NEXTMEETING:Tuesday,August13that7:00PMattheHallofFlowers,9thave.&Lincoln.Program:Deborahwilldemonstrateandthenofferhands-onstagingNps.Comegetexcitedaboutourup-comingshows.Whowillbringyummiestocelebrateallthebloominggoingon?

UsingdeadheadsthatChadandCathyhadjustpickedfromtheDell,DeborahtalkedabouthowtodisNnguishthecactusshapes:fullystraightoncactuslookslikeaNghtlyrolleddoobie,itspetalsrevoluNngmorethanhalfway;semi-cactuspetalsrevolutebutnotquitehalfway;incurvedcactus—mustrevolutemorethanhalfwayANDcurveupwards.Deborahexhortedourmemberstolearnhowto

usetheirADSClassificaNonBookstokeyouttheirblooms.SheinvitedthemtocomebytheDellonaSaturdaymorningtopracNcetheiridenNficaNonskills.

Ah!StrawberriesstraightfromCathy’spatchtoourmouths.Sosucculent.Bite-sizedstrudelsfromGino.ThankyoutoPat

(whoALWAYSbringssomething)forherchips,juiceandcherries.TenayatempteduswithPepperidgeFarmcookies.John&AnnedeandMaggieZ.donatedcookies.Lolabroughttrailmix.ThenewBerkeleyMaggiebroughtusbrownies.WeallwalkedoutwitharmfulsofMeyersLemonsfromRonandJoAnn’sgivingtree.SomepeopleevenwalkedoutwithDeborah’sdemonstraNonflowers.

PathasofferedtomakeIDbadgessopeoplewillbeabletospotyouatourshowandatourmeeNng.PleasecontactPatifyouwantanofficialDahliaSocietyofCalifornianamebadge.Dahliasocietyggp@gmail.com

OurDahliaSocietyofCaliforniahostsitsannualshowAugust17-18.Weneedeveryonetohelpout!OnFriday@4PMweneedhelperecNngandplacingover100tables.Exhibitorsmaystagetheirbloomsfrom8PMFridaynightthrough9AMSaturdaymorning.Allexhibitsmustbeinplaceandthingscleanedupby9AM.AnyoneinterestedmightcomebyFridayeveningorearly(5AM?)Saturdayto

helpgrowers“run”theirdahliastotheirproperspotsontheshowbench.JudginginstrucNonswillbeginat9:15.Whowantstoclerk?PleasecontactDeborah,dahlia.dietz@gmail.comtogetontheclerkinglist.ThankyouMaggieandDonforvolunteeringforthefirstshipatourmembershiptable.WesNllneedvolunteersforSaturdayapernoonandSunday.(ContactDeborah)ThankyoutoLolaforshouldering“kitchenduty”--trulymajor.WesNllneedroving“ambassadors”whomillthroughthecrowdandanswerthepublic’squesNons.Downloadthisposter,printitoutandspreaditaround(CLICKHERE).Usethis.jpgfile(CLICKHERE)topostonsocialmediaandsendtoallyourfriends,neighborsandco-workers.WeputinsomuchworkforourGalaExhibiNon/CompeNNon,thatwewantasmanypeopleaspossibletocomeenjoyit.

ThisisareprisefromanarNcleDeborahwrotefortheADSBulleNn:WealllookforwardtoourannualdahliacompeNNons.ButsoopenIhearnewmemberssayingtheyprefertojust“growforfun”ratherthanputtheirbloomsupforthejudges.Perhapstheyaredauntedbythesuperiorflowersoftheveteran

bloomeraN;perhapstheyareflummoxedbywhatmightbeinvolved;perhapstheythinkitmightrequiretoomucheffort.HereareafewreasonswhyIencourageournewmemberstoshowatourMajorFloribundaBigShow—evenifit’sonly2-3entries.

SurelythefirstdahliacompeNNonbeganwhentwoaficionadoseyedeachothersplantsanddecidedwhosegrewbeder—orarguedaboutit.Whatbeganasbraggingrightsevolvedintoribbons,trophiesandprizes.SothefirstreasonforenteringadahliacompeNNonis:

Glory.IrememberChloe’sexpressionwhenshewonaribbonalmostaslargeasher6yearoldface.IhaveseenthefirstblueribbonTinneewonyearsagosNllonherrefrigeratortoday.IsNllrememberthethrillwhenIfirstreadmynameintheADSBulleNnforaCourtofHonorbloom.Gloryandrespectreflectingrowers’eyeswheneverbloomeraNliketheParadisesorSNersenteraroom.SofameandprizesconsNtutegreatreasonstoenteradahliacompeNNon.

WinningcashcanbeagreatincenNvetocompete.SanFrancisco’smajorfloribundaoffersmorethan$2000inpotenNalcapital.Somedelightintryingto“earn”backasmuchprizemoneyastheyspentonferNlizer,drenchandstakesinagivenseason.

ForthealtruisNc,compeNnghelpsimproveTheDahlia.WhydoesHamariAccordhaveover200winsandothersgetdroppedfromtheADSClassificaNonbookeachyearforlackofblues?OvertheyearscognoscenNhaveredefinedwhatagreatdahliashouldbe.Intheearly1900’s,thePalaceHotelhereinSanFranciscohostedlavishdahliashows.Massivedisplaysfeatured10-30dahlias—EACH!Stronglongstemswerefavored.BreedersbeganselecNvelyfavoringupright

headsovercurrentoneswhosechinsnoddeddowntowardstheirstems.Eventuallythisevolvedintotoday’spreferred45-degreeavtudeforheadposiNon.FlatdahliaswithgreatcolorswereuNlized.Asdisplaysgrewsmallerandindividualspecimenbloomsbecamemoreemphasized,three-dimensionalblossomsbecamefavored.Todaydepthaswellasheightfactorsintoachampion.ADSconNnuestodefinethedahliaaestheNcashybridizersconNnuetopushthedahliagermplasm.Thus,asmore

growersdevelopedCamanoPet-likeflowers,ADSpromotedthemfromNoveltytothenewdesignaNonofStellar.AperseeingAkitanoHikari,HollyhillSpiderWoman,andanyanemone,Icanhardlywaitforthenextweirdandwonderfulnoveltytoappear.Winnersreflectsuperiorgardeningskillsandsuperiorgenes;therobustplantwhichresisteddiseaseandthwartedbugsthebesttriumphsoverthemoresuscepNble.SoeachentryintoashowconsNtutesabidforgeneNcshowcasing.ThemoreagivenculNvarwins,themorelikelyits

cloneswillbepropagatedthroughouttheworld.SoenteringadahliacompeNNonaddstotheevoluNonofhealthier,stronger,“beder”dahlias.ParNcipaNnginashowsNmulatesingenuity.ThemechanicsofshowingdemandmasteringtransporNngblooms.MovingamassofhumongousZorros

demandsdifferentmeansthanbringinganosegayofRembrants.BringingbothinthesamevehicledemandspracNcalgenius.IsNllremember2:30inthemorningwhilesevngupfortheSanLeandroshow,watchinginhorrorassevenmagnificentKenoraClydes,jiggledabittooroughlyortheirneckssupportedabittoolow,sagged,snapped,andtumbledtocompostbeforemyeyes.ErikJuulruefullycommentedtheywouldmakegreathatsbutnotexhibits.

Living2hoursawaynearBodegaBay,DebbieandArthadtocutinthedarkmiddleofthenight.Tomeetthischallenge,theytaggedeachbloomtheywantedtoshowthedaybeforewithitsnameandnumbersoitwouldshowupimmediatelybyflashlight.IfirstlearnedhowtousethecomputerExcelprogramsoIcouldspreadsheetmy“crop.”ParNcipaNnginashowmeanssolvingproblemsandlearninghowothershavesolvedthesameproblembeder.IfnecessityisthemotherofinvenNon,thenshowingdahliasistheGreatGrandmotherofingenuity.

MagnificentdahliaexhibiNonsalsoeducatebothothergrowersandthepublicatlarge.Howamazingtosee50ofthesamegeneNcculNvarenteredintheFloweroftheYearcategory.Whatagreatopportunitytoseehowthedifferencesingeography,weather,soil,ferNlizing,groomingandgeneralcosseNngchangethesamevariety.Spovnganunfamiliar

dahliaatacompeNNonstrikesafrissonofwonderupmyspine.IimmediatelycompareitinmymemorytootherstodecidewhetherINEEDiffornextseason.IsNllrememberthefirstNmeIsawCreeksideVolcanoonthePeople’sChoicetable.Wow!Itexplodedintomyconsciousness.INEEDEDthatdahlia.ValleyPorcupinehitmerightthere.ClearviewMagicnailedme.WildwoodMariesangmesuchacomehithersong.FewlaypeoplerealizethatgaypinwheelorchidscancrossbreedwithgiganNcAA’s;theydon’tevenconsidertheminthesamefamily.Howmanyofushavebeenasked“Aretheyreal?”“Aretheydifficulttogrow?”“Aretheyexpensive?”WeuseourFloribundaShowtoluredazzledgardenerstoourtubersale,toourintroductoryslideshowandwithlucktooursociety.SoparNcipaNnginadahliacompeNNonnotonlyincreasestheknowledgeofonesfellowgrowersbutinformsthepublicaswell.Lastlyandmostimportantlyofall,parNcipaNnginadahliacompeNNonbuildscommunity.Irememberclerkingmyfirstshow.JackAlmandtookNmetoexplainhisaestheNcandhowheanalyzedashowbloom.Bytheendofthetable,hehad

invitedmetotourhiscommercialgardeninAlameda.Hiskindwisdomkickedoffalife-longfascinaNonvisiNngotherdahliagrowers’kingdoms.WhenItriedmyfirsttriple,VernonRoseshookhisheadandpaNentlyshowedmehowtomatchsizeandcolorandhowtocutstemsthesamelength.KenMasuratconNnuestobewitchmewithhisuncannyabilitytoimproveamulNplearrangementwithaslightadjustmentorswitchingsidesfortwoflowers;hisinnereyebalancesbloomsbeder.IrememberwhenSergebroughtasinglespectacularSpartacustohisfirstcompeNNon;introducinghimtotheentryforms,therighttable,therightcategoryandagoodcontainerresultedinhisfirstBestNoviceBloom.Whatpleasure!DahliacompeNNonsbringtogetherthemostdiversepeople:singleandpaired,maleandfemale,heteroandhomo,professionalandbluecollar,workingorreNred.Whereelsewouldweencountereachotherengagedinthesameendeavors?Justpuvnguptables,buildingtheCourtofHonor,passingoutplatesforlunch,andhelpingschlepboxesbacktocarsweaveexperiencesoftrustandrespectthatbuildourSocietybederandulNmatelybedersocietyatlarge.SowhenyouwonderifyoushouldparNcipateinadahliacompeNNon—justgoforit,evenifit’sonlywithoneortwoflowers.ParNcipaNngwillchangeyourwholepercepNonofwhatadahliashowentails.Yourbloomswilleducateyourpeersandthepublic.YourentrieswillfurthertheevoluNonofmoregloriousspecimens.YourparNcipaNonwillstrengthenyoursocietyandmaysparknewandwonderfulrelaNonships

withthemostamazingpeople.And,ofcourse,youmaywinBestinShowandgloryandfame!

DownloadtheDSCShowSchedule.CLICKHERE.Readit.Aslongasyourdahliahasitsfirsttwoleavesandnopoppedcenter,itcanbeenteredinx1,x3orx5.Fromtherethefunstarts.Wehavecategoriesforbestbi-colored,variegated,floaNngwaterlilly(noleavesorstem—justfloaNng!)WehaveaspecialprizeforNature’sOddity—you’llknowitwhenyouseeit.SeveraltypesorvarieNesaresponsored.ChadandTomhaveputup$50forTheLargestDahliaintheWorld.ItjusthastobeBIG.Leaves,stemorcenterareallopNonal.AnyexhibitorwhoshowsinanyoftheaboveclassesisalsoenNtledtosubmitonebloomforPeople’sChoice;thewinnergarnersthemostpublicvotesand$.PlanyourNmewisely.Whateveryoucalculate,doubleit.Ifyouareafirst-Nmeshower,tripleyourNmeprojecNon.Downloadthis“empty”sheetof4DSCexhibitorentrytagsontoyourcomputer-CLICKHERE.Youwillhavetohandwritethisone.IfyouwantaWorddocumentthatyoucanfillinonyourcomputere-mailDevi(drdevisf@gmail.com)andshewillsendyouadocbye-mailadachment.Thenyoucantypeyournameandyournumber.Printasmanyoftheseasyouthinkyouwillneed.AttheshowyouwillfillinSecNon.WriteAforx1orsingleflower;Bforx3oratripleentry;andCforx5.Ifyou

enterSecNonGorK,(floaNngwaterlilyforexample)YouwriteinGorK.PleasewritetheNAMEOFTHEVARIETYsuchasACAbbyorBelleoftheBallatthebodom.Circleyourshowing

status.YouareprobablyaNoviceifyouaredoingthisforthefirstNme.ManygrowersfilloutthenameofthebloomathomethenightbeforetheshowtosaveNme.DONOTcheck1stor2nd.TheJudgeswilldothis,thankyou,nomaderhowconfidentyouare.ShowPackingListScissorspre-printedentryformsWaterbucketpensTowels1-2wateringpails

ContainersADSClassificaNonbookAddressstampXllistofculNvarsApronSurgeryglovesShowscheduleFluorLiteStyletOilChangeofclothes

CLICKHEREtodownload

PaulaandDeborahbothtookribbonsattheMarinCountyFair.Deborahshoweddahliasandalstroemeria,whilstPaulawonabundantroseprizes,aswella

cosmos,hydrangeas,yarrowandothergayflowers.TheFourthofJulydateissoearlyforBayAreadahliagrowers;nevertheless,PaulaandDeborahgavethefair-goersgreatdahliastowhettheirappeNtesforgorgeouscutflowers.Jon

Dietz,notafairfemale,butafairOrangeCountyFairexhibitordelightedhimselfwith5Blueribbons,7reds,andacouplethirds.

Asfastasyoupickthem,moredahliasdevelop.LolasaysshehassuchagoodNme“givingawaybouquets.”There’salwaysmoretomorrow.Chadtakesweeklybountytohishospital.Shareshareshare:

libraries,coffeeshops,exerciseclasses,denNsts,radiologylabs.ItookdahliastomygarageandtheoilgotchangedsofastANDmywheelsrotated.DahliasmakeeveryplacealidlebrighterandmorebeauNful.VolunteersChrisNneandJohnfinallyreap

rewardsfromtheirpainstakinghoursatTheDell.MybrotherJon’sSoCalDahlia

Domeproduces5-6vasesadayrightnow.Spreadthebeauty!

Wow!IfeelasthoughIshouldjustlayasleepingbagdownoneoftheislesintheDahliaDellandcatchcatnapsbetweenboutsofdeadheadinganddisbudding.Themomentmybackisturned,morebudssprout!Ican’tbelievethatit’salmostAugustandI’msNllplanNng.I’vepulledoutpoorperformersandreplacedwithoneofmymanymoresuccessfulpots-in-waiNng.Ihave45outof218whohavenotbloomedyet.Wild,crazyyear.SoI

suggestyourogueyourpatchaswell;throwawayanyscraggy,crappy,unhappyplantsandreplantwithsomethinghealthyandproven.

MILDEW:Grrrrrr!Iamsofrustratedwiththepowderywhitesplotcheswhichthreatentoflock

myenNrecrop.POWDERYMILDEWproducesenzymesthat

helpbreakuptheplantcellsofitshost.Thisallowsthefungitopenetrateit’sdahlia’scellswithroot-likestructures.Thesestructures,calledhyphae,begintocreateamicroscopicweb-likestructureacrosstheplant.Thislargerweb-likestructureiscalledmycelium.The

myceliumblocksoutessenNallightfromthesunandcripplestheplant’sabilitytobreath.Onceestablished,powderymildewspreadsquicklyacrossaplantandthroughagarden.Thehyphaerapidlyproduceconidium,orasexualspores.ThisrapidreproducNonmeansthatinfecNonscangetoutofhandreallyquickly,soprevenNonisessenNal.Inotherwords:QUICKANDDEADLY.

PREVENTION:Ideally,yourdahliasarespreadwidelyapart;youhavecleanedoffthebodomleaves.YouhaveexcellentcirculaNonaroundandthroughyourbush.Youonlybodomwaterandonlyinthemorning.Alas,inourFog-boundBabylon,mildewsporescirculateintheairwaiNngforahumidmomenttosetuphousekeeping.

TREATMENTS:RemoveanyleafwithmildewNOW.SpraywithanycombinaNonofthefollowinghomeorcommercialingredients.Suehasbeenusinga10%milksoluNonwithadmirableresults.Theinternetgurusagreethisworkswell.OneTablespoonBakingSodatoagallonofsprayhelpschangethephandisanadmirableprophylacNc.RegularapplicaNonsofCompostTeafendoffthewhitefiendreasonablywell.Acommercialproduct,Serenade,usesabacterium(BacillussubNlisorBacilluspumiNs)tocombatdreadmildew.IpersonallyuseacocktailthatcontainsaliquidferNlizer,StyletOil,liquidsoap,andaspotofvinegar.FromnowonIamgoingtoaddmilk(WHOLEMILK—notwimpy1%orskimmilk)tomyconcocNon.Ionlysprayintheeveningsaperthesunisdown,thusprevenNngleafburn.IfyoursareBADLYcoveredwithdrearmildew,Irecommendthe3x3x3.Youpickoffeverymildewedleaf;youspray.Youwait3daysandrepeat.Youwait3moredaysandrepeat.Soin10daysyouhavepluckedandsprayed3Nmes.ThenconNnueevery2weeksprophylacNcally.IfinditveryimportanttocleanoutmysprayerapereachapplicaNon.DAHLIABONDAGE:Dahliasreachforthesun.Dependingontheirexposure,somedahliasgrowtallerthanothers.IfyoudidnotstartwithHortanovanevng,NowistheNmetoNethemtotheirsupporNvestake.IuseaplasNcstringthatAlanHaasgavemeyearsago.IcallitChernobylbecauseitmaintainsitsintegritythroughspraying,rain,andreuse.LouandPatusea

codontwine.IhaveseenpeopleusenylonstockingandNghts.(DopeoplesNllwearandrunthese?)Cathyusestomatocages.Shereasons,“thesecageshelpmekeepraccoons,possums,andothercridersfromdiggingaroundmydahlias.”Alsoeliminateverylowbranches.Assoonasaflowerbeginstoformthetopwillout

weightheanchoranditwillbreakoff.Downthedraingoesweeksofplantenergythatcouldhavebeenchanneledintotheupperbranches.Don’twait.Doitwhilstthesesprigsaresmall.Ifit’sacherishedplant,trymakingacouplepotrootsfornextseason.Aperall,164x4”potrootsonlytakeupa16”square.Letthembloomoncetoprovewhattheyare;aperwards,keepthemdeadheaded.

WATERING:Howopenshouldyouwater?Dahliasliketobeverywetandthenverydry.Aslongasyourbushesareturgid,they’refine.Assoonastheybegintodroopabit,theywantwater.InfoggycoolSF,someNmeswegoupto10daysbetweenirrigaNons.However,iftheSantaAnnawindsburninfromtheCentralValley,Iwillwater3daysaperIslakedtheirfiercethirst.Yourdahliaswilltellyouwhentheywantmoreto

drink.SomeNmesdahliaswiltalidleinthewarmapernoonsbutperkupaperacoolernight.ConsidererecNngasunshade.Thisbringsdownthe

temperatureaweebit,givesthedahliasomesunrelief,andhelpsholdthehumidity.RoySNersportsgaygolfumbrellasatCasaPeralta.Itlooksasthoughhisdahliashavethrownabeachparty.

GARDENPARTIES:Dahlia!Dahlia!Dahlia!It’sNmetothrowgardenparNes;invitefriends,neighborsandfellowDSCersovertoadmireyourbeauNes.Augustistheirpeakglory.SharetheBeauty.Giveawayblooms.ThecoffeeShop(BernalMarthaBrothers)whosavesmemilkcartons,takesownershipofmyweeklydeadheads.MylibraryproudlydirectspatronstotheDahliaDell.MyneighborscleanofftheirvasesinanNcipaNon.

KevinWoodsonusedmydahliasaseye-candybaittolureprospecNvebuyerstohiskiosk.

EXHIBITATOURSHOW!!!!!!Vowthatyouwillbringatleastafewentries.Vowthatyouwillvolunteertoclerk,judge,monitorthemembershiptable,roveasanambassador,erecttablesonFriday,orbreakthetablesdownonSunday.PARTICIPATE!!

Yoursindirt,

Photocredits:Baker,Dietz,PhanWebMistressandMembershipWhiz:DeviJosephSnailMailimpresario:PatHunter