Visit to a Dutch Dahlia Nursery of International Fame

[Lvandelft]

Last week I visited  a nursery which was 60 years run by a Dutch Dahlia breeder, Cor 
Geerlings, known all over the world for his great skill in breeding Dahlia's.

One of Cor's first varieties, 'Glorie van Heemstede' quickly became the prototype
for an entire group of dahlias, called the waterlily group, so named for the waterlily-like
flower form. He introduced it in 1947 and it is still one of the better Dahlia's for cutting.

I know that Dahlia is not a usual plant grown by most of our Forumists, but I was really
impressed by the enormous range of colours and forms.
Therefore I want to show here some pictures which I made at this great place.

I must admit that I myself never really was (nor had the time to be) interested in these
products, because I was a professional grower of totally different plants.
Fact is that in many countries over the world Dahlia's are grown and in many country exists
Societies which are organising great shows.
And in this time of year these plants bring a lot of colour in many gardens.

My first picture shows the entrance of the Nursery Geerlings Dahlia's Heemstede NL

Then some of the waterlily Type: Dahlia Small Waterlily (S.W.L.) 102 - 152 mm

Dahlia  Glory of Heemstede (S.W.L.)
Dahlia Caballero (S.W.L.)           
Dahlia Karma Choc (S.W.L.)
Dahlia Dewi (S.W.L.)           
Dahlia Sam Hopkins (S.W.L.)         
Dahlia Taratahi Ruby (S.W.L.)

[Lvandelft]

In the second batch some Dahlia Giant Semi-Cactus (G.S.C.) 254 mm. +       

Dahlia Black Jack                   
Dahlia Debra Ann Craven           
Dahlia Royal Wedding 1             

and some Dahlia Giant Decoratives (G.D.)  254 mm. +
I suppose these ones with the biggest flowers had the greatest impact on me, but
not for my own garden...

Dahlia Bill Holmberg                 
Dahlia Jetfire     
Dahlia Cream Alva's           
Dahlia Hamari Gold 1           
Dahlia Hamari Gold 2       
Dahlia Bryn Terfel   

more to come...

[Maggi Young]

As you say, Luit, these are not plants which are grown by many alpinists but they are surely still of interest to those with open minds    I must tell you, as an aside, that some of my dearest friends are alpine growers AND dahlia JUDGES!!

[art600]

As you say, Luit, these are not plants which are grown by many alpinists but they are surely still of interest to those with open minds   

Maggi

you are so right about the open minds.  I remember at an AGS meeting we had Peter Cunnington (a fantastic speaker) booked to give a talk on Alpines.  When he arrived he confessed that he had brought the wrong talk and would quite understand if we wanted to abandon the meeting.  It was a talk for the Hardy Plant Society and we all agreed afterwards it was one of the best talks we had had in ages - nobody I know has a garden comprising ONLY alpines, and we all grow hardy plants.

We agreed, thenceforth, to include non-alpine talks in our programme. 

[Lvandelft]

Thank you for the nice compliments.
I was doubting a bit if the SRGC Forum would be the right place for this report.
But considering we have reports about so many different things from Alpines to Wildlife,
or from Bulbs to Weather I decided to show these too.

For those with the open minds some more pictures then 
In this batch first a view of the field with Ball Dahlia
and some cultivars

Dahlia veld
Dahlia Fire Mountain (Min. D.)
Dahlia Eveline (S.D.)   
Dahlia Top Totti (Min. D.)     

and some Large Decoratives (L.D.) 203 - 254 mm

Dahlia Blithe Spirit                   
Dahlia Café au Lait                     
Dahlia Vassio Meggos 
Dahlia Silver City               
Dahlia Spartacus

[Lvandelft]

Here are first two Large Semi-Cactus (L.S.C.) 203 - 254 mm
Picture 3 shows the breeder with his son who will continue the nursery in future.
They are standing in front of some of the 1700 seedlings this year.

Dahlia Citizen 
Dahlia Vulkaan 
Cor en Jan Geerlings           

And some  Medium Decoratives (M.D.) 152 - 203 mm

Dahlia Engelhardt's Matador           
Dahlia Ingrid's Traum         
Dahlia Alloway Cottage       
Dahlia Tartan 1             
Dahlia Tartan 2     
Dahlia Miss Blanche     (about 60 yrs. old Dahlia)!
Dahlia Purple Joy         

[Maggi Young]

You know, I am not a great lover of double flowers but these Dahlias seem to have a life of their own... it is hard not to like their lush colours and symmetry. I am interested to see the wind netting and mesh support system used in the field, also.
It is really good to see that Cor Geerlings has his son Jan  to follow in his footsteps.... that is always a pleasure to see, a family involvement continuing through the years.

[Lvandelft]

Mr. Geerlings was a Flower Arranger too and he has arranged many great International Gardenshows
in Holland and other countries in Europe during his life.
When visiting the nursery an eyecather was an arrangement standing in a hall, where some seats and
tables were placed and many pictures on the walls.

Dahlia Arrangement       

a few more Medium Decoratives:

Dahlia Geerling's Moonlight             
Dahlia Lilac Times       
Dahlia Orange Garden         
Dahlia Thomas Edison           
Dahlia Geerling's Pimpernel       

one Miniature Decorative (Min.D.) - 102 mm
Dahlia Yellow Spider     

and also some low growing Dahlia's, which would fit in almost every garden.

Dahlia Amalia                 
Dahlia Claudette               
Dahlia Gallery Art Deco     

more to come later....

[Lvandelft]

Maggi, this windnetting is necessary of course, but it makes it extremely
difficult to make pictures where you see not much of it.
It used to be of iron, but now it is plastic and light handling.
But more ugly to see..

[art600]

I am so impressed how the breeders have produced such different and varied plants from such humble beginnings.

Luit

Thank you for posting such an interesting thread

[mark smyth]

Luit your new thread has arrived at a good time. May I use some of your images in a lecture I'm giving tomorrow? The title is "Daisy Paradise - Bellis minima to Helianthus x kellermanii"

[Lvandelft]

I am so impressed how the breeders have produced such different and varied plants from such humble beginnings.

Arthur, that's also one of the reasons I show this thread.
These improvements impressed me too.

[Lvandelft]

Luit your new thread has arrived at a good time. May I use some of your images in a lecture I'm giving tomorrow? The title is "Daisy Paradise - Bellis minima to Helianthus x kellermanii"

That's o.k. Mark. Now you have at least some bigger daisies with good colours. 
When I get them fixed, I will show some more soon which are more daisy-like.


BTW what is Helianthus x kellermannii??  Picture??

[mark smyth]

This sunflower is very tall - 3meters+. It has straight stems that look like it will never flower. In mid September a fire work display of small yellow flowers erupts from the top. Unfortunately I dont have a photo of the whole plant for this year as they were broken by high winds a few week back. Here is a rubbish photo from 2005. The wall is 5 feet 1.5m

[Lvandelft]

First four Small Semi-Cactus (S.S.C.) 102 - 152 mm

Dahlia Henriëtte                 
Dahlia Oakwood Goldcrest (S.S.C.)
Dahlia Blyton Softer Queen   
Dahlia Red Majorette           

followed by a few Small Ball (S. Ba.) 102 - 152 mm   

Dahlia Siska                       
Dahlia Bacchus     

followed by some single flowering Dahlia's, where I noticed many butterflies.
When I looked at the seedlings I saw that there were not many single flowering
plants among them.
I personally like the single ones very much, but I learned that the aim of Mr. Geerlings is to breed
the double forms with strong stems needed to carry the flowers and perfect formed flowers.

One picture where I am talking with a man who really deserves the nickname I was
given in my avatar   

Dutch Master(s)
Dahlia Happy Single Wink 
Dahlia Happy Single Wink 1 
Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff