Our plant shows are a great opportunity for members and the public to see displays of a wide range of wonderful plants suitable for the rock, woodland and bulb garden. These events are held in the spring and autumn at venues in towns and cities around Scotland and the north of England. Many of the plants are rarely seen elsewhere, but the displays also include superbly grown old favourites.
Rock gardeners are passionate about plants and they are committed to sharing their knowledge of them, the natural habitat in which the plant grows and how to cultivate them. Our shows are an opportunity for members to display some of the wonderful plants they grow and to indulge in the friendly competitive spirit that comes with exhibiting. The shows are also a chance to meet and talk with other growers and enthusiasts; much is learnt by novices and expert alike.
In addition to the display of plants, our shows are attended by a selection of specialist nurseries, which offer for sale a wide range of unusual plants rarely available elsewhere. Members are also able to offer plants they have grown through the Club’s own sales table. Art and photographic exhibits are a feature of some of the shows.
Showing
All members may enter classes in the shows. Though most of the plants in the shows have been grown in the pots in which they are displayed, there are classes for plants dug from the garden. The list of classes (schedule) in each of our shows is available here.
The perfection of entries from experienced growers can seem daunting to the first time exhibitor and many members are perhaps reluctant to start showing. However, there are separate sections for beginners and for more experienced growers. Many exhibitors travel around the shows, often leaving home very early in the morning, in order to exhibit their plants – it is obviously fun!
If you have a plant that looks good and you are pleased with it – then why not take the plunge and enter it into a show. There is often a prize for the best plant from a first time exhibitor. If you are thinking of showing, our show secretaries are always ready to help.
For those who want to learn more about growing-for-showing, there is an excellent piece in ‘The Rock Garden’ by our champion exhibitor Cyril Lafong. Follow his advice and you too could win the coveted Forrest Medal, the award given to the ‘most meritorious plant in the show’.
