The “small-flowered” class had its charm, if you were into that sort of thing. “Medium-flowered”, well you couldn’t dislike them as such. They were glads after all. But, for Warren, the only gladioli that truly earned their place on the show bench was the “large-flowered” class. None of that liberal-minded up to 10 open blooms allowed by less discerning judges of the small and medium classes. Each spike should have no more than seven open blooms at the base which completely cover the stem. The middle section, the flowers must show most colour but not be open. The top third, totally erect, is still in bud.
For Warren, this was the way that gladioli were meant to be.