At long last, here are some pictures from the South Wales Show in February this year. As you might expect from a show so early in the year, and one where the show secretaries, and winners of the Open aggregate award were Bob and Rannveig Wallis, the benches were to some extent dominated by spring bulbs.

Galanthus nivalis from Alan Keay

Most obviously, it was snowdrop season, and there were many different cultivars here, from big pans of small snowdrops ...

Galanthus Fred's Giant from Ann and Mike Morton
To small pans of big snowdrops

Galanthus Corrin from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Galanthus Ione Hecker, also from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Galanthus plicatus from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Galanthus plicatus Sophie North from Ruth Jones

Galanthus John Grey from Ruth Jones

Galanthus elwesii Helen Tomlinson
from Mike and Christine Brown

Galanthus Whittington
also from Mike and Christine Brown

Galanthus Ketton
Last but not least, the winner of the Galanthus Goblet for Mike and Christine Brown

Crocus chrysanthus Cream Beauty
Crocuses were also present in large numbers, from the familiar Crocus chrysanthus Cream Beauty, beautifully presented by Ann and Mike Morton

Crocus abantensis
also from Ann and Mike Morton

Crocus vernus ssp. albiflorus from George Elder

A lovely and very striking form, exhibited as C. reticulatus, now labelled C. vernus ssp. albiflorus following discussion on this forum.

Crocus cvijicii, also from George Elder

Crocus sieberi PJC215 from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Crocus veluchensis from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

Crocus biflorus ssp nubigena from Robert Rolfe
Winner of the Crocus Spoon.

Narcissus bulbocodium from Don and Heather Hyde
There were perhaps fewer daffodils than in previous years, an indication perhaps of a difficult or later season, but those that appeared were excellent.

Narcissus Bowles Early Sulphur from Robin White
Lest anyone think Robin only grows daphnes

Hyacinthoides aristidis from Robert Rolfe
An unusual miniature squill

Hyacinthella glabrescens from Bob and Rannveig Wallis

You could walk past this pan easily, but if you stopped to examine it, it was exquisite.

Iris reticulata seedling from Ann and Mike Morton
One of the highlights of the show was the bulbous irises. This unusually dark form of Iris reticulata attracted a lot of attention.

Iris hyrcana Talish from John Dixon

Iris hyrcana from Eric Jarrett
This wonderful potful won a Certificate of Merit. Sadly, I only got to it in the afternoon, by which time it was suffering a little in the heat.

Iris Katherine Hodgkin from Cyril Dart
This magnificent pan won a first Farrer Medal for Cyril Dart.

Many non-bulbous plants had also awakened from the January ice and snow to burst into prolific flower, not least the dionysias and Primula allionii. Paul and Gill Ranson brought a boot full of dionysias, including several unfamiliar species and hybrids.

Dionysia Amethyst from Paul and Gill Ranson

Dionysia Corona, also from Paul and Gill Ranson

Dionysia Gnom from Paul and Gill Ranson

Dionysia Judith Bramley from Paul and Gill Ranson

Dionysia Zdenek Zvolanek from Paul and Gill Ranson

Fascinating to see this recent flush of hybrids with D. afghanica blood in them

Dionysia rhaptodes from Paul and Gill Ranson

A species which was new to me at least.

Dionysia sarvestanica from Eric Jarrett
Other exhibitors also brought dionysias, of course, including this recent introduction from Eric.

Dionysia afghanica from Mike and Christine Brown
The pick of the bunch came from exhibitors not normally associated with dionysias. This plant won a Certificate of Merit, and the first 80th Anniversary Award for best plant in a 19cm pot.

Primula Chris Norton from David Philbey
David Philbey won the large pan Primula class with this Primula hybrid 'Chris Norton'.

Cyclamen alpinum from Ian Robertson
These were not the only Primulaceae on show. There were some excellent cyclamen. This one won the single pan class.

Cyclamen coum from Mike and Christine Brown
Runner-up in the single pan class.

Cyclamen libanoticum from Ian Robertson
Part of a winning three-pan combination

Cyclamen coum from John Dixon
A smaller plant, but very striking.

Daphne jezoensis from Robin White
Robin did of course bring some daphnes, as well as the Narcissus, and an unusual hellebore.

? Daphne sp from Robin White
This plant from China (?) was exhibited in the new and rare classes.

Corydalis popovii from Robert Rolfe
Other eye-catching plants

Eranthis pinnatifida from Ruth Jones

Gladiolus meridionalis from George Elder
Finally two spectacular South African bulbs from George Elder

Hesperantha humilis from George Elder