On opening the new classified dahlia list I was saddened to see
the changes in the staging rules. This to my mind was completely
unnecessary and will lead to nothing but arguments and even more
untidy vases on the show bench.
My idea of exhibiting is that you should always continually strive
to present your exhibit to an even higher standard. That to my
mind is what exhibiting is all about.
The vision of vases of flowers held in place with pieces of stem
fills me with horror.
The failure of the classification committee to reclassify varieties
into their correct size and section never ceases to amaze me.
However coming from a committee which has failed to address the
situation since it reclassified Reginald Keene to a Large, we
cannot expect too much.
Varieties which I think should be reclassified include Grenidor
Pastelle to a large, Karenglen to a small and La Corbierre to
a miniature decorative - there are many more. Any variety which
is continually exhibited oversize should be put up a size. The
whole idea of an updated classified list to my mind should be
to sort out varieties into their correct sections and size for
exhibition. Failure to do this remains a mystery to me as it is
quite a straightforward exercise.
Over the years, I have received many explanations for the committee’s
failure to address the problem. These include commercial and personal
interests - if this is the case, the system stinks. Perhaps the
time has come for the Scottish National Chrysanthemum and Dahlia
Society to take the bull by the horns and publish a Scottish Classified
exhibition list to rectify the situation.