Dahlia Society of California
November, 2004

NEXT MEETING:
9 November @ 8 PM @ 9th & Lincoln.  
Program: Lou Paradise reprises:  Lifting & Dividing Tubers. Bring a clump which you do NOT plan to keep to use as practice.  A cutting board & a sharp knife would help.  The Cornishes will bring a TV clip from Gardening by the Yard’s episode “Dahlias.”  2005 Dahlia calendars will be available for $10.  Who will bring something scrumptious to share for nibbles?

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A DAY IN THE PARK:  Bill, Lou P. & Dick arrived at 7 am with two carloads of tables, stools, chairs, benches, signs & of course—DAHLIAS!  Their booth, H-1, at the end of a row meant front and side exposure to the public with the option of a second booth, gratefully accepted. 

With the tables set up & the dahlias stashed underneath for safety, Lou ferried the gang to the Town Hall for a pancake breakfast, served by the local firefighters & police.  By 9 am, Lakshmi arrived from San Jose, quickly followed by the Dingwalls & Thelma.  Jim arrived with 2 more buckets of dahlias, so Ann, Rudy & the breakfast bunch arranged flowers. 

As lunch drew neigh, Rose & Carol arrived with 2005 calendars.  Everyone enjoyed free ice cream, glorious weather, fun entertainment, Farmers’ Market & the Vintage Car display. 

There was great interest in the DSC’s colorful booths.  Spanish speakers, Ron & Rudy were kept just as busy as the English speakers answering questions.  Although persistently pestered to sell the dahlias, the conventioneers didn’t succumb until 3:30, as the show ended at 4.

THE LAST MINI SHOW: Due to the lateness of the season, Ron & Serge had to choose between some popped centers & some less than full blooms.  Serge surprised everyone with his helpful and light-hearted resume of the prize contenders. 

Congratulations to Barbara for her shimmery white Lady Liberty, Best in Show.  Serge concluded with a report on dahlia growing in Washington & Oregon, reluctantly allowing that he will likely be moving to Roseburg next year—our painful loss!  Thanks to Baker Bill for a scrumptious Rum cake & to Barbara for luscious chocolate chip cookies. 

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THE DIRT ON DIRT:  Lou L. debuted with a talk on creating the correct pH for growing dahlias—between 6.5-7.0.  Using a cup of dirt, he demonstrated how to use the "Rapitest" soil test kit by Luster Leaf which is available at a number of local hardware stores.  The kit costs less than $20 and provides enough reagents to run 10 tests each for pH, N, P, and K. 

Detailed instructions in the kit explain how to perform the analyses and, based on the results, what corrective actions to take.  An important subtlety is that correcting the pH should be done in the fall or winter, long before tubers or cuttings are planted.  This precludes chlorosis due to iron and manganese insolubility and the possible toxic effects of free ammonia.   

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NEOPHYTES’S PARADISICAL JUNGLE:  Melissa & I visited Professor Lombardo’s amazing garden.  Despite being out in the murky foggy Sunset, his leaves grew strongly green, not a speck of mildew nor a trace of leafminer.  Wow!!!!  Some of his stalks were as thick as my fist.  Obviously science & chemistry can work wonders.  Both his Show ‘N Tells & his Creekside Volcanos grew huge & luminous. 

Glorious Show 'n Tell

Foil lined greenhouse

Lou color-codes his pesticides/ fungicides/soil drenches/& mitecides by adding a couple drops of food coloring, thereby never confusing bottles of one for another.  Using advanced mathematics, Lou worked out equations for the amounts of each “cide” to run thru a hose applicator.  (Ask him; it’s fascinating! ) Lou’s garage greenhouse features aluminum foil 360 lining to insure equal amounts of light everywhere. 

Outstanding Crreekside Volcano

Therein he nurtures the amazingly lush cuttings he coaxes from a mere double leaf pieces that he cuts off from snazzy cultivars.  We covet Lou’s treasures come Tuber Sale.


Lou in his Sunset garden ->

Lou's stalks as big as a fist

CATCH UP:  Because Elsie was unable to attend September’s meeting, she summarized our 2004 Show winners.  Using Louise’s descriptive photos, Elsie shared her observations regarding the ADS National Show in Seattle & the gardens they visited.

GOSSIP: GORY & GLORY:  Joan recovers from knee surgery surrounded by adoring dogs & plenty of videos.  Courage & patience!  Kevin & Karen announced that the 2005 Corralitos catalog is available on line:  www.Corralitosgardens.com  This year they sell pot roots as well as cuttings for early consumption. 

CG Paragon from Corralitos Gardens

Bob Bloomfield donates buckets of blooms

Barbara reported that her biological spider mite predators worked, albeit they were rather expensive.  Next year she will act sooner.  Deborah took Erik’s slides on the road to lecture to a PEO group in Portland.  Her dahlia godparents, the Bloomfields, donated 3 huge buckets of flowers to enable each participant to take home a little miracle of perfection. 

Myrtle Bloomfield with buckets of bouquets

Even late into the season, volunteers continue to put time in at the Dell and the public continues to appreciate their hard work.
Kim Liou in Dell

Melissa stripping mildew on the hillside

NOVEMBER NOSTRUMS:  Make sure your labels are legible.  Stop watering.  As your dahlia clumps turn brown, cut back to 4-5 notches.  Do not cut clear to the ground.  Each bamboo-like joint is a mini water seal to help prevent crown rot.  If your plants are in pots, move them to a sheltered area or cover to prevent rain from rotting them.  Allow your tubers to go dormant for at least 6 weeks before disinterring. ( I will lop back everything in The Dell the first weekend in December. ) 

Dick brings flowers for identification

Diana disbuds

If you have well-drained soil, you can divide any time between January & our tuber sale.  If you have soggy adobe/clay ridden gunk, dig up your clumps, keeping as much dirt around each as possible.  Pop each cluster in a cardboard box to divide at your leisure.  If you are unsure as to how to divide a given clump, keep it packed in dirt until March.  In March, put your box in a toasty warm spot until sprouts appear.  Then gently sprinkle off the dirt.  Where to divide will be greenly obvious!  Plan your snazzy gift for our Christmas Party Present Predation.  In the past, much stolen items have included: custom photo calendars, tool caddies, hand-blown or hand-thrown vases, baskets of narcissi bulbs, & unique photo note cards.

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Rose strings up top-heavy dahlias

Special thanks to the Cornishes for taking notes at the October meeting whilst Deborah was gone.  Thanks to DJ for photos & to Lou L. for a recap of his soil lecture.  Major thanks to Ted for webicizing these words & pix between international jaunts. 

Betty Dietz, Deborah's Mom, with prime exhibits