NAME A DAHLIA AFTER A LOVE ONE

 THE 2010 CHARITIES DAHLIAS NAMES HAVE BEEN DRAWN

ALL WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM GILBERTS NURSERY IN 2012

 TO SEE THE RESULTS CLICK THE ASTERISK BY EACH CHARITY

I probably set my target to high when I started this charity dahlia idea - still it is better to have a target to aim for isn't it? What all you generous people have done is to make me realise just how many charities there are wanting help - so in 2011 I'll be doubling the number I try to help plus two making the total fifty although - I might just stretch it to fifty one for the sake of keeping things even on the page. Obviously there are no dahlias to support these charities yet until the first bloom in 2011. People wonder how these dahlias come to be - most of the general public thinking dahlias come only from tubers, but the truth is most plants start as a seed, and then develop a means to reproduce. In the dahlias case it forms small tubers in its first year from seed  - from which shoots appear around the crown. If left in the ground to over winter - yes they will over winter in the ground if protected with a mulch of straw - peat - or rough ground cover, but watch for slugs in the Spring by applying some form of deterrent. In my case the tubers are lifted - washed - dried, and over wintered in a garage who's temperature doesn't drop lower than 35 degrees, and doesn't rise to more than around 40 degrees centigrade during the winter months - that is most important - fat chance there was of that last winter, or this so far.

As the sun warms the earth, and temperatures rise they are boxed up, and gradually shoots begin to form. When large enough these are detached and inserted as cuttings, when rooted they are potted, grown on before planting out doors after all fear of frost has gone. This first year after the seed has germinated is essential to assess how good the new varieties are - should I have been wrong in my first diagnosis and a variety doesn't stand up to my assessment you can be sure a better variety will take its place to carry your chosen name, but I am sure most times I can spot a winner and it will perform well in the garden. For my exhibition friends I'll say this - not all dahlias produce show blooms - but to my mind all dahlias are superb, and worth growing especially if they bare someone's name. Should any charities want a dahlia for 2011 please don't hesitate to get in touch, but two things must be recognised - they have to be supported by the Just Giving flag, and secondly the positions will fill up very fast whether charities send in or not - because I'm constantly being reminded of charities that are struggling to make ends meet - these will be added to the totals below, and all go through to Kesdahlias Charity Selections for 2011.

FOR THOSE NEW TO THE DELIGHTS OF DAHLIAS AND MY PASSION

As my days of  a full time hobbyist have come to a close I am donating the time I have left to my wife, family, friends, and charities - of course there are those who feel sure I am not really giving up, but holding on to my hobby with both hands tight, but believe me to abandon that whole rigmarole of bedding down the lifted tubers has come to a close, and the only way I can manage is to split and pot - hoping that each variety has at least one good plant come planting time. Secretly I suppose I am holding on to my hobby because not having anything to cling to in the real world would finish me, but I must say I'm getting almost as much pleasure from helping charities as the intensity it takes to be a real dahlia grower.

I am sure you know that in most cases charities are run by a handful of dedicated volunteers, even huge organizations rely on willing charitable hands. This year there are quite a few charities to choose from, each with a different dahlia that needs naming. If you click on the asterisk next to the charity name you can see a picture of each one. By donating £2 or more to the charity - your suggestion will be entered into a draw, and at the end of the year the winners in each will have their chosen name on that particular dahlia. By ratio alone the more you donate the greater the chance of your allotted name coming out of the hat - although occasionally,  fate takes a hand. You will be able to  see the results on this web site and in time on all the charities websites. An organization who help make giving easier, and has the appropriate name of Just Giving say that in order to use their facilities I have to create a separate page for each charity I use and the charity must use Just Giving's facilities hence the choice of  those selected. 

THE 2011 CHARITIES

 YOU CAN DONATE IN ANY CURRENCY ALL OVER THE WORLD

   CLICK ON THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE ENTER YOUR DONATION  AND FOLLOW THE ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONS

EVERY TWO POUNDS SECURES A PLACE IN OUR YEARLY DRAW WHICH TAKE PLACE EACH DECEMBER

 SHOULD YOU WANT TO DONATE TO ANY CHARITY WHEN THEY ARE SET UP BE MY GUEST  

YOU'LL BE DONATING BLIND BECAUSE THE NEW DAHLIAS WILL NOT BE ON SHOW UNTIL SOMETIME IN JULY

A TWO POUND DONATION IS VERY RARELY MISSED SO WHY NOT BUILD YOUR OWN DONATION FUND

 WHAT A SURPRISE TO SEE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE NAMED  AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR

NEVER COULD COUNT

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