The weather this year was somewhat misleading. June and July
were warm sunny months with no strong winds and light rainfalls,
which meant that plants grew away quickly. This lulled us all
into a false sense of security for in hindsight the end of July
effectively signalled the end of our 1992 Summer, the sun was
only seen rarely from that time onwards.
August and September were cold, wet, windy months, blooms took
an age to develop from bud stage to maturity. Only exhibitors
with the strongest of covers and windbreaks survived the many
gale force winds that swept across the country.
Nevertheless we had three fine National shows in London, Harrogate
and Scotland.
The Scottish National C. & D. Society celebrated their Diamond
Jubilee year with a superb show in Stirling. It was my second
visit to Scotland as a dahlia exhibitor and on both occasions
the hospitality and downright friendliness of the Scots made the
visits memorable occasions, which just about made the 1,000 mile
round trip from my home in Essex bearable.
Our fifth and possibly last garden festival was held in Ebbw Vale,
Wales from May till October. From a dahlia point of view it was
a bitter disappointment that this was the only festival that never
incorporated a specialist dahlia show as part of the festivities.
Members of our National Dahlia Society did however, plant 1,00
dahlia plants in specially prepared beds, which provided the public
with a taste of our flower and kept the dahlia flag flying.
There were some good varieties around, none more so than Gordon
Leroux’s white large semi-cactus ‘KENORA CHALLENGER’
which swept all before it in its first year on general release.
It is one thing for a new variety to impress in seedling classes
and trials, but the true test is when it meets the established
show bench winners in its own section. ‘KENORA CHALLENGER’
outpointed our finest large semi-cactus varieties and looks set
for a long future at the very top of the tree.
On then to the new varieties for 1993:-
GIANT DECORATIVES
This section was a bit sparse this year. but two looked useful.
Canada’s Earl Huston introduced the powerful growing ‘BEN
HUSTON’. This late flowering cultivar produced well formed
blooms in a warm shade of bronze. 11” blooms are held on
ramrod stems. Also interesting to note that the well formed coral
pink 12” blooms were used both in the giant semi-cactus and
giant decorative championships at our National show, but it will
probably end up as a decorative when classified.
GIANT SEMI-CACTUS
‘CORAL JUPITER’ has all the fine qualities of other
members of the ‘JUPITER’ family. Symmetrical 12”
flowers have plenty of depth and are held on the strongest stems.
The only doubt against it is its colour, which is so close to
‘ROSE JUPITER’ as to raise the question are they two
varieties?
The Jaldec Trophy which is awarded to the best large or giant
seedling of the year at our London show went to the Barry Davies
raised ‘BARBARRY PLAYBOY’. As with all Barry’s
varieties the health, height and plant habit are powerful. Well
formed salmon and yellow blooms are held on strong stems. Will
be in demand by growers of this type.
Only the odd bloom of ‘KENORA SUPERB’ were seen around
this year. The bronze and yellow flowers have the hint of true
quality about them. Good stems and strong plant habit ensures
that this 11” variety will be sought after by the keener
exhibitor in 1993.
The Philip Damp award for best overseas dahlia went to the golden
yellow American variety ‘INLAND DYNASTY’ good form,
size and stems guarantees its future on the show bench.
LARGE DECORATIVES
For as long as anyone can remember the Drayson Trophy which is
awarded to the best giant or large decorative in show at our National,
has been won by a giant. Ed Redds immaculately formed ‘ELMA
E’, ended this tradition in no uncertain terms this year.
The rich lavendar pink 10” blooms are nearly as deep as they
are wide. A deep colour such as this will obviously require shading
but the effort should prove rewarding.
Ted Fuller’s ‘FERNHILL ALLISON’ was one of those
varieties that was grown as a medium, but so easily pushed oversize
that its future looks destined in the large section. Well formed
orange and yellow blended blooms have good form and are early
to flower.
LARGE SEMI-CACTUS
The pale pink sport of ‘CANDY KEENE’, ‘CRYFIELD
KEENE’ had a good first season on public release. Same classical
form and low growing plant habit as the parent. A bloom of this
novelty was used in the National Championship for this type in
London. Yet another ‘KEENE’ sport in the pipeline is
‘YELLOW KEENE’. There have been problems with the plants
regarding reverting back from the rich golden yellow it should
be to the original ‘REGINALD KEENE’. One for the future
no doubt.
An unusual ivory/cream colour makes ‘HILLCREST HEIGHTS’
a striking variety. Its good form and stems will make it an interesting
addition to what has become one of the stronger sections in recent
years.
MEDIUM DECORATIVES
The whispers about ‘KENORA MOONBEAM’ have been crossing
the Atlantic for a couple of years now. Its clear clean bright
yellow blooms have a lot more depth than our leader in this section
‘B. J. BEAUTY’ but with the same informal form. It is
on general release in 1993, so the true test will take place on
the show benches around our country next year.
We have been waiting for many years for a Bi-colour with show
bench winning form and depth. ‘AUDACITY’ fits the bill
and comes in a mixture of rich red and white. Good plant habit
and strong stems.
MEDIUM SEMI-CACTUS
‘GOLDEN IMPACT’ the golden yellow and orange tipped
colour sport from ‘WOOTTON IMPACT’ is most certainly
an improvement on the parent. The sport has definitely got that
little bit more depth, that the parent is always short of. Same
healthy strong grower, with stems to match, but be warned I have
just dug the tubers and all you get is a fibrous root, so a few
pot tubers might save the day in future years.
Although ‘CHRISTOPHER NICKERSON’ has very good form,
this bright orange and yellow cultivar will have to be grown very
well to reach section limits. Reminds me of the old ‘HAMARI
SUNSET’.
The pink sport of ‘GRENIDOR PASTELLE’, ‘PINK PASTELLE’
had a terrific first season. Same strong 4ft. plant habit and
stout stems. Blooms come to size easily and have excellent form
and depth. Produces large tubers that keep well.
Although ‘JO ANNE’ was widely tipped for success as
a show winner in 1992, it had a disappointing first season. The
two main problems with this straight Cactus are it is a natural
late bloomer and also needs pushing hard to reach section limits.
Form is good, but it might turn out to be a near miss.
Rab Ritchies pale pink and white ‘SYMPHONY PRIDE’ is
a colour sport from ‘PEARL SHAROWEAN PRIDE’. It is a
tall grower with long straight stems, good form and is a possible
for the show bench.
SMALL DECORATIVE
The tallest growing variety on my plot this year was the 6ft.
tall ‘BARBARRY PINKY’. Unfortunately being so tall it
did suffer in the strong winds. The beautiful deep pink reflexing
formal blooms are as good as any, although stems were a little
rubbery.
Most certainly the best red to come along for a long time in this
section is the powerful growing ‘BARBARRY ORACLE’. Very
sizeable formal flowers dress right back onto strong stems. Its
dark red blooms will need shading or colour loss will undoubtedly
occur. Five blooms of this novelty were chosen as best vase of
decoratives in show at our Northern National.
Don Armstrong’s pale yellow sport from ‘RUSKIN DIANE’,
‘PRIMROSE DIANE’ became champion in the section for
sports at our National Show. As with all sports it is just a case
of, if you grow the parent well, then the sport is a must. Indentical
form stem and habit as the parent.
‘HILLCREST ARMOUR’ is a typical Les Jackson small decorative.
Very size-
able white overlaid with deep lavender blooms dress right back
onto good stems. I
find with some of Les’s introductions in this section that
the petals are a bit big for a
small flowered variety. Vigorous grower.
Another eye-catching powerhouse from the same raiser was the yellow
overlaid with dark pink ‘HILLCREST ULTRA’. Large heavy
petalled formal flowers are held on strong stems and robust plants.
To celebrate its Silver Jubilee next year members of the Stockton
C. & D. Society were allowed to visit the plot of leading
raiser Barry Davies and select a variety to be named after their
special occasion. The variety they chose was a pale orange formal
decorative to be known as ‘BARBARRY STOCKTON’.
This weatherproof novelty should do well, not only on the show
bench, but also in garden displays or as a cut flower.
SMALL CACTUS AND SEMI-CACTUS
‘TUI ORANGE’ had a fine first season on release in this
country. Flame coloured semi-cactus blooms are produced on tall
growing healthy strong plants. Blooms can lose their form if left
on the plant too long. Many good vases were seen around the shows
however, including 5 blooms in the winning entry of the 6 vase
championship for this type at our National.
Also used in the same winning entry was the lemon yellow overlaid
with dark orange ‘LINDA’S CHESTER’. Jim Watson’s
low growing straight cactus has superb form, but like all sports
from the ‘CHESTER’ family requires growing well to reach
top size.
Another low grower was the colourful ‘SCOTTISH RELATION’.
This vivid purple and cream semi-cactus sport from ‘KIWI
RELATION’ is early to flower and has good form and stems.
Top seedling of the year in Scotland was Tom Cleghorn’s candy
pink straight cactus ‘MONKSTOWN DIANE’. Tubular petals
are very symmetrically placed and dress right back onto strong
stems.
MINIATURE DECORATIVE
Leading seedling at Harrogate was ‘BARBARRY GAIETY’.
The magnificent formation of the light pink and yellow blended
blooms made it a variety that went into many notebooks that day.
The only problem with this late flowering variety is that it may
be difficult to match up the colour for multi-bloom entries.
Eric Carter’s pale lemon overlaid with pale lavender ‘JEANETTE
CARTER’ was free flowering and had fine form.
To celebrate the Garden Festival we have ‘EBBW VALE FESTIVAL’.
Well formed bright red flowers are held on good stems.
SMALL BALL
In a section where good new varieties are always in short supply
comes the buttercup yellow ‘POLVENTON SUPREME’. Globular
blooms are elegantly held above a medium sized plant.
I was a little surprised when ‘BARBARRY BALL’ was chosen
as the best seedling in show at our National Show. Although the
form of this bright orange newcomer is excellent, there is a definite
sunken centre which obviously the Judges tended to overlook. For
my money the right raiser won the class but perhaps ‘BARBARRY
ORACLE’ and ‘BARBARA DAVIES’ will in time prove
to be better exhibition cultivars.
MINIATURE BALL
Only two to report on here but both are top class. Any sport of
the ‘CUPID’ family is sure of success on the show bench
and ‘PEACH CUPID’ is a certain winner. Same very sizeable
well formed flowers as the parent, strong 4ft. healthy growing
plants. The light orange blooms are held on good stems.
‘BARBARA DAVIES’ has got to be good as Barry has named
this bright red well formed newcomer after his wife. The honeycomb
of petals form into an absolute golf ball. Strong stems and vigorous
growing habit.