Alpines are fast becoming a bit of a passion for me and I was finally able to attend my first AGS (Alpine Garden Society) show last weekend, this one the North Midland Show in Chesterfield. Although I have nothing to compare it to, I thought it was a great show, a large variety of alpines on display and it was easy to spend nearly 4 hours there. Luckily there was a cafe and plenty of seating, so it was easy to take some ME rests in between viewing the alpine delights.
What follows is a photo essay of some of the plants I particularly loved. There are quite a few Fritillaries. I think I’m in love with Fritillaries…
I, of course, came away with a few plants…
These include Bellevalia paradoxa, which looks like a muscari and apparently used to be part of that genus, but is now part of the Asparagaceae family.
I also picked up Anemonella thalictroides ‘Amelia’, Androsace carnea rosea and Erythronium californicum ‘White Beauty’.
Would I go again? You bet! And I hope to visit other AGS shows in the future. And if you haven’t yet discovered the delights of alpines, I hope this makes you want to explore them further.
Beautiful aren't they. I'm a great fan of fritillaries. And the trillium or two sneaking in there at the end!
My experiment last year of keeping some alpines outside over winter just protected by a piece of perspex to keep the rain out was a great success. It gives me confidence that they are easier to grow than I'd thought.
I quite like Trilliums but don't actually have any as I didn't think I had the right growing conditions. But I just looked them up again and realised I didn't have the right growing conditions in my LAST garden. My Sheffield one has acid soil… *rubs hands together with glee*
I am growing some alpines in my alpine wall, so they have to survive anything thrown at them and having survived the long periods of snow and the heavy winds & rains of this winter/early spring past, I have more confidence in growing them. I must admit I avoid the trickier ones, i.e. those needing more attention and focus on their growing conditions. I kind of want them to look after themselves, and me just get to admire them 🙂
Such beautiful little plants! The only way I can grow alpines is in troughs and the scree that we made. They would soon be lost with all the large plants that we have here, such little treasures would have to be somewhere safe away from size 9 boots!
I grow them in pots or my alpine wall too, as they would also get lost elsewhere in the garden. I kind of like them in pots as I can move them around to display the current flowering ones in a good possie so I can see them all the time.
Am I jealous? Of course I am. I missed the SRGC show here in Edinburgh last weekend, mind you I don't suppose my bank account is too bothered!
Lovely pics Jullieanne and it's clear to see why you have declared your love for all things Fritillaria!
You've picked some super plants – I hope they all do well for you.
Many thanks for your generosity with your write-up. It so kind to let us see the many photos you have taken, excellent. Alpine gardening is so rewarding, there is alway something to admire.
Theresa tt5806@aol.com