I was walking round the dahlia field with my camera at Gilberts Nursery near Romsey when I heard a voice:
"Are you alright there?"
"Yes, thanks, I replied," and asked, "Do you work here?"
"I'm the owner," said the owner of the voice.
"Then I guess you do," I said, and then, as the gentleman in question began to carry on with his work, I found myself speaking about my strangers' project and asking if he would participate.
A little hesitation followed on his part, saying he does not like having his photo taken. I explained my project further and introduced myself.
The owner introduced himself and we shook hands: meet Nick. It was agreed I could take some photos and there followed a little discussion to decide the location.
Nick wanted to include dahlias in the shot but I explained that this would be difficult in a head and shoulders portrait. I told him that I would plan anyway to include separate photos of the dahlias in my story accompanying his portrait.
I took a couple of shots.
Nick told me that he had worked in landscaping for 18 years and came to this site 15 years ago. He started small with a few dahlias as the site was very run-down. The business grew unexpectedly quickly and he now has customers at home and abroad and recently supplied a red and yellow dahlia called **Chimborazo to Monty Don for 'Gardeners World' on BBC TV.
We exchanged emails and Nick gave me a brochure containing much useful information including a 'portrait' photo of each dahlia with its name.
The dahlia field is open, with over 300 varieties of dahlias, from mid August until the first frosts of autumn.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and there was coffee and walnut cake in the tea room. A bunch of dahlias came home with me.
** photos of the dahlias here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/48591273466/in/dateposted-public/
The name intrigued me - Mr. Google said it was an extinct volcano in Ecuador.
Perhaps it looks like an explosion of colour! See here too: https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/dahlia-chimborazo/