For now, I only have time to post a few pictures of the award winners. Plenty more plants/photos to follow in a week or so when I have time.

New Forest Trophy
The New Forest Trophy (for the best plant in the Novice or Intermediate Section shown by a Dorset or Hampshire group member) went to Tony Bennett for Physoplexis comosa.

Downland Trophy
The Downland Trophy for the best plant in the Novice Section (and the John Blanchard Cup for the aggregate in the Novice Section) went to Russell Beeson for Dactylorhiza fuchsii.

Wessex Trophy
The Wessex Trophy for the aggregate in the Intermediate Section went to Tony Hale (I have some photos of his plants to post later).

Sempervivum ciliosum
Don and Heather Hyde won a Certificate of Merit for Sempervivum ciliosum.

Tulbaghia capensis
Ian Sharpe was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Tulbaghia capensis.

Polygonatum sp.
David Hughes was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this photograph of a Polygonatum sp., taken in China at 3000m. David, together with his wife Christine, also produced a lovely exhibit of photographs from the AGS trip to Morocco in 2008, which was given a Bronze Award.

Small 6-pan class
The AGS Medal for class 38, together with the Stanton Award for the aggregate in the Open Section went to Cecilia Coller.

AGS Seed Distribution Award
The AGS Seed Distribution Award for the best plant in the seed raised classes went to Lee and Julie Martin for Campanula pelia.

Large 6-pan class
The AGS Medal for class 1 also went to Lee and Julie Martin.

Two of the campanulas in this entry were awarded Certificates of Merit - a larger Campanula pelia (sorry, the photo does not do it justice), and Campanula choruhensis.

Farrer Medal
Finally, the Farrer Medal went to Lee and Julie Martin for another plant in this 6-pan entry, Saxifraga Tumbling Waters. I believe this is their 30th Farrer. Perhaps not as large as the plant which won them the Farrer here two years ago, and certainly not as heavy as the monstrous Campanula choruhensis, this was nevertheless a fine specimen, which was decidedly awkward to transport, and to photograph.

Of course, all the plants exhibited have to go home again at the end of the day. Here is Lee Martin sporting his new creation for Ascot.

That's it for now. I hope you all enjoyed this quick glimpse of the show.

More Photos

Hi Everyone

Here are the rest of the pictures from the Summer South Show.

Last week, I posted a photo of Tony Bennett receiving the New Forest Trophy for his plant of Physoplexis comosa. Here is is his Cypripedium kentuckiense.

Other orchids at the show included this Dactylorhiza maculata hybrid, exhibited by John Blanchard, another local group member, much better known for his interest in Narcissus.

Tony Hale, winner of the aggregate award for the Intermediate section, exhibited a Dactylorhiza elata hybrid, and Saxifraga Polar Drift.

Anne Vale, who has been exhibiting plants in both the Open and Intermediate Sections this year, brought many plants including Campanula carpatha and Leptospermum scoparium nanum.

Ian Sharpe, who received a Certificate of Merit for Tulbaghia capensis, brought a wide variety of plants, including Carmichaelia enysii from New Zealand, Abies koreana Oberon, and Rebutia marsoneri, a cactus from South America (Argentina ?) which is reasonably cold-hardy when dry.

From the Compositae, we had Erigeron alpinum exhibited by Robin Pickering, and Townsendia alpigena v. caelilinensis exhibited by Peter Farkasch.

Next, Silene hookeri ssp pulverulenta exhibited by Ian RObertson and Saxifraga cochlearis exhibited by Alan and Janet Cook.

Lorraine and Chris Birchall also exhibited a variety of plants including Genista tinctoria var alpestris, Ornithogalum dubium, and Tulbaghia leucantha. Their pots had been cleaned with oil, and I nearly dropped the Ornithogalum. The close up of the Tulbaghia was my favourite image of the day.

Reviewing this thread, I realise I missed the Ornithogalum dubium exhibited by Lorraine and Chris Birchall. Whether or not you consider it an alpine (hardiness ?), it is undeniably beautiful.

As so often, the mainstay of the show was Cecilia Coller, bringing a van full of plants; here are Aquilegia bertolonii and Heuchera rubescens.

Also from Cecilia, Pimelea ferruginea.

A few more plants from Cecilia: Pleione El Pico, Scutellaria parvifolia alba and Sedum humifusum.

Finally, I would like to end with another view of the wonderful Farrer plant, Saxifraga Tumbling Waters exhibited by Lee and Julie Martin; now I have had time to tidy up the picture properly.