TheBuilt in 1883 this building has been at the heart of Stirling's artistic and civic life for over 100 years. Around the 5 - 8th September each year the town is invaded by dahlia fanatics from all parts of the country.
First of all let us take a look at a three views of my tunnel 1, 2, and 3. As I mentioned the images are rather on the dark side. Nonetheless they give and idea of the end result of all those weeks and months of care and attention.
Now for a look at some individual dahlia varieties starting with Abridge Taffy, this is the first year I tried this variety. I grow Bracken Ballerina mainly because of its colour and for no other reason except it looks great in a basket of dahlias. Cherwell Goldcrest grows on the small side with me and is an early flowering dahlia. I grew Charlie Two this year for the last time. Here is something to remind you of summer "Scottish Compost Heap Champion"
A nice bloom of Eileen Denny and a mixed vase of Cupids. Golden Impact whilst not being the greatest of flowers is always reliable and a good standby dahlia. I have thrown out Hillcrest Desire, it was unpredictable. Hamari Rose like Golden Impact is a good one to have in reserve. Jamie I find is like Goldcrest I grow it seven blooms to a plant. Kenora Challenger is quite a low growing dahlia but what a massive flower, sometimes the stems can be a problem with such a huge head to support. La Corbierre was recommended to me by the greatest grower of miniature flowered dahlias here in Scotland Tom Cleghorn, sure enough it makes a fine plant with quality blooms.
I was going to throw out Norbreck
Dusky but decided to grow it again this year. The colour
is outstanding and it helped me into second place in the Sir John
Reid class at the Scottish National Dahlia Show. I think
Barbara's Pastelle is a better dahlia than Pink Pastelle. Ruskin Charlotte makes a big flower grown
at ten blooms to the plant it has no trouble making 9 inches in
diameter. Sylvia's
Desire is going the same way as Hillcrest Desire for the same
reason.
I will probably be chastised for this but I have thrown out the
Diane family and intend growing Pink Suffusion and Gateshead Festival
in their place.
A few images to round of September. A general view of the Glasgow Evergreen Show along with the Dahlia Championship winning entry from Andrew Allan Jnr. and Wullie Dun's Best Vase Dahlias in Show. A mixed vase of miniature decorative dahlias. My car loaded for Dundee Show and the winning entry at the Central Scotland Dahlia Championship
The blooms are transported to the shows by securing them to canes with green twist ties. The canes themselves are held in place by plastic electrical ties which enables them to be adjusted around the bucket depending on the size of bloom being carried. It is recommended that blooms should be staged 29 inches from the bench but most Scottish exhibitors tend to stage higher at 32 inches. Here is a bloom of Bracken Ballerina which falls within the dreaded ring.
To see an animation of the growth of the dahlias from the 1st of June to the 1st of September click here A. Please note the files size is 550Kb and the download will take about four minutes at 28.8. To pause the animation click on the image once, to restart double clicking the image.