In 2003, when attending my first AHS Convention, as the bus pulled up at the first convention tour garden ( this was in the Charlotte NC area) we saw a clump of PRIMAL SCREAM that every one of us on the bus recognized before we even took one step off the bus. It was a magnificent clump, and we all clustered around it when we got off. PRIMAL SCREAM went on to win the Stout Medal that year ( did I mention I was on the Garden Judges bus?) and I remain convinced that a big reason it won was that wonderful clump we saw at that year's convention. I never need a marker to ID that one, nor do I need a marker to ID ROSE F. KENNEDY, GREEN RAINBOW, MARY'S GOLD, PURPLE CHEETAH, PINK STRIPES, and several others that don't come to mind as readily! However, when touring a garden, it quickly drives me crazy when the cultivar name tags are not readily visible, as I am in the habit of photographing cultivar, tag, cultivar, tag, etc. and get into a routine. If I can't read the tags, usually I become so frustrated, that I go SIT DOWN and check out the refreshments and quit trying to take pictures. A bad habit, I guess, but deeply ingrained at Regional and National tours. Having said that, you will very rarely find me sitting down and not taking pictures at a tour garden. It doesn't happen often, thank goodness, but I think Regional and National tour gardens have an obligation to have cultivars clearly labeled. I highly recommend the AAA markers - have been using those since 1997, and the only one I ever lost got accidentally run over by a lawn mower.
PRIMAL SCREAM and ROSE F. KENNEDY
GREEN RAINBOW and MARY'S GOLD
PURPLE CHEETAH and PINK STRIPES
