N A P S          NORTHERN SECTION  SHOWS  2004   
                            OSSETT PRIMULA SHOW   APRIL 2004
               Fairy Rose       Premier, Fairy Rose grown by  J Mercer
Judged the best Primula in show on the day, this superb large pan of the Allionii hybrid Fairy Rose raised  a number of years ago now by the late Ken Wooster. Grown and exhibited here by John Mercer of Bradford in West Yorkshire. The pips flush a darker colour as they age so you can get a range of the pastel colour pink on the plant as seen here. Reputed to be one of the more difficult ones to keep going, it is  said to be prone to rotting off very quickly if over watered or if water gets onto the foliage through careless watering or condensation drips in the greenhouse or cold frame.

photo by T Mitchell

          Netta Dennis Best in Novices Netta Dennis by P Bergson
Best primula shown by a novice was this superb example of the Aureata Hybrid "Netta Dennis" raised by John Dennis of Doncaster South Yorkshire and named after his wife. It was grown and shown on this occasion by Miss P Bergson of Halifax West Yorkshire.

Belonging to the Asiatic group of primulas it likes to be kept moist as well as cold and well shaded which makes it difficult to keep it happy through the Summer months, ideally grown in Alpine house or cold frame with good ventilation and grown in clay pots which are best kept plunged up to their rim in damp sand.

Photo by T Mitchell

          Fasciculata       Fasciculata grown by D Lockey
Primula fasciculata, a relatively new re-introduction but fast becoming popular and easy to see why, it is becoming easier to obtain these days. Another of the Asiatic group of primulas found in Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. Grown and shown here by D Lockey who lives in the North East of England at Heddon on the Wall. It can be raised by seed or division, division best carried out in the early Spring when starting in to new growth, likes cool humid shady conditions, alpine house or cold frame.

Photo by B Nottingham

         Moonglow          Moonglow grown by J Hole
Auricula Moon Glow, seen here exhibited by J Hole who comes from Darley Dale in Derbyshire. This plant was judged best in the class for Self's. Raised in 1975 its a Leeside Yellow x Ower seedling raised by D Hadfield, it is described as being a creamy-green colour and has fine form, one that should be in every serious exhibitors collection.

Photo B Nottingham

              Bolero            Bolero grown by J Hole
John Hole getting the double by benching the best Alpine in show also, a fine example of the Gold Centered Alpine Auricula Bolero. 

First raised in 1964 by C F Hill and is a Bratley x Shako seedling, always much sought after and consistently in the prize winners since its introduction, not too generous in producing offsets unfortunately but still produces enough to ensure its appearance every year at most shows. Has a tendency to produce a truss with large numbers of small pips but not in this instance.

Photo by T Mitchell

Polyanthus Hose in Hose Hose in Hose seedling grown by W Deere
This tiny Seedling Hose in Hose Polyanthus was judged to be the best in all of the vernalis classes. A wonderful rich yellow colour. Grown and shown here by Bill Deere from Gale Lane Nurseries, Nawton, North Yorkshire. The hose in hose and jack in the green types seem to be in vogue at the moment and there are a number of members producing some fine plants that draw attention where ever they are seen, seed for these types is always in demand but no guarantees are given that resultant seedlings will be like the parent, but there is usually a percentage that are unless you are unlucky.

Photo by K Leeming

                   Rusbyi                  Rusbyi  grown by T Mitchell
Primula Rusbyi, grown here by T Mitchell of Ossett West Yorkshire, won its class in the species section. This plant was raised from seed obtained from the American Primrose Society a few years ago and was labeled wild collected seed from New Mexico. Flowered early this year to make the appearance at the Ossett show in early April, usually flowering later in April and into May, an attractive easy going primula that seems to do ok here in pots given Alpine house conditions.

Photo K Leeming

                Snow Queen        Snow Queen [seedling] grown by K Leeming
Judged to be the best primula in the seedling class and subsequently named Snow Queen, grown and exhibited by K Leeming of Sandbach in Cheshire. Its one seedling from a batch raised about 5 years ago from a Pedemontana Alba cross, Pedemontana Alba being the seed parent. Pedemontana and Pedemontana Alba are Species primulas native to the Alps along the French and Italian border, and also Western Spain.

Photo by K Leeming

                 Petiolaris                  Petiolaris grown by D Lockey
This superb pan of Primula Petiolaris was exhibited by Derek Lockey  from Heddon on the Wall up in the North East of England, judged best in its class in the Asiatic section of the show.

Most if not all the Asiatic primulas carry the title "Difficult" and this one being no exception was a welcome sight at the show. Its native habitat is Nepal and Sikkim and was only introduced into this country in the 1950,s.

Grows and multiplies well given conditions to its liking which are cool moist shade, most of the Asiatic section of primulas seem to grow and survive much better the further north they are grown in England, seem to do especially well in Scotland.

Photo T Mitchell

NAPS Northern Section Harrogate Show April 2004 Awarded Silver Gilt Medal
The Northern section put together the display as seen below at the Harrogate Spring show this year, using the familiar format of Auricula Theatre with a selection of Primulas to the front of the Theatre. This year proved difficult and plants of a standard were hard but not impossible to find mainly due to the unsettled weather leading up to the show with many Auriculas not being ready for us to use. Special thanks to the whole team who built and manned the display and provided the plants, and to the public who come along every year to see us and our plants with kind words and encouragement.

PHOTO  B. NOTTINGHAM

                               CHEADLE AURICULA SHOW, MAY 1st 2004

PREMIER, Show Auricula, Gavin Ward                     Gavin Ward, shown by R Westwood
Judged Premier Show Auricula on the day Gavin Ward as seen here grown by Mr. R Westwood of Mow-Cop in Staffordshire.

Raised by Mr. P.Ward of Bristol, Peter raised Gavin Ward in 1976 from a Walhampton x Teem cross, Peter named the seedling after his son and considered it to be the best Grey he has raised. It is considered to be a good reliable grower but it does not freely produce offsets so is always much sought after by exhibitors and collectors of fine Grey Edged Auriculas.

photo by T Mitchell

 

Best Green Edged,  Tamino                Tamino, shown by J Gibson
Tamino was judged best Green Edged Auricula, grown and shown on this occasion by Mr. J Gibson of High Burton near Huddersfield West Yorkshire, It was raised by David Hadfield and is becoming very popular with exhibitors now that it has found its way in to many exhibitors collections, some even say it is destined to take over from the ever popular Prague another fine Green Edged raised by David.

Photo by T Mitchell

Premier Alpine, Ancient Society                Ancient Society, shown by J Eddington
Awarded the Premier for best Alpine Auricula in show was this fine example of Ancient Society, shown on this occasion by Mr. J Eddington of Rotherham South Yorkshire.

 Ancient Society was raised by Mr. K Bowser not too many years ago and was named after the Ancient Society of York Florists. Many of the Northern Section exhibit at the annual show of the York Florists. A popular Gold Centred Alpine Auricula that many exhibitors now grow.

Photo by K Leeming

Premier Double, Crimson Glow               Crimson Glow, shown by K Whorton
Crimson Glow took top honors in the Double Auricula classes with this one being judged the best and awarded Premier. Show by Mr. K Whorton who lives at Holmes Chapel near Crew in Cheshire.

Crimson Glow was raised in 1998 by Ken himself from a Winnifrid cross so it must have been doubly pleasing for him to win with it at this show. The classes for Double Auriculas have excelled in recent years with many new exhibitors coming forward to raise new varieties and show them in ever increasing numbers to very high standards.

Photo by K Leeming

                 The Show Bench,  Top Class for 6 pots of show Auriculas,  Cheadle 2004
 This section of the show bench shows the top class for 6 Show Auriculas, quite an achievement to even bench 6 show Auriculas to this standard. The winner on this occasion was Mr. R Westwood who as well as taking the Premier with his plant of Gavin Ward was judged to have the best 6 pots of Show Auriculas on the day.

Photo by T Mitchell

                      The Show Bench,   Top Class for 6 pots of Show Auriculas Cheadle 2004
This section of show bench shows the top class for 6 pots of Alpine Auriculas, again quite an achievement to produce 6 fine well balanced Auriculas to these standards. The winner on this occasion was Mr. K Leeming who comes from Sandbach in Cheshire.

Photo by T Mitchell

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