It is interesting to note that those people who did so much to foster the pelargonium and bring it to the public, all had names starting with "B". They were Mr. Ted Both, Mr. Len Bodey and Mr. John Blakeman. These three men started hybridising and propagating in the 1950's and what an impression they have made.
Mr. Blakeman, while living at Tally Ho in Victoria, started work with pelargoniums and wrote a regular article in the "Garden Lover" gardening magazine. These articles contributed greatly in the interest shown in pelargoniums. Mr. Blakeman was a foundation member of the Australian Pelargonium & Geranium Society, Victoria and from that Society, others developed in other states. In 1962, Mr. Blakeman went to Alice Springs to manage "The Old Timers Home" there. After his retirement, he continued on as a resident of the village.
In the May, 1987 edition of "Engineers Australia" a picture of the John Blakeman Bridge over the Todd River, just outside Alice Springs, had the following details -
'This bridge was named after John Blakeman, who is an Alice Springs resident and is prominent in community affairs, including the welfare of the young and elderly'.
The following list was compiled by Mr. Blakeman and as you will note, there is a large variety of cultivars to his credit.
| Bridesmaid's Pink | D. Rosy pink with bird's egg spots, originally named 'Double Bird's Egg'. Bright double pink with large blooms and long stems. Distinct white eye with bird's egg speckles |
| Adventure | S. red flower. |
| Ambassador | S. scarlet flower, large florets, slight zone in leaf. |
| Candy | S. striped red, on white background. Double white flower with a pink eye and pink petal edges. |
| Close of Day | S. bright orange-red flower. |
| Daisy Bates | S. pink-scarlet, white eye, large flower. |
| Desiree Gregg | S. turkey red on outer petals, shading to rose madder to centre, white throat three lower petals. |
| Ella Johnston | S. bright deep red, dark markings on petals. |
| Fernie Connell | S. velvety purple red, upper petals pinky-orange base, light blue highlights. |
| Forest Blossom | S. white with pink centre to flower. |
| Forest Sally | S. large red with white centre. Orange red outer petals, white centre, veined orange. |
| Forest Sundae | S. rose pink with white eye. |
| Gaiety | S. geranium lake, large flowers, heavily zoned leaf. |
| Georgina | S. light pink fading to white eye. |
| Honour Maude | S. mauve with white centre. |
| Jackqueline | S. Bird's Egg type, pink with deeper spots to petals. |
| Jean Churchman | S. pink, chance shaped flower. |
| Jean Johnston | S. salmon pink, twisted petals. |
| Jessie Blakeman | S. vermillion red/orange. |
Joan's Choice  | S. large white, overlaid red darkening to edges. White veined red. |
| Josephine Osborne | S. reddish purple with white eye. |
| Margaret Kay | S. Bird's Egg type, deep rose pink with white base to upper petals. |
| Marion Wilson | S. rose red flower. |
| Pink Drummond | S. rose pink flower. |
| Sally's Debut | S. apricot red, small white base. |
| Sweet Sixteen | S. white with fine red edge. |
| Tobruk | S. Bird's Egg type, purple. |
| Twilight | S. dark velvety red. |
| Wahroonga | S. mauvish purple. |
| Bewitched | SD. coral-salmon, huge florets, sport of 'Fiat Enchantress'. |
| Acanthus | S. seedling of 'Little Trot', slight butterfly markings on leaf. |
| Bendigo | S. red flower, bronze zone in leaf, improved 'Mrs. Quilter'. |
| Corroboree | S. salmon red flower, dark green leaf shaded bronze, fine cream edge slightly crinkled. Dark green leaf with central black zone. Single salmon red flowers, strong growth. |
| Friar Tuck | S. vermilion. flower, narrow bronze zone in leaf. |
| Grey Monk | S. red flower, silver leaf type, grey/green leaf. Large grey green leaves edged silver, upright growth. Single red flowers. |
| Munjon | S. orange flower, black blotch in the centre of leaf. |
| N'Goola | S. salmon flower, dark zoned leaf. |
| Nimitybel | S. dainty pink flowers in abundant supply, dark zoned leaf. |
| Playtime | S. primitive scarlet flower, dark zoned leaf. |
| Walkabout | S. primitive red flower, black blotch in centre of leaf. |
| Golden Border | S. dwarf, small bright red flower, solid gold leaf. |
| Much | S. dwarf, scarlet flower, dark leaf. |
| Bridget O'Flynn | D. rose red, large blooms, green centre. Huge flowers deep red with a green centre, strong growing |
| Cheetah | S. fuchsia purple, red feather markings on upper petals. |
| Ribbons | SD to D. solferine purple. |
| Sallen | S, pink flower, gold edge to leaf, sport of 'Duke of Edinburgh' (Introduced by Mr. J. Blakeman). |