'Deeply devoted to dahlias'. Certainly that could be one description of Grenville Davies' most absorbing pastime. He could also be called; judge, exhibitor, grower. However, he would say, modestly, of himself; amateur, non-expert and recently retired.

After a most interesting and informative evening at this month's meeting of the Manorbier Gardening Club many of his listeners would beg to differ with his words of "amateur," non-expert" and "recently retired." As was mentioned in the vote of thanks if he is an amateur then that leaves many gardeners with no category at all.

The venue as usual was the Village Hall. The time was 7.30 pm. The day was Wednesday. Mr. Davies was the guest speaker and the subject was 'Dahlias'.

He spoke and later showed slides to illustrate his talk. The audience was entertained, informed and wowed by his dedication and devotion to growing, showing, judging and competing with his chosen favourite, the dahlia.

If he had selected the Rose, Violet, Daisy, Iris, Ivy, Magnolia, Heather, Marigold, Myrtle or Pansy we might have thought his interests were not of a horticultural nature. But, it was Dahlia who had taken his fancy. Strangely, the beautiful 'Dahlia' has never become a girl's name, well not yet!

In 1784 specimens were brought to Europe from Mexico and cultivated by the Swedish botanist called Anders Dahl, hence its name.

Although the plant originated from the New World, and notwithstanding that the Americans are keenly competitive in the cultivation, growing and showing of the species, Mr. Davies explained they had achieved "size but not quality."

The audience heard how they could grow strong, colourful plants with a little care and attention paid to growing conditions, temperature, shelter and nutrients.

The speaker explained various methods of propagation. Dahlias can, of course be raised from seed. However with this, the most economic method, one must weigh up easy germination against having an unknown mix of colours, despite what the illustration looks like on the front of the packet. On the other hand tubers can be bought, usually having been prepared in Holland. Again no real guarantee of colour.

Tubers can be prepared at home from existing plants and Mr. Davies gave a few valuable tips for success with this, his most favoured method. "Cut off the tops of the plants in late November right down to ground level. This is best done during a dry spell. Add slug pellets. Cover with peat, ashes or straw. Provide some shelter from the rain with boards or two Welsh roof slates, leaning on each other, are ideal. The tubers should then keep soundly through the winter months but take extra care if your growing area is exposed or subject to frosts."

Exhibitors, of course, do not take risks! They store tubers indoors, not in the greenhouse, because temperatures vary too much, but in a dry, well-ventilated area such as a shed, garage or cellar.

Cat litter trays, with holes drilled in them, made the ideal container for tubers, cosily covered with straw and left for the tubers to hibernate in a well ventilated, dry area. Mr. Davies reminded us that tubers stored in this way needed extra attention to ensure they were drained of moisture before their winter sleep.

Cuttings can also be taken and he favoured a mixture of peat and vermiculite or pure sand with a spot of rooting powder as a medium. They may need 'bottom warming' heat from February through to May. Take care to shade cuttings prepared with this method from the sun and also to spray them to keep them damp and happy.

Grenville Davies highlighted his devotion to his dahlias, grown for exhibition, by explaining that spraying each plant very carefully, at least four times a day, was required to achieve perfect blooms.

Club members were told to use plenty of water for dahlias, to mulch with six inch layers of straw and in addition, to feed these hungry plants. They are shallow rooting and dry out easily. Stopping with finger and thumb controls height and powder insecticides do less peripheral damage to (exhibition) plants than spray.

Dahlias can be officially and measurably, miniature, small, medium or giant. The audience were shown the gadgets used by judges such as Mr. Davies which were weights and measures devices of sorts. Dahlias can be pom-pom or cactus.

The judging process is rather like applying for a job vacancy. If you get through the preliminary rounds you have to have the stamina (and the colour, evenness, size, freshness and wow factor) to get through to final success. And that applies only to the plant not the exhibitors!

Of all the species shown Mr. Davies was most proud of a lovely bloom of a purply mauve colour called 'Pembroke Patti', a new variety that he had raised from a 'sport', registered and exhibited. Now for a man deeply devoted to dahlias who could he have named that variety after?

That evening every club member present learned how the top dahlia grows effectively and economically deal with earwigs, how to develop your very own new dahlia variety and what to do with the annoying calyx on pom-pom dahlias.

The slides shown in illustration of the talk helped to give the audience a peep behind the scenes of raising and showing dahlias successfully.

If you would like to access the knowledge and experience of horticultural experts such as Grenville Davies you should come along to the gardening club meetings normally held on the second Wednesday of every month in the Parish Hall, Manorbier at 7.30 pm.

The June meeting however, is actually a mid-summer visit to Hellebore Heaven in Llandysul, more formally known as Farmyard Nurseries run by one of the club's great favourites, Richard Bramley.

Wednesday, July 9 is a normal club meeting, with the guest speaker on the subject of 'organic gardening'.

Further details are available from the club chairman, Bruce Price. Telephone him on (01834) 871464, he will answer any enquiries.

Why not come along? You will be made most welcome, and then you will know how to deal with those old earwigs with a common household product!