After President Roy Knight and Vice President David Jasper this time the spotlight falls on our other Vice President Terry Stevens.
Well Terry you are regarded as one of the Societies elder statesmen, do you know how long you have been a member.
l believe l have been a member since the late 80’s, it all happened by chance as l was driving through Tresillian and noticed a big sign on the side of the road advertising a Dahlia show, up till that point l had no idea there was a Dahlia society in Cornwall. I went in and was very impressed with what l saw, l got chatting with David Jasper who promised me a few tubers so l joined there and then.
Had you grown Dahlias before that point
Actually l had, l got married in 1958 and soon after we moved into our first house. With a house a garden comes and as a birthday present my mother bought me a collection of Dahlias from the Littlewoods Catalogue for our new garden, 62 years later l am still growing Dahlias. My local Show was Biscovey and l nervously entered a few flowers that summer and to my surprise l picked up a third and a Highly Commended and that as they say was that. l was well and truly hooked. Over the next few summers this grew to showing at 10 local shows.
Have you tried showing up country
As l said l entered all over mid Cornwall and over into Devon, The West of England Dahlia Society Competition was held in Plymouth one year and l won the Best Medium Decoratives class, for this l received a very nice Tea Set. Competitors used to come down for this show from all over the country so l was very pleased with my efforts.
You have a well deserved reputation for growing and showing your Giants were they always your favourites but I wonder have you grown much else?
Over the years l have grown nearly every type except Waterlillys. In my early years l grew a lot of Small and Medium Decoratives and Small Cactus and had a lot of success with these but l then moved onto the Giant Decoratives and Giant Cactus
Everyone has their own little secret to success, what do you think yours was apart from the umbrellas?
My father was a very good gardener and would often give me advice but his best was “you only get out of the ground what you put in.” At my very first show at Biscovey l met Mr Harold Wilkinson, the breeder of the legendary Pompon Gurtla Twilight, he was always ready to answer any questions and give me help. Then there was Mr Dunn, a breeder of many Dahlias including the Giant Decorative Trelawney, he only lived 10 minutes up the road and was always happy to chat and give some advice.
So, Terry of all you have grown over the years have you any favourites
Definitely, my two favourite Medium Decoratives without doubt would be White Charlie and Charlie Two, my Giants gave me plenty of success and then of late l have grown a some
Sheval Megan a Small Decorative of outstanding exhibition quality.
And l have to ask was there one (or a few?) that caused you problems
Yes, that is an easy one to answer, l never had much success with Pompons.
The CDS has a growing membership, many just starting out on the growing and showing journey could you offer some advice to them?
Don’t go too big to start off, try starting with a few varieties and work up but more importantly don’t be afraid to ask, there are many good knowledgeable growers in the Society who are only too pleased to help.