AGS South Wales Show 2026

As usual, Helen and I travelled down to Newport early on Friday afternoon, in order to stage a photographic exhibit during the setup for the show.  It was a straightforward journey, brightened by the sight of snowdrops, and by massed primroses after we crossed the bridge into Wales, and dampened only by a heavy downpour near Bristol.

It took us two hours, but the display was finished by the time we adjourned to the Premier Inn and adjoining Beefeater; I needed a pint before dinner.

The Picos de Europa in late May 2019

When we arrived back at the show in the morning, plants were starting to populate the benches in front of my display.  This exhibit consisted of photos from our trip to the Picos de Europa in late May 2019, and went on to receive a Large Gold Award from the judges.

The show benches were full of plants, as busy as I can remember since the show moved to this venue.

There were some great plants in the Novice section, which was empty last year.

Before long, the exhibitors were relegated to the kitchen area to sit and drink tea, and to wait for the judges to do their worst.

The judges were also enjoying a cup of tea.

And then they were off…

Meanwhile, our President was manning the computer, waiting to record the results.

Six small pans of Rock Plants

The AGS Medal for the small six pan class went to Paul and Gill Ranson, whose entry included three pots of Dionysia, two Primula allionii cultivars, and surprisingly, a Crocus.

Regular readers of this diary will know that as soon as judging has finished, I always make a bee-line for the plants most likely to deteriorate in the warmth of the hall.  I can’t say that it was remotely warm, but even so, my first objective was the pots of crocuses.

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Claret’

First up, and already feeling the heat a bit, was the lovely Crocus tommasinianus ‘Claret’, exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis.

Crocus vernus albiflorus

From the same exhibitors came a small pan of a lovely miniature form of Crocus vernus albiflorus, slightly chewed.

Crocus dalmaticus

George Elder produced a lovely pan of Crocus dalmaticus.  The two portraits show the difference between the cold blue tones of the morning light coming in through a west-facing window, and a ‘daylight balanced’ artificial light, which is distinctly warmer.

Crocus sieberi ‘Darkness’

One of the highlights of the Intermediate Section was this beautiful cultivar of Crocus sieberi, exhibited by Andrew Ward.

Crocus sieberi ‘Firefly’

And this is the crocus from Paul and Gill Ranson’s six-pan exhibit.

Crocus pelistericus

However, the award for the best Crocus went to Ian Robertson for the fabulous, hard to please, inky blue Crocus pelistericus.

Romulea bulbocodium (?)

Next to the crocuses, and similarly inclined to flag in the warm hall, was this lovely Romulea from Bob Worsley.  Bob grew it from seed labelled R. campanuloides, but that is a magenta species similar to R. thodei, and I have never seen reference to a white form.  On the other hand, it does look remarkably similar to white forms of Romulea bulbocodium which I have photographed in the past.

Iris winogradowii

Next I moved on to irises.  George Elder brought this fine pan of the tricky Iris winogradowii.  He says it has never flowered like this for him before.

Iris reticulata ‘Alida’

There were several pans of Iris reticulata cultivars on the bench, but this one, from Anne Vale, was the show reporter’s choice.

Iris ‘Sindpers’

However, the best pan of Iris was undoubtedly this wonderful exhibit from show secretaries Bob and Rannveig Wallis, which won the Farrer medal for the best plant in the show.

There were two fine flower arrangements in competition, one from Anne Vale, and the other from Dot Sample.  It must have been close, but it was Dot that took home the red sticker.

Galanthus ‘Nothing Special’

Now let’s go back to those plants in the Novice section.  There were two fine pots of the same snowdrop cultivar, the first from Jean Baker, and the second from Jan Thomas, who won the aggregate award for the section.

Galanthus ‘Josie’

In the Open Section, Bob and Rannveig Wallis had a good pot of Galanthus ‘Josie’, a Trym seedling from their own garden.

Galanthus nivalis ‘Woodpeckers’

Diane Clement exhibited a regular visitor to this show – her pretty yellow G. nivalis originating from Woodpeckers in Devon.

Galanthus ikariae (from seed)

Don Peace had managed to come all the way from North Yorkshire, bringing with him some wonderful pots of snowdrops, two of which won awards.  This pan of Galanthus ikariae, raised from seed, received a Certificate of Merit.

Galanthus ikariae

Don’s second pan, a bigger pot of Galanthus ikariae, won the Galanthus Goblet for the best pan of snowdrops.

Narcissus ‘Little Emma’

Dot Sample exhibited a charming pan of this miniature daffodil hybrid, ‘Little Emma’.

Narcissus ‘Arctic Bells’

In the large-pan section, Brenda Nickels showed a big pan of the pale cream Narcissus ‘Arctic Bells’.

Lapeirousia oreogena

George Elder grows this tricky South African bulb so well.  I have photographed it many times in the past, but I think this might be as close as I have ever got to capturing the sumptuous, velvety purple.

Hyacinthella venusta

This little Hyacinthella, grown from seed by Bob and Rannveig Wallis, also won a Certificate of Merit.

Muscari inconstrictum Cyprus form

Bob and Rannveig Wallis also showed a well-flowered pan of the Cyprus form of Muscari inconstrictum.

Scilla libanotica

I always love the simple elegance of Scilla libanotica when the flowers are just opening.  Again this was exhibited by Bob and Rannveig.

Colchicum soboliferum

This is a plant we don’t often see at a show – it is often too early.  In fact, the last time I photographed it was at this show in 2020, when, as now, it was exhibited by Bob and Rannveig.

Corydalis

In the large pan section, there was a great exhibit from Bob and Rannveig in the class for three pans of Papaveraceae or Ranunculaceae.  These are:

• Corydalis firouzii
• Corydalis hyrcana
• Corydalis popovii.

Adonis ramosa

I was pleased to see that, as last year, Don Peace had brought a small pan of Adonis to the show.  It is always lovely, but often flowers in January.

Cyclamen persicum forma albidum

Turning now to Cyclamen, in the Intermediate section Roy Skidmore had a selected white form of Cyclamen persicum with wonderful leaves.

Cyclamen pseudibericum

The leaves of Ian Robertson’s small pan of Cyclamen pseudibericum were perhaps even more striking.

Of course, the large pan classes for three pans, and one pan, of Cyclamen went to Ian Robertson.

His three-pan entry included a fine Cyclamen alpinum leucanthum, and a nice plant of Cyclamen libanoticum, together with a large Cyclamen pseudibericum which I avoided photographing, suspecting it might be heavy.

Cyclamen alpinum

The best of Ian’s plants was this fabulous Cyclamen alpinum, which was a close runner-up in the vote for the Farrer medal, and received a Certificate of Merit as a consolation prize.

Dionysia ‘Monika’ MK8809/1

We always see a legion of yellow and magenta mounds of Dionysia at this show, and they brought Paul and Gill Ranson the aggregate award for the Open section.  Their big pan of Dionysia ‘Monika’ wasn’t perhaps the biggest I have ever seen – that honour must go to the huge specimen the late Nigel Fuller exhibited for many years – but it was neat and fresh and covered in flowers.

Dionysia ‘Annielle’ MK8809/2

‘Monika’s sister seedling, ‘Annielle’, is probably less well known, but equally beautiful, and was exhibited by Paul and Gill in similarly great condition.

Dionysia afghanica GW/H1308

But at these early shows, it is usually the demanding Dionysia afghanica and its hybrids which capture the attention.  There were several small specimens of the species here, including this one from Paul and Gill.

Dionysia hybrid MK06458/2

Paul and Gill also exhibited this little white hybrid seedling descended from D. afghanica.  I have photographed it several times since 2013 when I first saw it, but I think this specimen is the biggest I have ever seen, though that will probably ring its death knell.

Dionysia ‘Zdenek Zvolanek’ MK9801/14

Better known, and more growable is the Dionysia afghanica hybrid named after that great Czech rock gardener Zdenek Zvolanek.  Paul and Gill Ranson’s plant from their small six-pan exhibit won them the Mary Byng Award for the best plant in a 19cm pot, to popular acclaim, for it also won the People’s Choice Award, voted for by visitors to the show.

Leucogenes tarahaoa

Less glamorous, but attracting a lot of interest from connoisseurs, was this little silver cushion from New Zealand, also exhibited by Paul and Gill.

Sempervivum

The award for the aggregate in the Intermediate section went to Andrew Ward.  As well as the crocus I showed earlier, his plants included a fine three-pan exhibit of Sempervivum, featuring the old favourite Sempervivum calcareum ‘Mrs Giuseppi’, and a wonderfully regular pan of Sempervivum calcareum ‘Extra’.

Helleborus species

Diane Clement has a deep interest in Helleborus species, and has a habit of bringing unusual plants to the early shows.  These two are Helleborus croaticus and Helleborus multifidus subsp hercegovinus.

Hepatica japonica

Finally, Bob Worsley drove down from Cheshire, bringing a car full of splendid Hepatica cultivars.  His biggest pan was labelled simply Hepatica japonica.

In the small pan section Bob Worsley had a plant with white flowers with magenta stripes, which widened as the flowers aged.

Hepatica japonica ‘Minamo’

Bob also exhibited this fabulous Japanese cultivar, with a boss of violet tinged petaloid stamens.

Hepatica japonica ‘Kurotaiyou’

This is another expensive Japanese cultivar, again exhibited by Bob, a fully double white flower with green petals in the centre.  Both of these are available from Edroms, at a price.

Hepatica nobilis semi-double

But I think perhaps my favourite of Bob’s plants was this semi-double blue Hepatica nobilis seedling, without the pedigree or price ticket of the Hepatica japonica cultivars, but at least equally beautiful.

All in all, this was an excellent show, with a bigger than usual entry.  It was great to meet up with the exhibitors again, particularly Don Peace who was unable to make it to the autumn shows.  I would like to thank the show secretaries Bob and Rannveig Wallis, and all their helpers, for putting on a thoroughly enjoyable event, with excellent lunchtime rolls and cake.  Thanks also to the judges and stewards, for their often maligned labours, and to the exhibitors for a fine selection of plants which kept me busy all day. 

Finally, particular thanks to my wife Helen, who helped me enormously, particularly with the erection and dismantling of my exhibit, despite struggling with her knee.  I couldn’t do it without her.