Firstly I must apologise for the lateness of my report and the rather poor quality of photographs. The show was held at RHS Harlow Carr for the first time and despite the sceptics ( me being one of them) it really was a superb show, very well attended by both exhibitors and visitors. The curator of the gardens commented the visitor numbers to the gardens were probably double that of a normal Saturday ! Both the two exhibition halls and the plant sales area were heaving with visitors which did make viewing and photography a little difficult. The RHS do have plans for a dedicated exhibition hall for 2019, which although is a few years off will be a superb venue for both spring and autumn shows. John Richards (Vice President AGS ) said that last weeks Newcastle show held at Cowells garden centre and this weeks show held at Harlow Carr was certainly the way forward, and similar venues should be sought for other AGS shows

Dave Riley collected a trio of awards, the Farrer medal, an Award of Merit and Certificate of Cultural Commendation for his Cyclamen colchicum. Lee and Julie Martin all the way from Pevensey East Sussex took the Open aggregate, whilst Steve Walters collected a clutch of awards including the Intermediate aggregate with a very impressive array of Cyclamen and Vivien Self the Novice aggregate

Congratulations  to Eric Rainford and his team for organising a superb event , I think the local group may have suffered financially, not being able to levy an admission charge and not being able to provide bacon sandwiches because of a conflict of interests with Betty’s ! I am sure however the society as a whole has benefited immensely with high exposure and I think some new members?

1. Finally many thanks to all those people who have visited my blog: 9657 views and 976 visitors to date, and all the very kind comments and feedback