Post by Tel on Jan 29, 2011 20:04:32 GMT
i have copied this over from you know where.
THE NOVICE
Sadly, local Societies are beginning to fold as those who started them, decades ago, grow too old, run out of enthusiasm, or go to the great horticulture in the sky.
Novices are the future of any society. Where do they come from? How do we nurture them and how do we keep them interested?
To start with, they are a rare breed. So when one comes along, cultivate him or her as you would your most expensive novelty.
First of all is your novice the sort that will only be satisfied by been the Champion of your Society or a major winner at the National show?
Not everyone will want to scale those heights. perhaps your novice is someone who just likes to take part, or maybe a simple third prize at the local show will suffice initially. So what advice can you give?
It will not help to tell your novice that it is a hard road to the top or that it's easy. Neither is precisely true. What you can truthfully say is that dahlia growing can be a mixture of good friendship combined with quite serious competitiveness amongst the Dahlia Brethren.
Be generous with your time, your knowledge and your plants.
First of all, what does your novice know about dahlias? How much time can he or she give to the hobby? What resources, by way of growing space? If an intending exhibitor what transport? And what level of finance?
Tell your novice, to begin with, it's all about learning. Admit that you do not know everything there is to know but that you hope to improve his learning as well as your own through his or her eyes.
Get the Novice to know your dahlia mates. Take the novice to dahlia events and shows.
It will perhaps be old hat to you but all fresh and new to your novice.
Persuade the novice to choose what to start with. Maybe the desire for Cactus varieties, Decoratives or Pompons, Giants or miniatures. We know there is so much to choose from. Remind the Novice of the old saying, cut your suit according to your cloth, and that it is better to plant nine plants of six varieties rather than six plants of nine varieties. There should be plans whatever the Novice;s aims.
The advise should include the time required in August and September of the need to spend an hour at least each day for every hundred plants grown, rather than five hours on a Sunday.
Tell the Novice that showing will have highs and lows. That there will be wins that should not be, and equally there will be losses that should not be. Nevertheless, over time, these things even themselves out. The trick is to enjoy both.
Tell the Novice of the pleasure of raising plants from cuttings or seed and using the dahlia to enhance the garden and of giving blooms to those unfortunates who do not grow dahlias.
Tell the Novice that growing dahlias can bring friends, not only around this country but also around the world, and that it will take him or her to places they never expected to go.
i think if it goes right, the novice will become not only a Dahlia expert, but maybe the saviour of your Society. Enjoying the experience as you also will.
Get the novice not only to join your Society, but also the National Dahlia Society.
Above all, give the important message that, whatever, the family and
their well-being is the greatest prize of all.
THE NOVICE
Sadly, local Societies are beginning to fold as those who started them, decades ago, grow too old, run out of enthusiasm, or go to the great horticulture in the sky.
Novices are the future of any society. Where do they come from? How do we nurture them and how do we keep them interested?
To start with, they are a rare breed. So when one comes along, cultivate him or her as you would your most expensive novelty.
First of all is your novice the sort that will only be satisfied by been the Champion of your Society or a major winner at the National show?
Not everyone will want to scale those heights. perhaps your novice is someone who just likes to take part, or maybe a simple third prize at the local show will suffice initially. So what advice can you give?
It will not help to tell your novice that it is a hard road to the top or that it's easy. Neither is precisely true. What you can truthfully say is that dahlia growing can be a mixture of good friendship combined with quite serious competitiveness amongst the Dahlia Brethren.
Be generous with your time, your knowledge and your plants.
First of all, what does your novice know about dahlias? How much time can he or she give to the hobby? What resources, by way of growing space? If an intending exhibitor what transport? And what level of finance?
Tell your novice, to begin with, it's all about learning. Admit that you do not know everything there is to know but that you hope to improve his learning as well as your own through his or her eyes.
Get the Novice to know your dahlia mates. Take the novice to dahlia events and shows.
It will perhaps be old hat to you but all fresh and new to your novice.
Persuade the novice to choose what to start with. Maybe the desire for Cactus varieties, Decoratives or Pompons, Giants or miniatures. We know there is so much to choose from. Remind the Novice of the old saying, cut your suit according to your cloth, and that it is better to plant nine plants of six varieties rather than six plants of nine varieties. There should be plans whatever the Novice;s aims.
The advise should include the time required in August and September of the need to spend an hour at least each day for every hundred plants grown, rather than five hours on a Sunday.
Tell the Novice that showing will have highs and lows. That there will be wins that should not be, and equally there will be losses that should not be. Nevertheless, over time, these things even themselves out. The trick is to enjoy both.
Tell the Novice of the pleasure of raising plants from cuttings or seed and using the dahlia to enhance the garden and of giving blooms to those unfortunates who do not grow dahlias.
Tell the Novice that growing dahlias can bring friends, not only around this country but also around the world, and that it will take him or her to places they never expected to go.
i think if it goes right, the novice will become not only a Dahlia expert, but maybe the saviour of your Society. Enjoying the experience as you also will.
Get the novice not only to join your Society, but also the National Dahlia Society.
Above all, give the important message that, whatever, the family and
their well-being is the greatest prize of all.