Peter Hedden.		Mayan Madonna.

Peter Hedden you've already seen at the start of this article, I'm using it here to illustrate a point. First impressions and they seem to have at least one parent which is the same, wrong, the big, well it's bigger than a small, probably a medium, the crimson one is out of a Summer Night x Kenora Sunset cross. Look at the difference in the form, to the cross I made last year that produced Mayan Warrior. Something in Kenora Sunset added to what Summer Night already had, and Lemon Elegans didn't have. To make a pretty good medium straight cactus, in a colour we haven't got in this Group. Strange to say the bi-colour element didn't transfer to this seedling. Now Mayan Madonna, which has a hard green centre in it's first bloom, is out of Ruskin Joy, I have know idea who was the guilty party was who bought this about, perhaps we ought to ask Mr. Bumble. Oh you thought I only used hand crossed seed, not on your life, how else could I prove hand crossing was best. Seriously, I am convinced this variety will make a pretty good miniature cactus. We'll see.

	Mayan Mini.		Mayan Mood.

The first flower here is a better example of a miniature semi-cactus than the last, the bi-colouring was darker as the flower developed, and the older the plant become. Out of Ruskin Myra x Karma Bon Bon. I'd have love to have said the next one, Mayan Mood was a cross using Carolina Moon again, but these Double Orchids seem to turn up in almost any cross. I suppose it's hidden within the cactus make up, and instead of the petal edges turning downwards, they turn upwards. Just another bit of DNA that has a mind of it's own.

	Mayan Sunset		Mexico Mate.

Mayan Sunset of course was out of the Kenora with the same last name, but it is a shadow of it's mother, perhaps something in the father, Karma Bon Bon made it more laid back, and unwilling to get cracking. Mexico Mate on the other hand had plenty of get up and go, but unfortunately was not looking at the sun. Slightly clock faced. But the bloom which was out of Charlie Briggs x Winholme Diane could make it to the ball, but not literally with points like that.

	My Neddy.		And the back view.

I think this is probably the best dahlia I will ever produce, so you're gonna have to wait for it. Okay we've got a lot of red decorative dahlias, but not one like this. If ever there was a case for a new class this is it, semi-decorative, a bloom that is half way between a good decorative and a good ball. You might say I've luckily picked a formula that has produced three varieties that fit this description. Mexico Magic, Lime House, and this one. Of course it is early days, and the best of breeders have mouthed off to soon, when they've had their rose coloured spectacles on, but I pray this dahlia has a good life. It's named after my dear Dad, Edward Alfred Stock, who was idolised by my dear Mum Margaret, who referred to him as My Neddy, hence the name. I'd already had what I thought was a fantastic light bronze semi-cactus called Ned Stock a couple of years back, so good I placed it in the Northern trials, it turned out to be just another flower, wish I'd have known Bob Hendley then, it might have had a life. The photograph of My Neddy doesn't do it justice, please tell me how to snap a red flower.

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