The 2003 News Letter

January 10th Annual Dinner Heaves Hotel 7-30pm

March Northern AGM and Dinner at Crooklands Hotel, Kendal

April Lecture

May 25 Plant Sale Hilltop Nurseries 1pm

Sep National Show Northern Show

NWD Society Show

Nov Lecture

Dec AGM

Tuber Sale Hilltop Nurseries

All lectures take place at the Club Inn, Endmoor unless stated

Committee meetings will take place at the Club Inn, Endmoor

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Chairman’s Report

It is now one year since I was elected Chairman of our Society, which to me is a great honour.
Looking back over the year we have had one or two ups and downs. After a good annual dinner, which was very enjoyable, we were shocked at the loss of Peter Morland who was a member of
the Committee and a good friend. Now poor health has struck Fred, our President.
I apologise for missing the plant sale and also Ambleside, this was due to previous arrangements.
Some of our Committee meetings were poorly attended dropping to four or six in attendance. The Begonia lecture was a disaster as only seven people turned up, maybe this was a good thing as the lecturer never turned up either. I believe there was some misunderstanding on dates. In the spring months we had some interesting lectures and my thanks to all who attended. At the Andy Jamieson lecture we had the honour of handing to Andy the Ron Nelson Trophy which will be awarded to the winner of Class 22 at the N.D.S. Northern Show at Harrogate in September.
We had another successful year at Ambleside Show, winning a Gold Certificate and £100.00 prize money, again I apologise for missing this event and would like to thank all our hardworking Committee members for a job well done. We also had a good show at Kendal despite some of our top show men not being able to exhibit for various reasons.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our members who won awards and trophies at all the top shows.
I would like to thank the Ladies who catered at Kendal and kept us going with pots of tea, also everyone who helped to set up and dismantle after the show. I would like to thank all the Committee for the work and effort they put into the Society. Thanks to Mike for keeping the finances under control and John our Secretary who is the real backbone of the Society.
I hope to see you all at the Tuber Sale that is coming up shortly and wish you all a good season next year and hope you all have the same success as this year.
So, have a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years.

Gee Tee

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Secretary’s Report

And so another year has passed, it is annoying just how short they seem to be.
Congratulations to Brian Warriner, Barry Kenyon, Frank Taylor and Alan Barlow on the excellent results they obtained at the National Shows.
We started the year with the annual dinner, this year we went back to the Heaves Hotel and a super evening was had by all, if you did not attend the dinner, why not? Treat yourself and your wife this January.
In February S Cleary gave a lecture on Poms, the evening was well supported even if the lecture was in a foreign language.
In early March some members attended the lecture at Timperley and reported an excellent evening. Several members attended the Northern AGM at Scarborough which was by far the best Conference that people had attended and the remainder of the weekend is stuff of legends.
In May we held the plant sale at Hilltop again, but it was not very well supported, the plants were plentiful and good value for the few buyers.
June and July are very quiet months from the Society’s point, because all growers are extremely busy.
In August the Society stand at Ambleside won a Gold Medal and £100.00. Thanks to Jimmy, Jack, Brian and George for all their hard work.
The Annual Show was held in September, Geoff Gardener and Clive Keighly were the judges. We also had a change of venue to a much nicer and bigger hall. Results can be found later in the Newsletter. Unfortunately the proposed trip to Halls fell through due to the lack of support.
In November Don Sutcliffe gave a lecture on his New Varieties and was very well supported, members coming from as far south as Manchester and as far north as Penrith.
The next event will be the Tuber Sale, so give it a try, who knows you might even enjoy it.
As regards the Society membership—it could be better, also the attendances at lectures and sales are a bit thin on the ground, so in 2004 make a New Years resolution to attend two lectures and the plant and tuber sales at least.
During the past year Peter Morland has sadly passed away and Fred Currie is currently in hospital.
Before closing, I must pass on my thanks to the Chairman and Committee members who do attend meetings and for all their hard work throughout the year.
May I wish you all a better 2004.

John Smith

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Ambleside Show

Once again the North West Dahlia Society put on a good display at the show, with Jimmy Hegginbottom setting most of the baskets up on the stand and Jack and Brian setting the last one or two baskets up to finish off.
Thanks also the George Fallows, Jimmy, Brian and Jack for supplying the flowers, John, Jimmy and Jack for manning the stand over the weekend.
We won the Gold Medal and a cheque for £100.00 for the Society funds.
This may be the last time we will be able to put this stand up, as the show date and venue has been moved to Grassmere sports field on the first weekend in September 2004.
As we need more helpers to do this weekend, and more growers giving flowers to put on the stand and also to set the baskets up. So let’s not see us defeated on this matter.

Jack Gott

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Around the Shows in the North West 2003

Another year has past by and everyone is ready to start lifting the tubers for another season, but first we have the round up of the show winners in the North West Storth Show, Jack Gott from Milnthorpe won best dahlia exhibit with 3 Lemon Elegance.
Next we move across the Arnside Show, Jack Gott won silver medal with 3 Mary’s Jomanda and bronze medal with 3 Arnside Rose, a new small decorative raised by George Fallows from Arnside.
Next we move down to Warton Show and Jack Gott won the silver medal with a basket of Collarette type dahlias named Wheels and the bronze medal with 3 Grenidor Pastelle, 3 Lemon Elegance and 3 L’Ancresse also the best exhibit in show with his basket of dahlias.
Next we go down the road to Bolton le Sands Show and Dave Woodhouse from Roeburndale East won the bronze medal with 3 Andrea Clark.
Back up to Milnthorpe Show and Jack Gott won silver medal with a basket of Collarette dahlias named Wheels also the bronze medal with 3 Pink Suffusion, he also won the best exhibit in show with his basket of dahlias.
We move over to the Barrow Horticultural Show where David Houghton from Askam in Furness won silver with 3 Kenora Jubilee, he also won bronze with 3 Ruskin Diane.
We now go across to Ingleton Show and Dave Woodhouse won a silver medal with 3 Mary’s Jomanda and the bronze medal with 3 Andrea Clark.
Next we move on to the Chipping Show and Barry Kenyon from Blackpool won the silver medal with 3 Kenora Challenger, 3 Winholme Diane and 3 Trelyn Kiwi and the bronze medal with 3 Winholme Diane. Stuart Clensy won the rocking chair for the best basket of dahlias.
Back up to the Westmorland Show where Jack Gott won a silver medal with 3 Arnside Rose, 3 Amber Festival and 3 Hillcrest Suffusion.
The next event was the North West Dahlia Show in Kendal and Graham McFarlane from Barrow in Furness won silver medal with 3 Eastwood Moonlight, 5 Trelyn Kiwi and 5 Gateshead Festival, the bronze medal was won by Barry Kenyon with 5 Trelyn Kiwi and 5 Winholme Diane.
We now move across to Barrow in Furness and the Furness Show where Brian Warriner won the silver medal with 3 Kenora Challenger, 5 Winholme Diane and 5 Kiwi Gloria, Brian also won the bronze medal with 5 Ruskin Diane and 5 Tralyn Kiwi.
Back up to the Penrith Show and S Rylands had the best Dahlia Exhibit with Carstone Suntan.
It was nice to see that the North West lads had done well at Shepton Mallet Show with Barry Kenyon winning best exhibit in show, Brian Warriner won the Arthur Griffith Trophy and Alan Barlow.
Brian also did well at the Scottish National and at Harrogate. Well done to you all, keep the flag flying.

Jack Gott

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                                          Trophy Winners

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                                   Annual Show Results 2003

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Hilary and I have just arrived back home after a fantastic ten days on the continent with Bibby’s
Coaches of Ingleton.
We travelled to Hull for the overnight crossing to Zeebrugge in Belgium.
After breakfast on board ship (The Star of Brugge) we set off on our journey across Belgium past Brussels into Holland, then on into Germany down the Rhine Valley to Singlefend on the northern edge of the Black Forest.
The next day we proceeded over the Fenner pass into Austria past Innsbruck then to the top of the Benner Pass for a lunch stop at a height of 5,000 feet, the sky was clear blue and all the window boxes were in full flower.
After lunch we set off again down into Italy, to Lake Garda for three days, on day one we went up into the Dolomites, what a sight, 6,000 feet up with the Dolomites towering above a clear blue sky, with a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit at 6,000 feet with snow on the peaks, it was a sight not to be forgotten.
Day two and we went to Verona, a pity it turned out to e closing day so we had plenty of sightseeing, the Coliseum which holds 124,000, Juliet's Garden complete with balcony followed by wine tasting.
Day three was a free day to do your own thing, some went for a cruise on the lake but it was a misty day on the lake so we had a look around Riva Dec Garda where we were staying. Next day we set off on our journey home, back into Austria over the Fern Pass, into Germany along side Lake Constance to Triberg in the Black Forest for two nights stay.
Triberg is noted for its Cuckoo clocks, which can cost up to £2,500.00 and are made in all shapes and sizes. Next day we toured around the Black Forest,106 miles long and 75 miles wide, climbing to heights of 4,500 feet.
Once again all the window boxes were in full bloom and clear blue skies again.
The following day we set off for Rheims in France for another overnight stay, visiting the famous Cathedral.
After breakfast we set off on our last day, going to Calais for the short crossing to Dover and arriving home at 8pm. A fantastic ten days touring, covering 2,740 miles (price - £400.00 each). Great value for the price, thanks to Bibby’s.

Gee Tee

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                                                    North West Fly The Flag

Well done to the North West lads sat the Major Shows.
First we had Ian Sutherland from Blackburn winning the Championship class at Southport and
Jimmy Hegginbottom from Barrow in Furness who won the silver medal for best dahlia exhibit in the show .
Then the Shepton Mallet National Show, Barry Kenyon from Blackpool wont the Terry Clark trophy and the Crane cup for best exhibit in show, (the best vase of cactus or semi cactus in show).
Brian Warriner from Barrow in Furness won the Arthur Griffith cup, The Crowley cup, The E J Widdowson Trophy and the Trophy for the best British Seedling Lakeland Sunset.
Then up to the Scottish National Show where Brian Warriner wont the 3 Vase class of small decorative and the 9 vases of Pompon with his Lakeland Polly, winning runner up to the best vase in show.
Back down to Harrogate and Brian Warriner won the 9 vases of pompons the Lancaster Trophy,
the 3 varieties of small decorative.
Then back up to the North West Dahlia Show and Graham McFarlane from Barrow in Furness won the Championship class and silver medal for best exhibit in show and Barry Kenyon won the
bronze medal.
Congratulations to you all.

Jack Gott

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To put you in the picture with dark leaf dahlias.
I have been growing dahlias for the last 22 years and have been interested in growing dark leaf dahlias of all types for some time. My goal is to raise a Collerette with dark leaves.
I possibly have the biggest collection of dark leaf dahlias in the UK, the Dutch growers say in the world.
For the last five years I have saved seed of different dark leaf types, I only know the one seed parent as I let the bees do the work at pollinating time.
The plants that were grown from seed have all flowered.
If the flower looks good I then look at the leaf which also has to look good.
Anyone can save seed, as the flower head starts to die back take the old petals out, once all the petals are out you must leave the seed head on the plant as long as you can keep squeezing the seed head with your thumb and forefinger each day to get as much moisture out of it as possible, this will help to ripen the seed.
After about 3 weeks you can feel the seed if you press on the top of the seed head, this lets you know the seed has ripened.
Once the seed has ripened I cut them off the plant with about 10 inches of stem.
As each one is cut from the stem I fasten a label to the stem with the name of the parent plant. (You can see how I save the seed from the photos on my web site at www.jrg-dahlias.co.uk it’s well worth a look).
I have about 28 new dark leaf seedlings on the go at the moment, some are up to 3 years old and some are first year seedlings.
I have a little story to tell, for the last 10 years I have grown dark leaf dahlias in the front border of my house, Bishop of Llandaff, Roxy, Moonfire, Tally Ho and so on, they are left to get frosted at the end of the season before I dig up the tubers.
I have a small wall on the road side of my border and weeds started to grow between the wall and the tarmac of the road, two years ago I looked down the side of the wall and there were 4 dark leaf seedlings starting to grow in the crack between the tarmac and the wall, the seed had fallen off the old plants stayed there all winter and then when spring came the started to grow. So I was out with my knife to dig them out of the crack, trying not to damage the roots.
I potted them up and grew them in the greenhouse so I could get a nice small pot tuber for the next year.
Cuttings were taken this year and they have flowered in 4 different colours and nice flowers,
1 purple, 1 lilac, l orange and 1 red, they have all grown to about 3 feet tall.
Thinking of names for them I decided to name them Pathfinder 1, 2, 3 and 4, as they are all different colours it made it easy to name them Purple Pathfinder, Lilac Pathfinder and so on.
I hope this information has been of interest to all dahlia growers.
So go on and have a go at saving seeds from you dahlias, you never know you may get a show stopper..

Jack Gott

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The N.D.S. Exhibition Trials 2003

There were 52 varieties planted out in the trials for 21003 and 8 varieties getting resigning.
The winner of the Gold Certificate of exhibition merit and Harry Howarth Medal was Sascha a waterlily type raised by C Geerlings of Holland.
The Gold Certificate of exhibition merit was Barbarry Clipper a small decorative raised by B Davis.
The following varieties were awarded Silver Certificates of exhibition merit, Rob’s Kendal LSC raised by A Rogers and Barberry Centrepoint SD raised by B Davis.
The following varieties were awarded the Bronze Certificate of exhibition merit, Andrea Clarkson SSC raised by W Marsden, Barbarry Pointer SD raised by B Davis, Lakeland Autumn MD raised by B Warriner and Ryecroft Jan Min D raised by P Godsmark.
 

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TRENGROVE MILLENIUM Medium Decorative
Grew 45 plants of this variety and didn’t cut a good vase all season.
It’s a lovely plant to grow but struggles to make 71/2” at 5 up.
When it’s pushed it tends to flick petals and look rough.
It also has the problem of blowing its centre very quickly.
Don’t quite know what the answer is.
Later cuttings might help as it’s a very early variety and blooms did improve from mid September when it was cooler.
A few plants grown at 4 up were slightly large in size but still blew centres quickly.
This happened last year so it can’t all be blamed on the hot summer (Barry had a good vase at our show).
Might be worth cutting a few days before and storing in a cool shed to slow down its
development.

COXWELL MOONLIGHT Medium Semi-Cactus

Saw this variety in Norman Stevensons exhibit at Stirling.
Excellent form, quills well and is a nice colour change to light cream.
Norman said it takes the weather better than parent.
I intend to grow 30 plants next year.

WINHOLME DIANNE Small Decorative

Grew 30 plants of this cracking variety, slightly more decorative form than parent.
I grew it 6 up and loads of 6” blooms with good form.
The only problem was my plants were bought in a were far too early.
I cut them back in early July but the bed still flowered early.
I have just lifted the tubers which are brilliant.
I will grow more plants next year but from late cuttings (two pairs of leaves at planting).

EMMA’S CORONET Miniature Decorative

Only grew 8 plants of this light pink miniature decorative, lovely colour and great form.
Some growers find this variety hard to get above the foliage, but I found plants grown outside and well fed grew to 4’ plus.
I will definitely grow more of this one next year.

G H Mcfarlane

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My First Show
or
How to go through self-inflicted torture

My flowers really look good, I’m very pleased with them, they are just as good as those I saw at the show last year.
I wonder if I’m game enough to have a go at showing them? Gerard had suggested this to me some time back.
I told him that I wasn’t interested—however!!!

Margaret is quite angry with me, all because I removed the food from the fridge and replaced it with some flowers, theses women don’t seem to understand, I’m only doing this in case I decide to enter the show this weekend.
I believe I’ve got some winners here!

I’ve done it now, I have placed some entries! I wonder why Gerard insisted that they go in the intermediate class? My blooms are a much better standard than that, I should be in the major classes.

I’m starting to have misgivings.
I’m not entirely sure these flowers are as good as I first thought.
I ran out of room in our fridge and had to hold some in the fridge at church. Margaret has gone into her silent phase.

3.00am. I musts be quite mad, wandering around the garden cutting flowers by torchlight, dim light at that; all because Margaret forgot to buy new batteries! I hope the neighbours don’t see me.
I’ve now got flowers in bottles all over the kitchen table.
Margaret is now out of bed, said she couldn’t sleep with me thumping in and out of the house. She is finding animals in amongst the petals! I swear every bug and grub in the district has descended into my garden overnight for breakfast.
My prize ‘Zorro’ that I was going to clean up with now has more holes than a colander.
I am now not satisfied with any of these flowers, they were much better when I entered.
The time has now come to leave for the show, an hour and a half driving with fast deteriorating flowers perched precariously in the back seat.
I’ll be the laughing stock of the other exhibitors! I’m trying to find an excuse not to go at all. Margaret is not helping me by giving an encouraging good luck kiss.
She is probably pleased to have the fridge back.
I feel like murdering Gerard for getting me into this!
I am now at the show after driving over every pot hole on the way, got a roaring headache!
A beehive of staging activity is going on, look at those blooms, they are all magnificent. Gerard has spotted me, wants to know where my flowers are, told him they are in the car and are staying there! He forces me to bring them in, Hell! My miserable flowers don’t hold a candle to the spectacular blooms the others have.
I’m glad I insisted in entering the intermediate classes.
Gerard shows me how to stage one of my flowers then leaves me to wrestle with the rest, he seems to only take a minute over one vases. I seem to be taking about ten.
Now for the PomPons, three to a vase, no problems here; hello this one’s stem has bent, must have pushed the paper down too hard.
I’ll cut the stems back and the plug will hold them firm; feel like I need seven pairs of hands; Oh no another stem as gone! I’m losing control.
This is no good three flowers sitting only four inches out of the vase, all at different angles and all trying to head south.
Every time I pick the vase up another one collapses.
Gerard keeps on coming over making encouraging noises.
I’ve now finished staging and am checking out the competition.
Gee! The flowers in the Intermediate classes are great, can’t see me doing any good.
I’m going home how, head is splitting, blood pressure through the roof! I’m not waiting for the judging.
I’ll come back tomorrow to get the bad news.
My first and last show.
I can’t go through this again.!

Back at the show, Margaret is with me.
Boy! I’ve got a first in one of the classes and there are a couple of seconds, I feel pretty good.
This guy Jones seems to have beaten me in most of the classes, wonder who he is? Must be a good grower, should be in the major classes.
Ah! I’ve spotted Gerard over there, must ask him who this Jones is.
“10 year old lad you say, oh that’s nice”. (damn it)

I wonder when the next show is on?

Clive Taylor
Queensland Dahlia Society
Australia

Thank's Clive For That : Jack Gott

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N.W.D.S. COMMITTEE

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  More info on Dahlias at <  www.jrg-dahlias.co.uk  >

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Dahlia news and views, new dahlia varieties, dahlia links, dahlia gossip, dahlia shows, growing dahlias, dahlia hints, garden dahlias.

Dahlia news and views, new dahlia varieties, dahlia links, dahlia gossip, dahlia shows, growing dahlias, dahlia hints, garden dahlias.

News about dahlias, views about dahlias, links for dahlias, gossip about dahlias, shows about dahlias, growing the dahlia, hints about growing dahlias, articles about dahlias, dahlias for the garden.