Hi Ortwin,.
No, we were not alone.
When I arrived around 21:00 in the garden, the crowd in the Gewäschshaus was so great that it was not used on the Wurz; on a photo without heads and arms in the picture was not to think at all.
It was also so hot (28/29 ° C) and due to the chatter of the many guests so loud, that I first went out for quite a while with Andreas, had to to talk without having to yell at himself.
The image with the Director is recorded at 23:00 and even there, the crowd was still great. Then the cashier was closed and the Hall emptied gradually so that was then somewhat more room to take pictures.
I then went to 0:15.
After I seen live (Bonn, 2006, 2008, Berlin-Dahlem 2011, Leipzig 2013, Hanover Hill Garden 2014), have already some titanum blooms I have to say that this was one of the most beautiful. Extremely dark Spatha, a spadix which was below greenish yellow above yellowish and extreme smell, which was really hard to stand next to the flower.
The 270-km journey was worth :-)
Happy growing, Bernhard.