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Post by Moonlight on Aug 28, 2013 15:45:49 GMT
Sweetpea, did you ever show dahlias?
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Post by Tel on Aug 28, 2013 18:59:11 GMT
[/font] Yep, certainly can. No forum then though.  [/quote] Ok there might not have been a forum then but spill the beans, what made you start the exhibition road?[/quote] I had never been to a show, until I met my Mother in law's boyfriend, we were in his garden when I spotted some large onions growing in a bed in his greenhouse. He told me he had entered a class for the heaviest onion at his local show. That weekend I went along with him to see how he had done with his onion. He came first with it, I said how come yours received the 1st prize when that one looks bigger pointing at this other one. he explained the larger and heavier onion was NAS because the exhibitor had not left the onion tops on. Anyway I saw the dahlia's and I was blown away by them, I had not seen anything like them. I said to the Mother in Laws boyfriend I want to grow some of them, so that winter I saw some dahlia's advertised cannot remember where. They were a new show variety for sale by Barry Davis, called Barbarry Pinky small dec. I ordered 5 plants of it and planted them in the front garden. The local show was the first weekend in Sept, I entered 3 blooms in the novice class, I did not know they were clock faced but they still managed first prize and the certificate for the winner there was no trophy for this class. That was it I was hooked. I bought books on growing and showing and a few videos from dahlia nursery man Fred Oscroft. |
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Post by sweetpea on Aug 28, 2013 19:50:06 GMT
Sweetpea, did you ever show dahlias? Yes but only at local shows. I only ever showed sweetpeas at national level. Also showed veg, daffodils, fuchsias, coleus, various flowers plus other misc. things like jam in the domestic sections. Nowadays I take it easy  |
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 28, 2013 21:12:51 GMT
Just wondered if you knew my Dad Sweetpea. What made you choose to only show sweet peas at National level?
Tel, what made you go for saving seeds?
As I mentioned a couple of times, I grew up with dahlias, I can't actually remember a time before dahlias because there always was. Life was based around the dahlia calendar, pretty much. Things I used to love included
bonfires - I love the smell and watching the flames dance, making clay pots and putting them in the fire when they basically came out black, cracked / in pieces.
Rotavators - especially when Dad let me have ago helping hold the handles and school harvest displays because Dad's dahlias were always the centre piece of the harvest table.
What I hated with a passion was washing flower pots. Obviously children have littler fingers and so you can imagine which 2 children ended up with that job! We used to moan about it so much - don't blame us either. The water was cold. Then Dad bought a little heater/ burner that had something like a kettle / pot (can't remember exactly) and we got some hot hot water. I also love the smell of a paraffin burner.
I used to like the tombola at dahlia shows, probably even more than the raffles. I also remember that we normally had ploughmans. The National was in London and Dad went with Peter Cleaver in a Luton lorry with both their dahlias in because even though it was a massive journey they both felt that if they were going to make the trip to judge, they might as well exhibit as well.
When Dad stopped growing dahlias. He just stopped. I remember him saying that he had another seedling but that he just let it go. Very, very, very sad.
Anyway.
So I think you can blame my upbringing for my love of Dahlias. Dahlias = shows. Dahlias = tubers and seeds.
I also used to like it when Mum and Dad used to pack the tubers and cuttings. The polystyrene bits going everywhere. I also used to love 'The Box Man' and his wife that we used to buy the boxes to pack the dahlias from because they always brought us sweets.
Anyway, I talk to much.
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Post by sweetpea on Aug 28, 2013 22:09:36 GMT
Just wondered if you knew my Dad Sweetpea. What made you choose to only show sweet peas at National level?
<snip>
I started growing SPs for show as I didn't have a g'house so it had to be something hardy. I asked my OH what flowers she liked and it was sweetpeas.
Iwas doing well with most things at local level especially SPs where I became the local guy to beat if you know what I mean. One day i was asked to enter an exhibit at the national for the affiliated society class so I did and although we didn't win we were 2nd I think which wasn't too bad considering it was only my blooms against other growers combined.
Anyway I started to have a go against the top boys when it wasn't too far to travel and although I never got any trophies I did get the occasional red card. My biggest problem was transport as back then I only had a motor bike or public transport which wasn't exactly ideal but it was all good fun and I learned a lot.
I also had a good friend who was/is a judge for veg, dahlias, fuchsias, daffodils & chrysanthemums and a few of us used to hold meetings at his house to discuss all the aspects of their culture.
As regards to me possibly knowing your dad, see my pm |
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 28, 2013 22:38:24 GMT
Red Balloon is waking up
Can you spot the 2 Red Balloons in the jungle?
The only way that I can measure these with measuring rings would be for me to use a frisbee!
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Post by Tel on Aug 29, 2013 6:33:47 GMT
Like a lot of dahlia growers I think, to raise a seedling and see it on the show benches, up and down the land. Plus the satisfaction knowing that winner on the bench was your raising. You mention your Dad and Peter Cleaver earlier. I first met Peter at the Harrogate Show in 2003, I was getting my dahlia's ready at a table and I had already put 3 Alf Ramsey in their vases and stood them on the floor, while I vased some other blooms. This guy came past the table stopped and was looking at the Alf's then he said to me they were the best he had seen all season, I thought that was nice of him, then he continued on his way. The guy at the next table said do you know who that is, I replied no never seen him before. He said he is the raiser of Sir Alf, I thought well they must be good if Peter said so. He was right they got me the Bronze medal. |
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 29, 2013 6:36:53 GMT
Just wondered if you knew my Dad Sweetpea. What made you choose to only show sweet peas at National level?
Tel, what made you go for saving seeds?
As I mentioned a couple of times, I grew up with dahlias, I can't actually remember a time before dahlias because there always was. Life was based around the dahlia calendar, pretty much. Things I used to love included
bonfires - I love the smell and watching the flames dance, making clay pots and putting them in the fire when they basically came out black, cracked / in pieces.
Rotavators - especially when Dad let me have ago helping hold the handles and school harvest displays because Dad's dahlias were always the centre piece of the harvest table.
What I hated with a passion was washing flower pots. Obviously children have littler fingers and so you can imagine which 2 children ended up with that job! We used to moan about it so much - don't blame us either. The water was cold. Then Dad bought a little heater/ burner that had something like a kettle / pot (can't remember exactly) and we got some hot hot water. I also love the smell of a paraffin burner.
I used to like the tombola at dahlia shows, probably even more than the raffles. I also remember that we normally had ploughmans. The National was in London and Dad went with Peter Cleaver in a Luton lorry with both their dahlias in because even though it was a massive journey they both felt that if they were going to make the trip to judge, they might as well exhibit as well.
When Dad stopped growing dahlias. He just stopped. I remember him saying that he had another seedling but that he just let it go. Very, very, very sad.
Anyway.
So I think you can blame my upbringing for my love of Dahlias. Dahlias = shows. Dahlias = tubers and seeds.
I also used to like it when Mum and Dad used to pack the tubers and cuttings. The polystyrene bits going everywhere. I also used to love 'The Box Man' and his wife that we used to buy the boxes to pack the dahlias from because they always brought us sweets.
Anyway, I talk to much.
As clear as mud that post - sorry.
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 29, 2013 6:58:51 GMT
Like a lot of dahlia growers I think, to raise a seedling and see it on the show benches, up and down the land. Plus the satisfaction knowing that winner on the bench was your raising. You mention your Dad and Peter Cleaver earlier. I first met Peter at the Harrogate Show in 1993, I was getting my dahlia's ready at a table and I had already put 3 Alf Ramsey in their vases and stood them on the floor, while I vased some other blooms. This guy came past the table stopped and was looking at the Alf's then he said to me they were the best he had seen all season, I thought that was nice of him, then he continued on his way. The guy at the next table said do you know who that is, I replied no never seen him before. He said he is the raiser of Sir Alf, I thought well they must be good if Peter said so. He was right they got me the Bronze medal.
Alf Ramsey is an impressive dahlia. When someone says something to you like that, when you find out who that is, makes you think well, if I hadn't done so well - we would have been right and everyone else is wrong! I am glad that Alf Ramsey is still grown. Sometimes dahlias that have been around a long time get knocked because they have been around a long time. Good dahlias should be grown if they are good. What people don't realise is that Once Upon A Time  .... A long, long, long time ago.... those dahlias were the 'New Kids on the block' and it doesn't mean that they had an easy journey to popularity.
What ever happens with yours or Scrumpy's seedlings, if you believe it is a great dahlia, keep growing and showing it and sooner or later (if it really is a great dahlia) other people will want to grow it.
Sorry, gone a bit there. Just believe that very, very, very strongly. |
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Post by Tel on Aug 29, 2013 8:17:49 GMT
Like a lot of dahlia growers I think, to raise a seedling and see it on the show benches, up and down the land. Plus the satisfaction knowing that winner on the bench was your raising. You mention your Dad and Peter Cleaver earlier. I first met Peter at the Harrogate Show in 1993, I was getting my dahlia's ready at a table and I had already put 3 Alf Ramsey in their vases and stood them on the floor, while I vased some other blooms. This guy came past the table stopped and was looking at the Alf's then he said to me they were the best he had seen all season, I thought that was nice of him, then he continued on his way. The guy at the next table said do you know who that is, I replied no never seen him before. He said he is the raiser of Sir Alf, I thought well they must be good if Peter said so. He was right they got me the Bronze medal. oops that should be 2003  |
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Post by Rosie on Aug 29, 2013 11:31:52 GMT
I went to a local show in Devon and when I saw the veg on display I happened to remark that I grew better than that. One of the exhibitors then told me to more or less put my money where my mouth was and enter next year so I said ok and he gave me a few sets of Catriona potato to grow so you can tell how long ago that was as Catriona was a TOP variety then. I didn't manage that particular local show as we moved to Surrey soon after but I started right away with anything I could manage to grow in my garden including Sweetpeas. I hadn't a clue how to exhibit but just like you moonlight I started to learn and was soon up and running. 1973 when it all started for me. I was only 13/14 then Sweetpea |
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Post by sweetpea on Aug 29, 2013 12:07:30 GMT
I went to a local show in Devon and when I saw the veg on display I happened to remark that I grew better than that. One of the exhibitors then told me to more or less put my money where my mouth was and enter next year so I said ok and he gave me a few sets of Catriona potato to grow so you can tell how long ago that was as Catriona was a TOP variety then. I didn't manage that particular local show as we moved to Surrey soon after but I started right away with anything I could manage to grow in my garden including Sweetpeas. I hadn't a clue how to exhibit but just like you moonlight I started to learn and was soon up and running. 1973 when it all started for me. Just a bairn then rosie |
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 29, 2013 22:06:41 GMT
Staleen Condesa, I'm stretching up with the measuring ring but couldn't actually see whether or not it is close the ring! It is going to be fun when it gets to show time. Looking forward to it.
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 30, 2013 9:58:26 GMT
I've done the deed, I've cut down all the potato foliage. Haven't tipped the potatoes out.
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Post by Moonlight on Aug 30, 2013 20:45:11 GMT
I've got wheelbarrow of potatoes!
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[/quote]
.... A long, long, long time ago.... those dahlias were the 'New Kids on the block' and it doesn't mean that they had an easy journey to popularity. 
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT