BARBARRY BALL (SB): 4 feet: Orange: grown 8 up.
This is the second year that I have grown this smashing little
ball dahlia. Having 12 plants of this variety I decided to grow
six in a fertile bed and six in a piece of ground with no fertiliser
of any kind. The latter six produced the best blooms all season.
This little dahlia won the best overall seedling in London and
has a very bright future when released in 1993.
BARBARRY WAYFARER (Min. Dec.): 2.5 feet : Pink: grown 12 up.
This low growing variety certainly tested the old arthritis problem.
The plant flowered by mid August and was covered in blooms all
season. Flowers never reached exhibiton standard but Wayfarer
could make it as a garden variety.
BARBARRY STANDARD (Min. Dec.): 3.5 feet: Red: grown 10 up.
The star of the show. Standard has all the qualities that a good
exhibition dahlia requires. Good stems, first class formation
plus solid centres that matches the size of the bloom. This lovely
little miniature impressed many people who saw it in my garden.
BARBARRY TREND (Mm. Dec.) : 4 feet: Red: grown 12 up.
A lovely vase of this variety won the seedling trophy in London
in 1991. However this season it was all change. Blooms were very
coarse with quite a few petals streaked with orange. A few vases
were seen on the bench, but Trend never at any time looked anything
like the vase I had seen in London the year before. Could very
well be a better flower in warmer growing conditions.
BARBARRY ORACLE (SD): 3.5 feet: Red: grown 7 up.
The best way to advertise a good dahlia is to show it at national
level against the best varieties in its class. David Boyd certainly
did this to some effect when he showed this new Barbarry seedling
in his three championship winning entries at London, Stirling
and Harrogate. This variety also won best vase of Decs at Harrogate
and won in single vase classes at each of these shows. It has
been many years since a variety had such an impact on the show
bench prior to it’s release to the general public. Oracle
will be in big demand in 1993.
BARBARRY SAMBA (Min. Dec. or BalI): 5 feet: Lavender: grown
10 up.
Strong growing plant with good stems. Samba looked very promising
right through to bud stage. As the flower developed the petal
formation was rather loose, and centres were far too big in comparison
to the size of the flower. These two factors rule out any chance
for Samba making the grade as a an exhibition variety.
BARBARRY GAIETY: Pink and Yellow blends.
This is the most promising variety seen in 1992. Perfect formation.
Seedling winner at Harrogate.
BARBARRY PLAYBOY: (Giant Semi-Cactus): Salmon with Yellow centre.
This Jupiter seedling caught my eye when winning the Jaldec Trophy
in London. One for my notebook for 1993.