I found myself getting up even earlier than usual for the first show of the season - I wanted to be at Caerleon by 8am or thereabouts, as I had a large photographic display to stage. At 6am, when it was just starting to get light, the temperature in Surrey was -2C, and we drove through banks of quite thick fog on the roads up to Reading, and then most of the way along the M4.  By that time they were alternating with patches of bright sunshine in the rearview mirror, but this faded into cloud as we approached the Severn crossing.

Fortunately my lovely wife Helen was kind enough to accompany me, to help with setting up (and taking down) the display (213 new prints from photos taken in 2016 and 2017), but even so, by the time we finished they were calling for exhibitors to leave the hall.  I was glad that I had brought it; I try to stage a display at the South Wales Show to provide interest, because the number of plants in flower this early in the season can be very variable.  

This year several notable exhibitors, who usually provide the mainstay of the show, were absent, and as a result the showbenches, whilst full of interest, were not as crowded as they have been in some seasons.  In some ways I was thankful for that; I was doing the show photography, and having had a bad back for four weeks which is now on the mend, I didn't want to carry many heavy pots.

My display was composed of three sections: Portraits of Alpines at Shows, Portraits of Alpines in the Garden, and Alpines in Close-Up, each of which was accompanied by notes on photographic technique.  After some debate, I have decided to include photographs of each panel, to give you a better idea of its coverage.

Portraits of Alpines at Shows

Portraits of Alpines in the Garden

Alpines in Close-Up

Small 6-pan Rock Plants

I am sure that Bob and Rannveig Wallis, the show secretaries, try to time the blooming of their plants to coincide with this show, and this year, as so often, they were able to assemble an impressive grouping to win the AGS medal for the small six-pan class for rock plants.

Narcissus hedreanthus

Front centre of Bob and Rannveig Wallis' small six-pan exhibit was a fine pan of Narcissus hedreanthus - I didn't photograph it until mid-afternoon, when I suddenly got strong sunshine sidelighting, providing harsh highlights, and it became a toss-up as to whether sunlight or full shade would provide the best picture.  On the whole, I prefer the sunlit one.

Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp vernalis MT4027

Next to the Narcissus was a lovely pan of Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp vernalis which won the Galanthus Goblet for Bob and Rannveig.

Crocus cvijicii

Last, but not least, in the middle of the back row of Bob and Rannveig Wallis' six-pan exhibit you will see a magnificent pot of Crocus cvijicii, which won the Mary Byng Award for the best plant in a 19cm pot, and went on to win the Farrer Medal for the best plant in the show.

3 pans Papaveraceae

The only Certificate of Merit awarded went to this three-pan exhibit of Corydalis, again exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Corydalis hyrcana

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Corydalis nariniana

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.  Worthy of a Certificate of Merit in its own right if it hadn't received one as part of the group.

Corydalis popovii

Exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis. 

Corydalis popovii

To contrast with the white form, here is the pink form of Corydalis popovii, again exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Corydalis maculata

A corydalis I have never photographed, again exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Corydalis verticillaris

This is the last of the corydalis I photographed, again exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Merendera sobolifera

Bob and Rannveig didn't only bring Corydalis.  I was amazed to see Merendera sobolifera flowering as well as this - Bob believes it is because for once they have had a cold winter.

Iris Sindpur

This is a fine specimen that I have photographed before in previous years.  Bob and Rannveig insist that this is the correct spelling for the name.

Iris Lady Beatrice Stanley

Always one of my favourite reticulate irises, exhibited by David Richards.  A pan that was just comfortably full without being crammed together, and the more photogenic for it.

Gagea fibrosa

A very fine plant indeed from Eric Jarrett, but one which did not open until after judging had finished.

Crocus gargaricus

One of the stars of last year's show, here exhibited by Jim McGregor.

Crocus sieberi Firefly

This lovely little pan of Crocus sieberi was exhibited by Denise Bridges, who won the Gwent Trophy for the Intermediate Section Aggregate.

3 pans Iridaceae

The class for 3 pans of Iridaceae went to George Elder with three crocuses.

Crocus pestalozzae

Exhibited by George Elder.

Crocus albiflorus

Exhibited by George Elder.

Crocus dalmaticus

Exhibited by George Elder.

Galanthus gracilis Yamanlar

Last year, the show was dominated by large pans of snowdrops exhibited by Don Peace.  This year his offering was much diminished; some at least are not out yet, promising great things for the shows to come.  However, Don did still bring some very nice plants, including this.

Galanthus rizehensis Baytop

Again exhibited by Don Peace

Galanthus nivalis Blonde Inge

Exhibited by Robert Rolfe.  Apparently she is a little leggy for his taste this year.

Galanthus Alans Treat

The last of the snowdrops I photographed was this punningly named cultivar, exhibited by Denise Bridges.

Narcissus romieuxii subsp albidus

Robert Amos was delighted to win his first first for five years with this small pan of Narcissus.

Narcissus alpestris x cyclamineus

Bob and Rannveig Wallis exhibited several different clones of this Narcissus cross, all from the same sowing.  Here are four of them.

Fritillaria michailovskyi

The fritillaries weren't much in evidence yet, but Ben and Paddy Parmee exhibited a nice pan of this species in the Intermediate section.

Scilla mischtschenkoana

This scilla always seems to perform magnificently in a pot for Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Scilla caucasica Indra

This scilla, again from Bob and Rannveig Wallis, gave a fabulous splash of colour.

Daubenya aurea

George Elder staged an interesting three-pan of South African bulbs, including this yellow form of Daubenya aurea.

Lapeirousia oreogena

Also from George Elder.  A horrible colour to photograph.  In a way, this is about right, but it doesn't have the same glow as the plant in the flesh.

Lachenalia congesta

The final member of George Elder's three-pan entry.

Dionysia Judith Bramley MK9801-4

Considering their domination of this report so far, you might be excused for assuming that Bob and Rannveig Wallis also won the Isca Prize for the Open Section Aggregate, but in fact, by the narrowest of margins, that was won by Paul and Gill Ranson with a collection of (mainly small) primulas and dionysias, including this one.

Dionysia Mike Bramley MK 9801-18

Two different specimens of D. Mike Bramley, both from Paul and Gill Ranson.

Dionysia Perlmutt MK01221-2

One final dionysia, again from Paul and Gill Ranson.

Primula Arduaine

Another plant which had made the long journey south with Don Peace.

Primula allionii Daniel Burrow

The Ione Hecker Memorial Trophy for the best pan of Primulaceae went to Eric Jarrett for this fine P. allionii clone.

Cyclamen alpinum

I photographed three neat cyclamen from Denise Bridges in the Intermediate section, but ran out of time without getting to some others in the Open section.  In particular I remember a white form of C. alpinum from David Richards which I wanted to photograph for comparison with this one.

Cyclamen coum albissimum

From Denise Bridges in the Intermediate Section

Cyclamen kuznetzovii

Again from Denise Bridges

Oxalis versicolor

This oxalis grown by Joy Bishop was one of the first plants I photographed in the morning.  I liked the way that some of the flowers were open, but some were still shut showing their barbers shop stripes.

Anacamptis longicornu

Even this early in the season, Barry Tattersall seems to have hardy orchids in good condition to enter.  This formed part of a three-pan exhibit with the two following plants.

Dactylorhiza romana

Again exhibited by Barry Tattersall

Ophrys lapethica

A tall Ophrys with tiny but beautiful flowers from Barry Tattersall.

Neotinea lactea

I am always surprised how small this orchid is - photographs always make it seem larger.  But when you get up close to it, it is exquisite.  Again from Barry Tattersall.

Flower Arrangement

I am not sure whether Lee and Julie Martin always enter the flower arrangement class at this first show; certainly I haven't photographed one for a while.  This year they did, and it was lovely.

Helleborus (Rodney Davey Marbled Group) Anna's Red

Anne Vale's hellebore was the last plant I photographed.  I was interrupted by the award ceremony, and made a mess of the 'whole plant' picture, but this close-up shows why I wanted to capture it.

That is all the pictures I took.  I probably spent too much time talking - there were definitely plants that 'got away', but then it was the first show of a new season, and it is important to catch up with everyone.  All that remained to do was pack up the photography gear, rouse Helen from her nap in the afternoon sun, and set to, with her help, to pack up the photographic display and squeeze it all back in the car.  Huge thanks to Bob and Rannveig Wallis and all their team of helpers for making it such a friendly and successful event, and for the excellent lunch eaten between snaps.