![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/Newsletter%20copy.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/graphics/8.05.base.banner.jpg)
October, 2005
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/Thomas%20Edison.jpg) NEXT MEETING;
11th
October @ 8 pm @ 9th & Lincoln.
Program: OPEN TO ALL. LAST Mini Show of the year. AA, A, B, BB, M, BA, MB, P, ST, WL, AN,
CO, O, S, PE, MS, NX, NO, x3 & x5 of the same variety.
Please limit your lovelies to 2 per category including x3 and x5. |
Visit
Paula's
Perfect Pitch in Tiburon.
A symphony of nature's
colors! |
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BUMPER
CROP: Our September blossomed with
many new members including Mark and Manny. They prompted a spirited
discussion about “whitish stuff on leaves.” Hank gave testimony to the
efficacy of a drastic solution. He stripped off all his leaves with
powdery mildew—leaving some pretty naked stalks. Then he used a combo
cocktail of fungicide/super-bloom/insecticide every 5 days. Lo and
behold, his rooftop garden is once again a luscious green. “You really
have to keep on top of it!” he adjured. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/Lou%20and%20Rose%20evaluate%20quality.jpg) |
Another topic was why some gardens turn into brown
stalks so much sooner than those in the Dahlia Dell. One of the secrets
is cutting clear back to new growth every time you deadhead. This
releases a hormone that spurs on the dahlia to continue growing. Now is
a good time to cut back some of the spindlier branches on each plant
especially the little plants at the base of the bush. |
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/dsc.2005.show.winners.jpg) SF
FLORIBUNDA REDUX:
Diana reported that DSC munificently awarded the highest show premiums
in the Bay area: $1,637 as well as fabulous ribbons. Elsie thanked
those who came to help set up Friday evening including new member,
Manny. DJ noted that it took all night to set up the show but merely a
twinkling of an hour to tear it all down on Sunday night. Wouldn’t that
be a time-lapse photo! |
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/89%20entries%20--tough%20choices.jpg) PARADE
OF CHAMPIONS:
89 flowers from 5 growers vied for Ron, Joanne, Erik and Rose’s
approbation. The Cornishes triumphed with CO Pooh & O Juul’s Allstar.
Once again Frank’s Elvira nabbed PE as well as his Poppet taking P.
Deborah nailed some big and some weird: AA Kenora Clyde; ST Camano Pet;
MB Robann Royal; NX Clearview Magic; WL Wildwood Marie; AN Powderpuff
Polka; S Way Pink; and MS Rembrandt. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/x5.jpg) Clearly
the Hillside is in full spate: Tinnee’s flowers radiated vitality and
her eye for detail staged them sublimely. Her x3 Stillwater Brilliants
took people’s breath away; her x5 Pam Howdens glowed. Stern judge
Erik noted that one of the other x5’s looked “like a pair of twins and 3
siblings who might not have the same dad,” reminding us of the
importance of uniformity for multiples. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/tinee%20won.jpg)
Tinnee also blossomed with
Best A Belle of the Ball; B Grandma Juul; M CG Sprite; BB, a radiant
Myrtle’s Bloom; and beating out 8 other Balls for Best Ball and Best in
Show, Mary’s Jomanda. Congratulations, Tinnee! |
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/The%20novice%20table%20is%20jammed.jpg) DO
YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE?
Once again the South Bay dahlia growers staged a lovely show at Valco
Mall, San Jose. So many novices entered, they had to extend table
space. Congratulations to DJ for his Best CO Pooh and Best Photo. Lou
Lombardo stayed on the Head Table with a stunning Valley Porcupine.
Tinnee’s Mary’s Jomanda trumped stiff competition for Best Ball.
Deborah floated to glory with a luminous yellow Fern Irene in a powder
blue bowl and tiniest, Poppet. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/Ricky%20running%20Juul%20entries.jpg) Ricky indefatigably schlepped for his Mom and Dad; Team Juul won
Best x3 Small with their new introduction, Juul’s Amethyst; O Juul’s
Allstar; PE Brenda Sue; and x3 Aitara Caress. Lou ParadIse filled the
Court of Honor: Best third year seedling Prometheus; M Aitara Caress;
MB, Franz Kafka; A Pink Jupiter; ST Camano Pet; Bi So Happy; and BB
Chimacum Katie. Staging 7 of any variety is tough, but to win Best
Multiple, Lou mounted 7 honking Pink Jupiters—a major engineering feat!
Odyssey from the
Juuls |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/Frank%20Shulkin%20digs%20in%20for%20Novice%20Sweepstakes.jpg) Our
own Frank Schulkin earned his second Novice Sweepstakes.
Frank's Best in Show |
Unbelievable
x5 Spartacas from Stier. Roy Stier stayed up all night amassing his
Amateur Sweeps. |
|
Michael Gesundheit
captured the People’s Choice with a flashy Duet as well as making
several arrangements to fill the display window. Best Novice Bloom was
earned by Guy Chibante with a shimmering Caproz Classic. Other cool
dahlias that piqued my fancy were: Stier’s Mingus Julie, 170 a pink
blend; Camilla, 230 coral with a yellow center; an old but striking Nita
from Stier, 274, dark variegated; Sandia Fancy Dancer from Dietz, 292
or/y fim; Lipstick, 245, yellow and bubble gum pink; and the best Korb’s
Kandy Dandy yet from Chris Dix, 274 IC, var. pink/red. Ken Masurat
pointed out Odyssey from the Juuls, 530 pk MB. The Larken/Zydner team
also beguiled us with Deerwood Erika 33 MB pr/lav and Pop Willo, 551 P
y/or. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/Camilla%20230.jpg)
Camilla, 230 coral
with a yellow center |
![Deerwood Erika M BA 533 from Kevin and Karen](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/Deerwood%20Erika%20Mba%20533%20from%20Kevin%20and%20Karen.jpg) Accumulating
Open Sweeps, Kevin and Karen had an especially marvelous x3 Summer
Rain, and
Deerwood Erika M BA 533 |
Deborah's
Lipstick 245 yellow and bubble gum pink; |
Best
Korb’s Kandy Dandy yet from Chris Dix, 274 IC, var. pink/red. |
Stier's
Wildwood Swirls 366 IC |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/san.jose.pix/Deborah's%20Sandia%20Fancy%20Dancer%20292.jpg)
Deborah's Sandia
Fancy Dancer 292 |
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/dahlias2.jpg) OCTOBER
OVERTURES:
Alas, light is dwindling, centers are popping open and plants are
gearing down. Cut back water to only when plants look as though they
need it. Give them a final dose of fertilizer. Check name tags for
accuracy. I move my tags down and tie them around the bottom of the
plant so they will still be attached when I lop tops off in December.
Rogue critically: discard anything questionable RIGHT NOW. Consider
starting cuttings for early starts in the spring. These would have to
be kept under 14-18 hour lights in greenhouse conditions.
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![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/dahlias4.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/oct/9.05.pix/dahlias5.jpg) Leave
your favorite flowers on the stem to save for seed heads. Wait
until all the petals have fallen off and the head turns brown. Cut
and store until spring. Write down what you did right and
especially what you did wrong this season and how you will improve.
It’s amazing what you forget over the holidays, so writing little notes
to yourself can save you a lot of time and anguish next year. Keep
track of who grew which covetable flowers so you can negotiate next
March. Bring flowers for the Last Mini Show of the Year. |
Need to know what to
do each month for your Dahlias? You can find them in our
past
newsletters on the website. |
Dahlia Society of California, Inc., San Francisco, CA -- Copyrighted
Chief Editor: Deborah Dietz
eNewsletter Editor: Ted Marr
Acknowledgement: Photos in
this issue by Deborah, DJ and Ted |