Dahlia history and a bit more....

OK, if we are name dropping then I once met Alan Tichmarsh. Actually 'met' is probaby not the correct word, more like 'passed'. We were out shopping and he walked by us in the street, his face looked familar but he was gone before I realised who he was, he was in a rush, maybe off to the toilet too

 

Dave, I remember Percy Thrower, I saw him in his Garden Centre at Shrewsbury many years ago hanging around the tills - I'd forgotten all about that.

 

I don't know Dave, it's years since I've been to Shrewsbury - my sister used to live there in the 1970s.

 

Oh God, where have I gone wrong I've never met any celebrity in the Gardening World! Where did I go wrong!??

 

You haven't lived ARMANDII, I've got a mate who is the spitting image of Monty Don (actually it's more incredible that I've got a mate )

 

The one iconic gardener I would have loved to have met was the late great Geoff Hamilton. I've been to Percy Throwers garden centre [he'd long gone to the great Kew in the sky] and I wasn't greatly impressed. There was very little stock and what there was looked badly cared for. Maybe it was just a bad day!

For those interested in the history of the dahlia the thread "From the Old Book" takes you back to the 1750's
and how the dahlia was first introduced into Britain and Europe.

JWK, I know I haven't lived! But where did I go wrong??!! [I never gave it a thought about you having a mate!}

Probably the 3 gardening personalities I want to meet are Christine Walker, Carol Klein, Monty Don, Oh! and
maybe {yum yum] Rachel De Thame. My only claim to fame is that I did meet and shake hands with HM Lizzie II in 74 and she believe or not said she loved gardening but didn't get the time!!