Raetihi gardeners study dahlias

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 622, 6 February 1996, Page 11

Raetihi gardeners study dahlias

The 14 members present at the January meeting of the Raetihi Garden Club learnt how to recognise the different types of dahlia, each with its own characteristics, from Lynley Graham and Dawn Harper. Members were treated to a preview of a most beautiful orchid dahlia, which has not yet come onto the market. Among the different kinds the single, collarette, water lily , decorative, ball, pompom, fimbriated, semi-cactus and cactus should be exhibited under the "dahlia" section. The peony flowered collarette, the small and large cacti, the star and anemone dahlias should be exhibited under the "any other dahlia" section, they explained. Lynley said the pom pom must not have the centre open to show the stamens but it must sit on top of the stem. The stems themselves should be thick and straight. For large blooms, the stems should extend 240mm above the top of the vase. Points allocation for dahlias are 30 for form, 20 for stem, 20 for condition, 10 for size, 10 for colour quality. A further 10 is usually given for staging and naming the bloom, but after discussion at a special meeting after the Spring Show, members voted unanimously that blooms should not be named until after the judging. The meeting was on Wednesday 24 January, at the homeof HeatherOliverinthe Ruatiti Valley. At the end of

business, Dawn Harper was thanked by Di Martin on behalf of all the club members for organising the successful rose show in December. The A&P Show is being held on 17 February this year. It was decided, as space is at a premium because there are now so many exhibits, that entries for this Show should be limited to three per person in each class. An innovation this year will be a floral art category , which can be any summer arrangement Members were told that it would be appreciated if as many exhibitors as possible could bring their entries the night before the A&P Show. There will be members there to help classify the dahlias as well as on the morning of the Show. Schedules, which are free, are available for Williams and Kettle in Raetihi. In the monthly competitions Dorothy McNie came first for the shrub, with Keitha Journeaux second and Lynley Graham third. Dorothy McNie won the spike with Bev Hiscox second and Lynley Graham third. The single bloom was won by Bev Hiscox with Dorothy McNie . second and Lynley Graham third. The annual, which was the flower of the month, was won by Lynley Graham, with Bev Hiscox second and Dorothy McNie third. For points, Dorothy McNie came 1st with 13, Bev Hiscox 2nd with 11 and Lynley Graham 3rd with 10 points.