Two weeks ago, when I went to the Solihull show, I drove through snow.  On Saturday, although it was -2 degrees C when we set off at 5.30am, the weather was much better, and we had a pleasantly uneventful drive down the A303, through wonderful English landscapes, on a bright sunlit frosty morning.  Quite unlike the journey many of the other exhibitors who had driven down on the Friday in Bank Holiday weekend queues.

My wife Helen had very kindly agreed to accompany me, as I had been asked to put on an exhibit of photos, and the display I had in mind would take rather longer for one person to put up than I would have available.  With two of us working in parallel, we were able to get the display up in about 80 minutes, finishing comfortably before the hall was closed for judging, despite the odd error in my planning.  I was glad I had brought the exhibit - it made an excellent backdrop for the tables of plants in the absence of the artistic competition which took place here in previous years.  

This exhibit was titled "Where is the Art in Digital Photography ?" and tried to explain what is in my mind while I am taking and processing (digitally) a photograph - what decisions I am making, and for what reasons.  I wanted to explore how much of the process can be inspired by artistic motivations, rather than purely technical ones.  The photos, and perhaps these garbled thoughts, attracted a good deal of attention from judges, other exhibitors and members of the public, and I had constant questions and enquiries while I was doing the show photography.  

On one side of the entrance into the main hall, the local groups staged a display to attract new members to the society, and to the local groups.

Display of Needlework and Embroidery

In the corridor between the show hall and the catering area, Jean Morris was busy setting up her usual display of embroidery.  This contained the very best of her embroidery and needlework pieces from the shows over the years, and an extensive educational display explaining how they were produced. 

Jean received a Gold Award for this display.  I was not privy to the judges' discussion, but I know that she has received a Large Gold for similar displays in the past, and I suspect that the award given may in part reflect the familiarity of much of the exhibit.  For someone encountering this work for the first time, this was a very fine and informative exhibit.

The closure of the show hall for judging gave me a brief opportunity to visit the sales hall, although the presence of my wife Helen may have contributed slightly to a more considered approach to shopping.  Certainly the vociferous approach of a very friendly David Nicholson, importuning me to further purchases right in front of her, did not advance his cause.

Iris reichenbachii

When I returned to the hall to perform my duties for the day, the first plant I selected was this lovely iris exhibited by Tim Lever, because I was afraid the heat of the hall would take its toll.  Later I found that it had been awarded a Certificate of Merit.  

As you can see, at this point in the morning I had the type of light I like - good side lighting from the window, albeit I would have been happier without the bright sunshine which produces bright highlights, and harsh shadows.  But lighting never stays constant - as the sun moved round during the day it would be a constant battle to maintain good lighting, and to avoid hard bands of shadow from the window bars falling across the plants to be photographed.

Kalmia polifolia Compacta Alba

The next plant I photographed was this beautiful Kalmia exhibited by Tim's partner Gemma Hayes; it was on the bench nearest the windows, and I feared for it in the warmth of the sun.  When I received the list of awards I found this had received the Cornwall Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate Section, and unusually for a plant from the Intermediate Section, had also won the East Devon Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot.  Congratulations to Gemma.

Tulipa Red Hunter

Pauline Carless, who won the Dartmoor Trophy for the Intermediate Section aggregate, exhibited this pan of tulips, with just two flowers open and a mass of buds to follow.  But what flowers - huge sumptious goblets of scarlet.

Allium crispum

This onion exhibited by George Elder is one I always admire.  As you can see, by this time the shadows from the window bars were already causing me problems.

Trillium rivale

Next, a trillium exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson.  I wanted to try to get some close-ups of the individual flowers.

Geissorhiza darlingensis

In the class for plants which are new or rare, I found this Geissorhiza exhibited by George Elder, sadly completely overlooked by the judges.  It is extremely rare in the wild (known from only one tiny reserve), and known to be very challenging to grow from seed to flowering size.  And also, absolutely beautiful.  But George, I have to note that on the close-ups it is possible to discern at least two greenfly, bodies camouflaged a chameleon-like yellow.

Shoshonea pulvinata

The winner of this class for new or rare plants was the interesting but rather less exciting Shoshonea, a high-altitude member of the Apiaceae from Montana and Wyoming, reported by the exhibitor Eric Jarrett to be difficult to propagate in cultivation.  Much like a larger, laxer and greener version of Anisotome imbricata.

Rhododendron Arctic Tern

This rhododendron exhibited by Clive Dart, another Certificate of Merit plant, was much more eye-catching.

Rhododendron Patty Bee

Another attractive rhododendron, also from Clive Dart.

x Phylliopsis hillieri Sugar Plum

Clive Dart had a good day, winning several classes, and this x Phylliopsis was also his.

Andromeda polifolia Blue Ice

Yet another fine shrub from Clive Dart

Daphne modesta

Martin and Anna Sheader brought several small plants of Daphne modesta, including these two.

Sebaea thomasii

Another plant challenging for honours was Tim Lever's pan of Sebaea thomasii, perhaps not quite as perfect as we saw it last year, but still magnificent and awarded a Certificate of Merit.  The notable scent made it a pleasure to have in my 'studio'.

By this time I was quite fed-up with the sunlight and shadows lighting I was getting from the window, and decided to rearrange things so my background blocked the window light, leaving me to direct light onto the subject with a reflector near the lens of the camera; that worked better for a while, until the sun moved to the point where there was little to reflect.

Sebaea thomasii Bychan

Tim Lever also exhibited this cultivar of Sebaea; I am not sure how it differs from the 'normal' form, except that some of the flowers might be smaller.

Androsace vandellii ex Nuria

There was much pleasure among the exhibitors present that the Farrer Medal went to Alan and Janet Cook for this fabulous Androsace.  They went on to win enough classes with a wide variety of plants to win the Peter Edwards Memorial Trophy for the most points in the Primulaceae classes, and the Exeter Trophy for the Open Section aggregate.

Arisaema amurense

When I saw this arisaema from Alan and Janet Cook, I wanted to find a way of photographing it backlit.  Eventually I managed to tape a piece of background card to the window to give a dark shaded background while the plant itself stood in full sunlight, with the camera facing the window.  These lighting conditions only prevailed for about half an hour, but produced some of the photos I was most pleased with during the day.

Arisaema amurense Korean Form

Mavis and Sam Lloyd exhibited the Korean Form of Arisaema amurense, which was a much more compact plant whose flowers were not hidden amongst the leaves.  I don't know whether that was coincidental, or related to the form, but it certainly made this plant easier for me to photograph.

Allium nevskianum

I love taking photos of alliums, and I thought the backlighting would be perfect for this one exhibited by Lionel Clarkson.

Cyclamen balearicum

A cyclamen species we don't often see, exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook.

Lewisia tweedyi

This lovely lewisia, also exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook, was the last plant where I managed to capture this type of backlighting.  I thought these images were the most successful of the day; of course having such an attractive subject helped.  

Lewisia tweedyi Alba

This white form of Lewisia tweedyi, exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin, marked a move back to more normal lighting.  By now the sun had moved round, and I was able to take plants either in shade, or with the type of sidelight I normally try to achieve.

Claytonia megarhiza var nivalis

Another American alpine, related to the Lewisias, which I have known most of my life, but which we don't often see in good condition on the show bench, and which I suspect is less commonly grown than it was forty years ago, when I first bought a plant from Simon Bond.

Primula Janet Aldritch

One of David Philbey's primula hybrids, exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook.  Two other hybrids raised by David were also on display - Adrian Evans (my brother), and Ilana (my niece).

Class 23 - 3 pans rock plants from one continent

At this point I took my camera walkabout to take photos of the two exhibits featured earlier, and of the multi-pan classes with awards attached.  The winners of the Bill Mackenzie Trophy for 3 pans of rock plants from the same continent (in this case Asia) were Paul and Gill Ranson.

Class 59 - 3 pans bulbous plants

The Veitch Trophy for 3 pans of bulbous plants was won by this fine entry by Lionel Clarkson, featuring the allium I showed earlier.

Small 6 pan

Lionel Clarkson also won the AGS Medal for the small 6-pan class.  The three plants which follow all came from his entry.

Primula hybrid

This primula was exhibited by Lionel Clarkson as 'Primula hybrid'.  Lionel has lost details of its name and origin, but it looks to me very close to a cultivar which David grows called Lindum Rapture, raised by Martin and Dreena Thompson.

Anemonella thalictrioides

A fine pan of Anemonella thalictrioides from Lionel Clarkson's small 6 pan entry.

Pulsatilla grandis

One final plant from Lionel Clarkson's 6-pan entry - a most appealing form of Pulsatilla grandis.

Salix repens from St Kilda

Ivan Pinnick exhibited a very prostrate plant of Salix repens collected from St. Kilda.

Serapias lingua

A good plant of Serapias lingua exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin.

Androsace villosa subsp koso-poljanskii

Alan and Janet Cook exhibited this plant of Androsace villosa.  I don't know what differentiated this subspecies.

Allium shelkovnikovii

Another favourite photography subject - this grouping was exhibited by George Elder.

Deuterocohnia brevifolia

Another plant unfamiliar on AGS benches, though perhaps more familiar under its synonym Abromeitella, and better known in cactus and succulent circles was this bromeliad from north west Argentina and Bolivia, exhibited by Roger Clark. The internet suggests this "is a dense, cushion-like plant, clambering over the rocks in a very arid area. In its environments it is watered perhaps only twice a year, finding all of its moisture from the air itself. The only water it ever gets is in the form of sea fog".

Lamium sandrasicum

This Lamium is a plant familiar to me from London shows, perhaps only appearing at Exeter because of the late date this year, exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook.

Androsace aff flavescens

Eric Jarrett exhibited this fine, almond-scented androsace.

Dionysia caespitosa

In the same 3-pan, Eric Jarrett exhibited this Dionysia.  I rather liked the two-tone effect.

Fritillaria messanensis subsp messanensis

George Elder was horrified when I photographed this plant of his late in the afternoon, as it had suffered in the heat, but I still thought it was a decorative plant, and worth recording.

Fellfield plants

Paul and Gill Ranson exhibited 3 plants from New Zealand in the class for 3 plants requiring the same cultural conditions.  Their notes were as follows:
Habitat: Cold, windswept, stabilised screes in New Zealand's Southern Alps.
Location: Terracotta or plastic pots plunged in the alpine house.  Can be grown outside from late spring to early autumn with some protection from persistent rain.
Shading: Good light at all times.
Compost: Well drained, acidic, but with some humus in pots to reduce the risk of drying out.
Watering: Moist in summer, brier but always just damp at other times.
Feeding: None, but regular repotting is necessary, even if the plant is not potbound.
Diseases: None, although die-back of sections can occur suddenly and these should be removed promptly.
The three plants in this exhibit follow.

Anisotome imbricata var imbricata

Exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson

Haastia pulvinaris

Fabulous in close-up - again exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson

Raoulia bryoides

The final 'fellfield plant' exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson.

Saxifraga Citronella

Last year the Intermediate Section was full of saxifrages exhibited by local exhibitor Duncan Bennett.  This year, much later in the season, he still had a few including this.

Saxifraga Zlata Praha

One last plant, another saxifrage whose name means Golden Prague, from Duncan Bennett.

My apologies to the exhibitors of plants I haven't featured - there were several fine plants I made a mental note of, and intended to return to and photograph, but the day ran away from me, and this is all I could manage. 

My thanks to Jon and Kana Webster and their team of willing helpers; this may have been a small show this year, but it was one of the most pleasurable to attend, and the friendly enthusiasm of the organising team is one of the main reasons for that.  And final thanks to my wife Helen for accompanying me and helping with the exhibit; without her it would not have been possible. 

The return trip from Exeter adds up to a long and exhausting day, but the drive back in dramatic weather, with blazing setting sun vying with towering black clouds, was relaxed and enjoyable, and I shall make every effort to support the show next year, wherever it might be staged.