a single flower on them.  The three small dionysias on the left of this class were his, and won the class.

Miniature Garden

Finally, Anne Vale showed a new miniature garden.  All other exhibitors are warned to check their pots carefully on their return from the show; this pan is showing signs of gnome infestation!

As always, my thanks to all the people who organised the show, judged and stewarded, ran the (excellent) catering, helped with plant stands, book stands and the front door, and with setting up the show and clearing away the tables and tidying up.  It is amazing how much effort goes into putting on an AGS show, and worrying that it is starting to be the same people at many of the shows around the country.