Dahlia Society of California
July, 2005

Who will bring scrumptious goodies to share?

Pam Howden WL OR

NEXT MEETING: on the 12th at 8 PM at 9th and Lincoln
Because we have had such an early season this year, we’re having an OPEN TO ALL MINI SHOW!  Limit yourself to 2 entries per category: AA, A, B, BB, M, BA, MB, P, ST, WL, AN, CO, S, MS, NX, NO,  x3 & x5 of the same variety.  Please have labels with the name of your variety on one side and your name on the back. Or use the standard DSC entry form. For exhibiting a dahlia not included in the ADS classification book, you must also submit a "Senior Judge Classification Recommendations For Unclassified Varieties Form"  Please come early to be set up by 8 PM.  Please bring any questions regarding how to show your blooms at THE BIG SHOW in August or THE EARLY SHOW  in San Leandro.

Whilst the judges are deliberating over these precocious lovelies, Ted will tour us through the new DSC website and DJ will illustrate how to match pots to blooms.   

GET THE PICTURE? Franck, DJ, & Tinnee presented their philosophies & tips for Dahlia Society sponsored award winning photos. DJ explained that when his dahlia crop proved disappointing, he turned to photography to capture the excitement of great flowers, garnering him a plaque from the National Show.  Using examples of ones he had taken, mounted & entered into competition,

Lining the wall with examples of his winning works, Franck inspired us with his discourse on getting the best shots — framing the shots, lighting, matting, etc. 

Barbara Franck admiring her husband creations

DAHLIAS ON STEROIDS?  What unbelievable dahlias Lou Lombardo tamed for our head table: so early, so perfect, and so BIG! The Schwarzenegger of Creve Coeur pumped humongous petals. 

Creve Coeur and its grower, Lou

Lou’s Pooh, Westin Spanish Dancer, Ginny & Santa Claus basked begging for adoration.  Lou’s secret? Every time he waters, he adds small amounts of fertilizer, deadheads assiduously, disbuds relentlessly and eliminates pests remorselessly.

Every time he waters, he adds small amounts of fertilizer, deadheads assiduously, disbuds relentlessly and eliminates pests remorselessly.

WEBSITE REDUX:  Check out all the new additions in our DSC website: history, biography, back newsletters, resources & links, links, and more links.  In order to post new dahlia quiz questions every few weeks, we’d love to have you submit dahlia trivia questions (with answers!).  This would be fun for everyone.  

Read about the Juuls and Paradise introduced cultivars.

DEBORAH'S SECRET GARDEN: "While visiting Deborah to discuss DSC website issues, I enjoyed a real treat seeing Deborah's dahlias growing vibrantly so early in the season. I was most intrigued by several of the exotic varieties. Here they are for you to enjoy." -- Ted

Goshen Thistle NX Y, a most interesting 10-inch novelty, laciniated not only at the tip, but also along the entire petal length.
 

Dark Horse BB FD DB
Lou Paradise’s
2006 new introduction.

Then there is this fabulous
CG Sprite, M FD,
a new 2005 introduction from
Kevin Larkin and Karen Zydner’s Corralitos Gardens.

Finally a really rare find --
Arena's Sunspot M LC FL, introduced by
Joe Arena, a long time DSC member.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS:  Over Memorial Day weekend, Bob & Myrtle Bloomfield, Deborah’s dahlia godparents, sent her home with several seedlings and new Portland area treasures.  Deborah inspects her secret garden every day anticipating the unfurling of new varieties. 

Deborah learning from Bob

Bob standing in one of his four greenhouses. In huge black spray paint on each of his 4 greenhouse doors, "Flower plants not POT” -- clearly explains away the nightly lights.

Myrtle and Mama Dietz

GETTING POTTED:  Now is the time to begin scrounging through thrift shops & bargaining your way through garage sales for containers to exhibit your specimen blooms.  I favor heavy pots to prevent tall blooms from tipping over.  Pots barely deeper than the frog’s tines allow even short stems to have their leaves over the edge of the vase.  Test each for leaks! Put your name on the bottom in black sharpie or nail polish. 

I have found lovely pin frogs at reasonable prices at the hardware store in Japantown.  Mina discovered beautiful pin frogs at the San Francisco Flower Mart on Bryant Street.  I secure my pin frogs with aquarium cement, rendering them permanent.  Other people use plumbing or florist’s clay.  If you choose one of these impermanent methods, please test-try it before the show.  Your plant crashing can cause a horrific domino tragedy down an entire table of entries. 

WHAT A DAY FOR A PICNIC!  August 13, noon - 5 pm.  The annual DSC picnic offers you a gala opportunity to share the Dahlia Dell’s beauty and the camaraderie of other dahliaphiles with your family and friends.  Please bring a potluck something to share.  In the past, people have brought whole hams, scrumptious chicken, great fruit or veggie salads, mouth-watering desserts, crocked beans, cheeses. Let your imagination fuel your creativity.  Once again, Erik has arranged for the Fire Department to bring a fire engine for the children’s delight as well as hired a balloon clown.  He will also provide tables and chairs.  Do remember that this is a private party just for DSC members and their friends, so please do not display the invitation publicly.

SHOW OFF!  To anticipate in the upcoming Extravaganza, we have posted our DSC show schedule on our website. You can download the template for entry forms, customize with your name and address and print up a bunch in advance.  For any Dahlia submitted to the show and is not in the ADS classification book, you need to fill out "SENIOR JUDGE CLASSIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNCLASSIFIED VARIETIES" Form.

DSC August 2004 Judges

DJ has ordered gloriously big and beautiful ribbons to grace not only the BEST in Show Big Three but all 18 of the BEST in Class.  The better a flower suits its container, the better it shows.  These ribbons are worth searching for the perfect pot to display your BEST to its best advantage.

2004 DSC Show Court of Honors

Use the website to link to the other Bay Area Societies to check out their special classes and sponsored varieties. 

JULY JUBILATION:  When your plant is about 24” tall, begin taking off the bottom leaves.  The branches which come off the lowest part of the stalk soon fall prey to gravity & break.  You might as well get rid of them when they are small & let all that energy go instead into the flowers at the top.   Examine your leaves as you strip; are they clean or bug bitten?