The districts agricultural flower show competitions are extremely competitive, even downright cutthroat. And the entry for dahlias is easily at the top of the list as the most savage in deceit and ruthless in behaviour. You would practically kill all others to win. And all in the pursuit of immediate yet false glory.
At the last local show, a dear friend of mine, proudly entered in the dahlia cut flower competition over 20 different specimens. When she returned the next day to view the selected winners, someone had secretly switched the name cards attempting to gain credit for her winning dahlias.
Luckily, my very savvy friend, had cunningly marked the stems of all her entries, so she was eventually able to regain credit for her own winning specimens. Yep, it’s a dog-eat-dog world, or rather a dahlia-eat-dahlia world.
I don’t know what happened to the switchers. The hard evidence of their despicable deceit and reprehensible behaviour, was broadcast clearly with their names on the switched cards. Repercussions must have followed, though I am not sure of what nature or severity.
I sincerely hope they were black banned from entering any future competitions, and that their shame and ostracization in the local community will shadow dark and punitively plague both their gardening and social lives for forever and a thousand days. Bastards.
Thankfully I am not so competitive in nature. Yet within my own garden the large collection of different dahlias always jockey to be the most beautiful and decorative. However they are all crowned winners to me.
Happy gardening and have fun
Regards Ned McDowell.