Thanks to Cliff for posting these pictures so quickly, and in particular for posting this picture of Tony Lee with his sempervivum, and not the one with my ugly mug in the background.

The Bakewell Show is a long way for me, but fortunately I was able to spend the night in Nottingham, and leave my wife to spend a happy Sunday with her mother while I came to the show.  In fact, the journey from Nottingham took longer than I expected, with miles of winding roads and unfamiliar junctions.

Nevertheless I arrived about 8am, in gloomy, overcast, humid conditions, which persisted for most of the day.  I was able to set up a photography table next to a huge window, and used the light from the window in conjunction with a reflector for most of the day, only needing my LED panel a few times for awkward close-ups, where a reflector can't be positioned to shed light in the right place, and later in the afternoon when conditions deteriorated, and people were returning to the show hall with umbrellas up.

Between staging my plants and starting the photography, I was able to make a quick rush round the plant stalls, and grab a quick mug of coffee and a bacon bap, with a welcome chat.  Later in the day this proved fortunate, since the otherwise excellent cafe was only serving (huge) plates from the carvery, and made no provision of sandwiches or other portable foodstuffs.  So Maggi's prediction came true and I didn't get any lunch, not that it did me any harm.  Another time I think my bacon bap might expand into a heaped plate of farmer's breakfast, which would eclipse any thought of lunch.  However, a steady flow of mugs of tea brought by kind exhibitors sustained me through the day, and I had a welcome evening meal in Nottingham, before resuming the drive home.

Incarvillea zhongdianensis

My test plant (photographed before judging had finished) was this white Incarvillea.  I knew it was safe to remove it from the bench - it was third in its class - but I wanted a photo of it as it was my own plant.  It may not be an ideal show plant (described by one judge as a good plant for the herbaceous border), but I was pleased with it.

Alstroemeria diluta

By the time I had sorted out my equipment, and the best way of managing the light, the judges had finished, and I was able to start photographing the award plants.  This alstroemeria was exhibited by Martin and Anna Sheader, and won a Certificate of Merit.

Cajophora coronata

The alstroemeria was in a three-pan entry which won the Bill Mackenzie Trophy (three pans from a named continent) for Martin and Anna Sheader, together with the mimulus I photographed at Summer South, and this nasty stinging plant, which nobody really wanted to handle.  The Cajophora was also awarded a Certificate of Merit.

Campanula myrtifolia

Martin and Anna Sheader won a third Certificate of Merit for this lovely white campanula.

Campanula myrtifolia (blue)

In the same three-pan entry Martin and Anna Sheader included the delicate blue form of this campanula.

Sempervivum arachnoideum

However, all these fine plants were pipped at the post by a sempervivum in perfect condition, exhibited by Tony Lee, an amazed, deserving, and popular winner of his first Farrer medal.

Physoplexis comosa

Colin and Kathleen Billington won the Charles Graham Trophy for the best plant in the Intermediate Section with this Physoplexis.

Flower arrangement

One of the highlights of the show, which I was asked to photograph several times before I summoned up the nerve to transport (I asked Mavis first), was this beautiful flower arrangement by Mavis and Sam Lloyd.
The second photo shows a side view - an enormous amount of work goes into making these arrangements fully 3D, and the final shot gives a higher angle.

Molktia coerulea

Mavis and Sam Lloyd also brought several plants including this attractive pan of Molktia.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii hybrid

One of the things we expect to see at the summer shows are dactylorhizas, and Bakewell was no exception.  Diane Clement brought two pots of huge hybrids, and I think won classes with both of them (this is the small pot, though the plants were very tall; the other was in a much larger pot and had many more spikes).

Dactylorhiza fuchsii

When it comes to orchids, the purist in me prefers plants closer to the native species, and this potful exhibited by Eric Rainford looked like a good form of the native Common Spotted Orchid.

 

Dactylorhiza purpurella

Best of all, though, were two pans of D. purpurella (Northern Marsh Orchid) exhibited by Ian Instone.  Being a southern boy, I have never seen this species in the wild, and that is clearly something I need to rectify.

Oxytropis jacquinii

Ian Instone also exhibited a pan of an interesting little oxytropis, grown from seed.

Pinus strobus ER

There were many fine conifers at the show, including Dave Riley's huge plant of Suzi, but they all looked heavy.  This smaller plant from Georgina Instone caught my eye instead.

Viola spathulata

Tim Lever won one of the new and rare classes with this viola.

Saussurea stella

Tim Lever also exhibited the plant which attracted the most attention at the show - this wierd and wonderful Saussurea.

Scutellaria laetoviolacea

I photographed several scutellarias at the show; this one was exhibited by Edward Spencer.

Scutellaria indica var. parvifolia

Similar, but not as deep purple, was this more familiar scutellaria from Cecilia Coller, who won the Ridings Salver for the Open Section aggregate.

Scutellaria parvifolia alba

Cecilia Coller also won the AGS Medal for the small six-pan class.  I didn't photograph the entry as a whole (Doug Joyce did that, and the photo should be appearing in the Show Results section soon), but this and the following two plants were all (I think) part of the entry.

Campanula pelia

This plant of C. pelia (formerly C. thessala), exhibited by Cecilia Coller, was unusual in its upright habit; normally most of the stems, except the central one, trail over the side of the pot.

Delphinium brunonianum

This delphinium looked rather dowdy under the dismal sodium lighting of the hall, but it lit up when I took it over to the window.  Again, exhibited by Cecilia Coller.  It looks like her troubles with rabbits are behind her; I hope they made a good pie.

Disporum sessile Cricket

Cecilia Coller also won the six pan class for 3 in flower, 3 for foliage effect; this was one of her foliage effect plants.

Notholirion macrophyllum

Cecilia Coller also  showed this unusual bulb; like the Ixilirion I photographed at Wimborne, it is seldom seen on show benches.

Teucrium ackermannii

Another plant from Cecilia Coller; I don't know about anyone else, but not only can I recognise her plants from the labels, I can recognise them from the style of presentation.  It must make life difficult for the judges.

Arisaema flavum

Finally, a plant I almost missed; this diminutive arisaema from Cecilia Coller was the last thing I photographed.

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense

By contrast, it was a struggle to arrange enough grey card behind this towering specimen from Martin Rogerson, which teleported itself into the class containing my incarvillea about five minutes before judging, and collected the red sticker.

Lewisia rediviva hybrid

Martin Rogerson is well known for growing lewisias well; this is a typical example.

Campanula aizoon (?)

Dave Charlton exhibited this unusual plant under a name which was clearly wrong; I believe the tentative conclusion of the cognoscenti was the identification above.

Astragalus utahensis

Dave Charlton also exhibited this astragalus, I think in the class for foliage effect, but actually it was the seed pods which caught the eye.

Campanula aff. petrophila

A fine plant from Dave Riley, who was supervising the judging at this show.

Campanula choruhensis

The summer shows can be cruel.  This show was perhaps three days too early for this campanula from Lee and Julie Martin to be a contender for the Farrer.  Kept cool this week, it would certainly be in the frame if there was a show next weekend, but of course there isn't.

Sempervivum erythraeum

Lee and Julie Martin also exhibited this attractive sempervivum.

Silene pusilla

A few years ago, we used to see large pans of this silene at most of the summer shows, but it seems to have declined in popularity, and it was refreshing to see it exhibited in such good condition by Lee and Julie Martin.

Mukdenia rossii

My final plant from Lee and Julie Martin is a plant I photographed in flower in the spring, but here exhibited in one of the foliage classes.

Epimedium White Hart

Also exhibited for its foliage, an attractive small epimedium from Bob Worsley.

Aloe mitriformis

Chris Bowyer exhibited some interesting plants we don't normally see; this aloe was in the class for plants from Africa.

Helichrysum rutidolepis

Another unusual specimen from Chris Bowyer.

Santolina chamaecyparissus Small Ness

By contrast, although superficially similar, this santolina exhibited by Brian Sulman is a much more familiar show plant, both in flower and as a foliage plant.

Briggsia muscicola

This briggsia, exhibited by Wilma and Jim Wright, was also in the same class as my incarvillea, and I fully expected it to win the class, but it came second to the arisaema.

Verbascum Letitia

Brian and Shelagh Smethurst exhibited this lovely pan of Verbascum Letitia.  Despite their warning that it was on its last legs, not a flower dropped as I carried it.

Ourisia microphylla alba

Another stalwart of the shows a few years ago, which seems to be less in favour than it was (or exhibitors are now struggling to grow it to show condition), here exhibited by Eric Jarrett.

Primula hirsuta

I couldn't resist photographing this primula exhibited by John Richards, remarkable not because it was an outstanding form, but simply because it was flowering so late in the year.

Saxifraga Winifred Bevington

An old favourite, exhibited by Norman Davies.  I used to know Winnie quite well in the 80s and 90s when she and Harold lived in Camberley, and led the old West Surrey Group which met in Aldershot.

Digitalis lutea

John and Clare Dower exhibited an eye-catching pan of this familiar garden plant.  The pot was soft and flexible, and tricky to carry unless you got your hands right underneath it.

Miniature Garden

I surprised John Dower by carrying this garden over to the window to photograph.  It provides an excellent example of what can be done to introduce colour and interest into a garden in mid-June.  I think the surprise was not that I wanted to photograph it, but that I was willing and able to carry it.

Pelargonium crispum

Carol Kellett exhibited this curiosity of a pelargonium, with tiny purple flowers.

Rhodohypoxis baurii x milloides

The best of the rhodohypoxis on display were exhibited by Dave Mountfort.  This was a wild hybrid collected by Hillard and Burtt.

Rhodohypoxis Daphne Mary

My own rhodohypoxis won second place in the small pan class for 3 bulbous plants.  My chances of a first this year seem to be evaporating.  This pink seedling was selected for my mother by David Philbey.

Rhodohypoxis Douglas

Another of my own pans of rhodohypoxis.

Cyrtanthus epiphyticus

The winning entry for 3 pans of bulbous plants exhibited by Ivor Betteridge contained another plant which needed another week to be at its spectacular best.

Ledebouria ovatifolia

Despite all the above, the plant I most wanted to take home with me was this one, exhibited by Alan Newton.

Cypripedium farreri

Alan Newton also brought this unusual cypripedium, clearly a little tired, but nevertheless well worth photographing.

Viola albanica x altaica F2

My final plant is this viola hybrid created and exhibited by Robert Rolfe.  Neat, fresh and a fabulous colour.

My apologies to Pauline Carless who won the Tindall Shield for the Intermediate Section; somehow I failed to capture any of her plants on this occasion.
My thanks to the show secretaries, and to all the helpers and exhibitors who made this show such a success.  And in particular, to all those who made sure I was well infused with tea at all times.