This is named after the late Don Hill a great ambassador for the dahlia. Another for the floral artist, they don’t all sit as flat as Anne Breckenfelder, which I think is a bench mark for all show collerettes, but this one’s a nice self red, and will be in demand by the arrangers.

I would have liked to have seen a little more colour on the lower petals, lots to come, and we’ve all seen many water lily flowered dahlias that don’t match this one. I wonder where they got their breeding stock from?

You know for one thing this variety has been tested, it isn’t one of those varieties that’s been raised one year and straight in the trials the next, this raiser would have the patience to make sure the variety was trial worthy. I liked it, didn’t it score with the judges because it’s an informal medium decorative? Bet we see it on the bench, and a lovely name that suits it and the American firemen.

Can’t judge it from this shot, seems to sit more or less right, and the first three or four rows of petals are opening as per normal. I’m predicting it’s going to make it’s mark. A typical American name.

Sunny name, sunny flower, possibly one petal out of line, perfect ball in my book, I’m beginning to think that because of their classification, some of these flowers are being down pointed. This has to be an over the top shot of the flower because I’m sure I can’t see a stem.

Two or three rows of petal out, so who can say what will happen here but I’m hoping it will be something new to grace the Giant semi-cactus group, shades of Daleko Jupiter perhaps.

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