Pleione Claire
Here are some of the plants from the Malvern Show. I started with this pretty pleione, exhibited by Pauline Carless, who won the Hartside Trophy for the points aggregate in the Novice Section.

Pleione Tongariro
Somewhat bigger was this pan from the Open Section, exhibited by Anne Vale.

I always hope to see and photograph some new Pleione cultivars, but at the AGS Shows the same forms appear year after year - they are well-established in large pans and proven show performers. Since this was Ian Butterfield's last year of exhibiting at Malvern, I shall struggle to find a suitable way of photographing new cultivars.

Aquilegia scopulorum
This little aquilegia, exhibited by Peter Farkasch, was charming.

Aquilegia canadensis v. nana
By contrast, here is a bright, almost brash aquilegia from Jackie Street, but still with the characteristic poise I associate with them.

Allium karataviense
Andrew Ward won the Susan Clements Memorial Trophy for the best plant in the Novice and Intermediate Sections for this lovely pan of onions.

Allium elburzense
In the Open section, Ivor Betteridge produced this smaller, more refined version.

Benthamiella patagonica
The Ashwood Trophy for the best plant in a 19cm pot went to Eric Jarrett for this neat little Benthamiella.

Pinguicula macroceras ssp. nortensis
Don Peace was awarded a Certificate of Merit for this unusual butterwort from North America, exhibited in the class for new or rare plants.

Pinguicula grandiflora
It was interesting to compare the American plant with the rare UK native, also exhibited by Don Peace.

Cassiope lycopodoides Beatrice Lilley
Dave Mountfort won the Bill Tubbs Trophy for the best pan of Ericaceae for this cassiope. Doug Joyce, the show photographer, and I, felt that a second pan of Beatrice Lilley, smaller but more completely covered with flowers, was robbed. Fortunately that was also exhibited by Dave Mountfort, so there was no cause for dispute.

Chamaecyparis obtusa Bambi
Lee and Julie Martin were awarded a Certificate of Merit for this conifer, despite it only being placed second in the large conifer class. This doesn't happen very often, usually only when one judge feels that an exceptional plant has been overlooked by the judges judging an individual class.

Juniperus horizontalis Neumann
This conifer, exhibited by David Richards, was the one which beat the Chamaecyparis.

Small six pan
The AGS medal for the small six-pan class was won by Paul and Gill Ranson, against considerable opposition.

Large six pan
The AGS Medal for the large six pan class was undisputed; Chris Lilley had a magnificent entry here, including the Trillium which was the best plant in the show.

Trillium grandiflorum
This Trillium, from Chris Lilley's six-pan entry, won the Farrer Medal at the East Anglia Show the previous week, but still looked in perfect condition.

Primula sieboldii
Sitting next to the Trillium in Chris Lilley's large 6-pan entry was this wonderful Primula sieboldii, which was given a Certificate of Merit, and was probably the runner-up to the Trillium.

Omphalodes cappadocia
Also from Chris Lilley's 6-pan entry.

Pulsatilla vulgaris
One final plant from Chris Lilley's 6-pan entry.

Pulsatilla vulgaris Papageno
This lovely pan of pulsatilla was exhibited by Brenda Worsley in the Novice Section, but was moved to a class in the Intermediate Section because it exceeded the maximum pot size. Fortunately it won in its new home.

Pulsatilla albana v. lutea
By contrast, this beautiful plant, with yellow flowers with blue backs, had travelled from Dublin with Billy Moore.

Lophosoria quadripinnata
Billy Moore also brought a fern I had never seen before. It was great to have an Irish contingent at the show, bringing a different selection of plants from those shown by the other exhibitors, and sharing experiences.

Kalmia polifolia
Another of the Irish contingent, Liam Byrne, exhibited this charming Kalmia, which caught the light beautifully.

Physoplexis comosa
Liam Byrne also brought this excellent specimen.

Primula aureata
One final plant from Liam Byrne.

Primula calderiana
A primula I hadn't seen on the show bench before, from Ian Leslie.

Primula veris Hose-in-hose
An oddity from Vic Aspland

Primula albenensis
An exceptional plant of this relatively recent arrival on the show bench, from Rod and Shirley Johnson.

Primula rusbyi ssp. ellisiae
Another excellent plant from Don Peace

Primula Iris Nicholls
A European hybrid primula, raised by Graham Nicholls and named for his wife Iris.

Rhododendrons
There were too many plants in large pans to carry them all, so my apologies to the exhibitors of some of the large androsaces, lewisias etc, but here is a 3-pan exhibit of rhododendrons from John Savage.

Rhododendron Yaku Fairy
I didn't dare touch this plant exhibited by Cecilia Coller; there was no pot to be seen, so I photographed it in situ.

Cypripedium calceolus
Colin and Elaine Barr brought a few orchids, including this one.

This is what happens when the other show photographer trips over your tripod. Fortunately, no plants, people or cameras were damaged in this incident.

Cypripedium fargesii
Colin and Elaine Barr also brought this unusual cypripedium. It is several years since I last had an opportunity to photograph it.

Cypripedium Parville
This delightful little plant was exhibited by John Savage. It looks much like C. calceolus, but is significantly smaller in all parts. My guess is that it is close to C. parviflorum v. parviflorum.

Anemonella thalictrioides Oscar Schoaf
Another fine plant from Don Peace. This little woodlander looks great in a pot, but is also perfectly hardy in a moist, shady spot outside.

Arisaema Thiwaneuse
This arisaema, exhibited by Nigel Southall, was rather striking.

Paris polyphylla thibetica
Another woodland plant, exhibited by Paul Street.

Pteridophyllum racemosum
An unpronounceable woodlander from Wilma and Jim Wright. I can remember this being exhibited at the London show many years ago, but you don't see it very often.

Uvularia caroliana variegata
One last woodland plant, exhibited by Ivor Betteridge. Normally, variegated plants don't appeal much to me, but this one is an exception.

Chamaelaucium uncinatum
Mavis and Sam Lloyd brought this, one of my favourite shrubs. I am not sure whether it is totally hardy, but it is undeniably lovely.

Clematis marmoraria
A familiar show favourite from Alan and Janet Cook

Daphne petraea 'Grandiflora'
Another show favourite, this time from Dave Charlton.

Lathyrus vernus Rosenelfe
This was exhibited by Ian Sharpe. I always like Lathyrus vernus, but they prove sadly short-lived in my garden - too appetising to the rampaging molluscs.

Paeonia tenuifolia flore plena
I have never seen the double form of Paeonia tenuiflora in flower before, though I have seen it for sale at prices I didn't want to afford. So this plant exhibited by John Savage demanded to have its photo taken.

Fritillaria pontica
The only fritillary I photographed this time, exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson.

Iris paradoxa
Exhibited by Mavis and Sam Lloyd

Iris pumila
Exhibited by Paul and Gill Ranson. They are obviously branching out - that is two plants from the same show which weren't dionysias.

Iris schachtii
Exhibited by Cecilia Coller

Iris schachtii alba
If you prefer, there is a white form, also exhibited by Cecilia Coller.

Gentiana acaulis Arctic Fanfare
This has been another show stalwart for the last few years, but I haven't seen a large plant. This one was exhibited by Ivor Betteridge.

Androsace cylindrica
There were several plants of Androsace cylindrica around the benches, all about the same size and quality. This one was from Alan and Janet Cook.

Androsace villosa v. taurica
I thought I had better photograph one of Lionel Clarkson's (very heavy) androsaces. This one looked a little smaller and lighter than most.

Asyneuma lobelioides
Tiny plants have their appeal, particularly for worn-out photographers. This one was exhibited by Edward Spencer.

Blossfeldia liliputana
This is the smallest cactus species. It is going to be covered in flowers, probably between now and the Summer South show. I think the Blossfeldia is hardy, but I wonder if we could see beneath the curtain of heads, whether we would find it was grafted; often the stocks used for cactus grafts are much less hardy than the tiny cacti grafted on to them.

Viola flettii
Exhibited by Graham Nicholls

Campanula betonicifolia
Mavis and Sam Lloyd brought this attractive and early campanula.

Soldanella hungarica
Exhibited by Wilma and Jim Wright

Ranunculus alpestris
Always a favourite for me. Exhibited by Ian Leslie.

Saxifraga pedemontana ssp. cervicornis
There were lots of plants of Sax pedemontana; this one, exhibited by Mark Childerhouse, was perhaps slightly different.

Silene hookeri
Something shocking pink from Dave Charlton.

Phlox Forthills
Finally, a phlox from Brian Sulman, who won the points aggregate for the Intermediate section.

Well that's what I did from 9.30 in the morning until 6pm, when the exhibitors could take their plants home. I wonder what all the other exhibitors did ? Since many of the food stalls had sold out by 4pm, when I finally realised I needed some lunch, I guess the question might really be "Who ate all the pies ?". I have my suspicions, but without photographic evidence to back them up, I can go no further.

I would like to thank Richard Clements and all his helpers for their hard work, friendliness and hospitality, and particularly John Hill, and Sam and Mavis Lloyd, for helping me put up and take down the artistic show.