![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2005/Newsletter%20copy.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/graphics/8.05.base.banner.jpg)
December, 2006
|
NEXT
MEETING: 12 Dec. @6:30 @ 9th & Lincoln. ALERT!
ALERT! This is an hour earlier than we normally meet. Hors D’oeuvres and
libations at 6:30, then we’ll feast at 7. For our Holiday Celebration,
please bring a lip smacking comestible to share and a wrapped item
relating to dahlia growing (@$10?) for Present Predation. Our 2-steal
imposition will limit the mayhem, but not preclude trading after the
festivities. Many people like to dress up in sparkling, snazzy apparel
for our festivities. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Mikamodo_sc.jpg) DUES
DUE:
Please use
the linked e-form
or the enclosed form to join Dahlia Society of
California for 2007. Your $10 for individuals and $15 for families
yields a program the second Tuesday of each month, an informative
on-line newsletter or snail mail version each month, and entry into our
3 mini-show competitions and our major Floribunda Extravaganza each
year. Membership in the American Dahlia Society of California is $20
for individual and $23 for families. An ADS membership includes the ADS
Bulletin quarterly, the ADS Classification Guide, and the roster of
judges. ADS membership helps further interest and research in dahlias.
Send a combined check to Diana Brogoitti. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Greg%20and%20Manny%20check%20out%20Lou's%20eyes.jpg) DIVIDE
AND CONQUER:
No
matter how many times Lou Paradise reprises his inimitable dividing
seminar, we always learn (or maybe just hear) new tips. Lou recommended
cutting down your dahlias to their last 4-5 notches. Even though these
4-5 should act as water stops against inclemency, Lou suggested capping
each stem with tinfoil—to foil both rain and dew. What a festive air
your garden could attain with mini silver shower caps dancing in the
breeze. Before wrenching your plants out, Lou suggested digging
straight down with your shovel at least l’ radius around your stem.
Then use 2 shovels, 2 garden forks or a combination and pincher up your
clump using opposing pressure. (Check out DJ’s great photo essay on
disinterring in the Fall ADS Bulletin.) DO NOT LIFT THE CLUMP OUT BY
THE STEM! Instead of breaking necks by wresting the mass out by its
shoots, slip your hands under the root mass and cradle the roots from
the bottom up. |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/wreath.jpg) Wash the
roots from the outside to the center to avoid extra weight on the ends
which would snap fragile necks at the stalk. Remember, even a tiny
piece of tuber with an intact eye should prove viable; a great tuber
with a broken neck is compost. The genetic material of the dahlia is in
the eye at the crown; the tuber is just a warehouse of food. To keep
labels correctly, try processing only one clump at a time: dig, clean,
divide, label, dip, and dry. Lou uses a very sharp knife with a cutting
block and/or snippers. (I sometimes use chisels and a hammer to get
exactly the cut I want.) Chris commented that some tubers are tougher
than they look. Greg, Ron and Katherine studied at the hands of the
master. Lou coats his cut surfaces with Captan to prevent bacterial
colonization. Other people use both a 5% Clorox solution for 5 minutes
immersion followed by a sulphur cum fungicide dip. |
Bottles-of-ink-in-a-pencil
sold briskly from our Treasurer, Diana. These special pencils only
write on WET tubers and if your mother tuber has not rotted, you can
often read the label after an entire season in the ground. WARNING:
indelible means it will permanently stain any clothing it comes in
contact as well. For the last couple years, Lou has stored his luscious
tubers in curly wood shavings from the pet store . Other people store
in vermiculite, shredded paper, or peat moss. Thanks to Joann and Ron
for the fresh lemon squares and to Diana for the basket of Ghirardelli
mint chocolates. Who brought the English treats? Mmmmmm |
TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING:
Those
present unanimously elected the following officers for 2007: President:
Tinnee Lee; 1st VP, Frank Schulkin; 2nd VP Elsie
Mueller; Treasurer, Diana Brogoitti; Corresponding Secretary, Joe
Norton; Recording Secretary, Patricia Hunter. The 2007-2008 Board of
Directors are: Erik Gaensler, Lou Lombardo, Jytte Rasmussen and Deborah
Dietz. Lou Cornish has agreed to finish the 2006-2007 term. Please
contact your officers or board members when you have questions or even
better when you have great ideas for your Dahlia Society of California.
Frank will be scouting great speakers and program topics for 2007. Let
him know what else you’d like to learn about or whom you’d like to hear
present. Joe Norton has boldly assumed editorship of our DSC newsletter
beginning in January. Let him know what you’d like to read about.
Jytte has already begun as Web Mistress, taking over from our intrepid
e-pioneer, Ted Marr, who took DSC onto the net with so many in-color
photos back in 2003 |
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Jamie_and_Son_check_inventory.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Rose_visits_Aztec.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Versions_of_Blackberry_Ripple.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Salsa_Picante_brilliant_Orange.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Clearview_David_lav_with_magenta_edges.jpg) |
AZTEC ACRE:
Jamie and Rosa invited Rose and Deborah to tour their
Aztec Dahlia Farm
towards the end of October. Situated up in Sonoma on a busy road, the
O’Brien’s blur of colors snags many a passing driver. Amongst the
thousand strong plants, Spring Reign, a floriferous B sc pk caught my
eye. Summer’s End (peach wl), C Electra (bb c scarlet), Vanquisher (B
sc lav) and a lovely Mikado were new to me. A humongous Tari He Yoo
resembled the big purple paper flowers you find in Tijuana: great color
and flat enough to wear as a hat. Neither Black Satin (BB fd dr) nor
tall Paul Smith faded in the triple digit sun. On my MUST HAVE list
from Aztec are Clearview David (lav with magenta edges); a gigantic FDNY—red
of course; Salsa Picante (BB fd brilliant orange); and Skywalker (a rare
M lc red). Jamie deploys a rolling sprayer but prognosticates that he
will upgrade to a fertigation system next year. He cites his row of
Blackberry Ripples where blooms run the gamut from dark red to clear
white and all the stages of variegation in between as one of the reasons
that he rogues every year to maintain consistently superior stock. Rosa
reports that dahlias with strong stems and great substance like Mrs.
Bates, Campos Hush and Sea Fuego sell well. Always on the alert for
purples, I loved Hot Tomale and Jennifer’s wedding. Daughters Sarah and
Katie frolicked with puppies down the isles. Christian arranged great
bouquets under the awning. What a family affair!
|
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Happy_apple_pickers_Paula_and_Rose.jpg) MASTER GARDENER TOUR:
On our way home
from Sonoma, Rose and Deborah stopped in Tiburon to preview Paula’s
garden before it debuted on the Master Gardener’s Grand Tour. Wow!
What a spectacular cloud of Helen’s Alvin Sr.s. Paula’s Dark Horses
contrasted beautifully with Show ‘n Tells and frilly Arena’s Sunspots.
As we leisurely wended our way down down down her meandering trails, we
hunted, gathered and gobbled cherry tomatoes fat and warm from the sun,
cone shaped fraise du bois tasting like strawberries to the third power,
bursting black plums, succulent dark figs, burnished pears and
gloriously tart apples. What a privilege to feast our eyes and palates
through Paula’s magnificent kingdom!
|
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Marvelous_Mel_pk_yel_mini_fim.jpg) VISIONS OF SUGER PLUMS:
It’s hard to
believe, but several of the commercial growers have already sold out of
some of their scarcest stock. What did you see this year that you
lusted after? What did you read about that you NEED for your patch next
year? Which dahlias do you want to replace? Go on-line or request a
printed version of your favorite purveyors of hot tubers. Check the ADS
Classification list for the best in each class. Use the latest ADS
Bulletin to find the new releases for 2007. The Big List contains all
the commercial growers and their stock.
Corralitos Gardens sells primarily
live cuttings. Hilltop
Gardens offers many of the winners from the
National Show. Aztec Dahlias grows flowers that thrive in Sonoma. Arrowhead
Dahlias in Colorado has quite an extensive list. My
brother, Mike, recommends High Dessert Dahlias in Washington as inexpensive
and reliable. Please let your fellow DSC comrades in dirt know whom you
have dealt with in the past favorably (or not).
|
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/David_Shulkin_and_Dick_Porter.jpg) ![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Deborah_in_October_Dell.jpg) PERIPATETIC BLOOMERATI:
Down from
Seattle Dick Porter arrived via BART to tour late season dahlias in San
Francisco. He marveled at Roger’s multi-tiered mountain of terraces
many of which were studded with succulents. Even late season, Roger
grew by far the finest HG Chad E’s and Bodacious that I have seen in San
Francisco. Then David Shulkin escorted us through Frank’s multi-sectioned front
yard, proudly introducing each plant by name. Dick noted that dahlias
seemed to have migrated into the neighbor’s yard as well. Sustained
with hearty burritos, Dick and I munched our way around the Dahlia
Dell. He recalled fondly the chilly day during the 2002 National Show
when so many people first discovered our Dell. Because poms dominate
Dick’s expertise, he paid particular attention to Willo Violet, WJN, and
Mi Wong. He marveled over the blooms on the hillside, explaining that
the frost had already blackend gardens in Washington. What truly
astonished him was learning that DSC processes ALL the plants in one
weekend of massive DIG OUT. Finally we climbed through the hole in the
fence of my Secret Garden in Bernal Heights, still displaying fine
Marinella and wonderful Dark Horses. Over tea, Dick shared stories of
the early days of computers and tantalized me with proposed tours and
activities to be offered at the 2009 National Show in Northern
Washington.
|
DIG OUT 2007:
Mark your calendars for Saturday January 6 and Sunday January 7 and get
ready for the best filthy fun yet. Rain or Shine we’ll begin at 9 am.
This is a great opportunity to familiarize yourselves with every aspect
of dahlia processing: digging, lifting, cleaning, dividing with surgical
masters, Clorox dipping, and labeling. Boots, gloves, layers of
clothes, dividing tools, marking pencils, hats, bun warmers, a change of
sox or more (with wet weather a must) and noshes prepare you for almost
everything. Bring your friends who’ve admired your blooms throughout
the summer as long as their handwriting is legible. The label table
needs good story tellers.
|
![](https://sfdahlias.org/newsletters/2006/dec/pix/Deborah_atop_Roger_s_Hanging_Gardens.jpg) DECEMBER DELIBERATIONS:
Make one of your top New Year’s resolutions to send Diana your renewal to
DSC and ADS. When your plants turn brown, cut them down to 4 or 5
notches. I place 5 gallon pots over the tops to act |