February Digest 2024
Dear Dahlia Friends,
We’re starting to get into the swing of things here at the DSO. The leadership team met in mid-January to start planning all of the monthly meetings, plant & tuber sales, and shows for the year.
I’ll be taking over this edition of the Digest as our regular editor, Meg, recently welcomed a new addition to her family, William Taylor Witten. Congrats Meg! We’re so excited for you.
This issue is jammed packed with dates and information so be sure to read through everything and update your calendar so you don’t miss any important events.
Jess
Monthly Meetings
While we’re still in the works of getting speakers for all of our monthly meetings, I thought I’d share the next couple of months with you.
A reminder our meetings are the third Friday of the month at 7:00 pm via Zoom unless otherwise noted. The zoom link will be emailed the week of the event.
Feb 16, 2024, Julie and Ryan from Stonehouse Dahlias will be joining us to talk about propagating dahlias from a meristem culture. Due to the interest of this talk, a couple other dahlia societies will be joining us. The DSO will hold our regular Q&A session/conversation after the speakers are done presenting.
Mar 15, 2024, Jess Becker and Mike Weber will walk you through what you need to do to take cuttings of your dahlias.
Dahlia Auction
The DSO will be hosting an auction for hard to get/popular dahlias which we haven’t done since pre-COVID.
This will be the day before our tuber sale opens and there will be varieties at the auction that will not be available online. This event will be in-person, snacks and beverages available at the event. This will replace our regular April meeting.
Our very own Mike Weber will be the auctioneer and helping you part with your hard earned money. We will have a list of some of the tubers available for auction posted the Monday before the event. I’ll personally be donating some KA’s, Coseytown and 20th Ave dahlias for you to bid on, as well as some hybridized by our own members, Ron Miner and Tony Evangelista.
If you have dahlias that you’d like to donate specifically for the auction, please let Tammy & I know (president@dahliasocietyofohio.org).
When: April 19th
Where: Furnace Run Metro Park, 4955 Townsend Rd., Richfield 44286 at 7:00 pm.
Please bring a form of payment with you, either a check or you can pay via Paypal.
Plant and Tuber Sale
Tuber Sale
Our annual tuber and plant sales will again be held online this year. If you are interested in donating tubers to the sale (or for our new member kits) please contact Tammy May. Tammy will need to have your tubers in hand by Apr 12, 2024. All tubers must have a visible eye.
The tuber sale will be April 20-21st. Pick-up of tubers will be at Petitti’s in Oakwood on on April 27th from 10 am - 1 pm.
Plant Sale
The plant sale is also online, tentatively scheduled for May 11th-12, 2024 with pick up on May 19th at Willoway Nursery in Avon.
The list of what tubers/plants that will be available for sale will be posted the week before along with instructions for the sale.
These sales are Member’s only.
New Member Kits
Welcome to all our new members! We’re so thrilled to have you join us and are looking forward to getting to know you better in 2024.
Your pickup for your five free tubers will be on the same day as our tuber pick-up, April 27th from 10 am - 1 pm. Pick-up will be at Petitti’s in Oakwood.
Questions? Reach out to Veronica at newmembers@dahliasocietyofohio.org.
2024 Shows
During the year the Dahlia Society of Ohio hosts and participates in a number of shows. If you haven't tried exhibiting, there is no time like the present to start.
Cuyahoga County Fair – August 6th-11th
Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society Show - August 23-25th
Geauga County Fair – August 29th-September 2nd
ADS National Show - September 5th-9th (Wenatchee, WA)
Midwest Show - September 13-15, 2024 (Elkhart, IN)
DSO Show at the Summit Mall – September 21st
Member’s Show at Petitti’s – October 5th
Want to be a judge?
None of our shows could happen without our wonderful judges, and now's your chance to become one. You'll learn about how the American Dahlia Society classifies dahlias and how to identify various characteristics.
If interested, please let Ron Miner know of your interest by emailing him.
Representative Position
We’re looking for someone to volunteer to be the DSO’s ADS representative. This position will communicate with the 1st VP and inform them of what’s happening at the DSO as well as pass along information that pertains to the ADS.
If interested, please email president@dahliasocietyofohio.org
It’s a great way to get involved with both the DSO and ADS and there is a minimal time commitment for this role so it's perfect for someone looking to start small.
Introducing Our Members
Name: Kyla Werlin
City/Town:Valley View
Tell us a little about yourself: My partner and I run a farm in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, called Oxbow Orchard. Our farm is a diversified; we grow cut flowers, vegetables, and pasture raised livestock (Icelandic sheep, chickens, turkeys, and ducks).
Number of years growing dahlias: 6
How did you get into the world of dahlias? When we started the farm my mom suggested that people would buy flower bouquets if there were dahlias in them. I barely knew anything about growing cut flowers, but I gave it a try and I’ve never looked back. They’re one of my favorite flowers now. So showy!
What is your favorite dahlia to grow? Cafe au lait and valley rust bucket.
Social Media Profile: Oxbow Orchard on Facebook and Instagram.
Name: Ron Miner
City/Town: Chagrin Falls
Tell us a little about yourself: I started growing after Pat Lybarger was featured in a Plain Dealer article in advance of the DSO Show. We visited her garden and she agreed to give me some dahlias to grow the following year. I’ve been hooked ever since. I encourage all growers to get involved in exhibiting and attending regional and national shows. That travel will lead to wonderful friendships around the world – and lots of useful and important knowledge about growing dahlias.
Number of years growing dahlias: I’ve been growing dahlias for about 45 years. My mentors included Glenn Ruth, Pat Lybarger, Nick Kozapas, Tony Evangelista, & Mac Boyer.
What is your favorite dahlia to grow? My favorite dahlias are the new seedlings every year. There is nothing quite like seeing those first-time-ever blooms for the first time ever!
