August Digest 2022
Dear Dahlia Friends,
Just a note to thank Jackie Evangelista so very much for being the Dahlia Digest Editor for several amazing and interesting issues. And thanks to Jess Becker for finding Meg Witten to fill Jackie's shoes. Meg will inform you of her ideas on how to keep the DSO membership up to date on dahlia issues. Thank you Jackie, Jess, and Meg.
All the best,
Jerry
What You Can Do With Your Dahlias Now
Keep plants watered-the frequency necessary will depend on your soil type and its moisture holding capacity.
Consider misting or lightly spraying your plants when temperatures are over 90 degrees F. to minimize heat stress.
Start removing unproductive and dying lower leaves--this will help prevent powdery mildew by increasing air circulation; powdery mildew often starts on the lower leaves.
Fertilize with slow release, preferably organic, fertilizer.
It’s never too late to mulch if you haven’t done so--this will help retain soil moisture and keep soil temperature from fluctuating so widely.
Remember to limit the number of laterals on plants to maximize show potential.
Keep insects and slugs under control.
Be sure you continue tying your plants including laterals to your stakes.
Tony Evangelista
Judging News
We have great news from the Judging Committee. How often do you get a new co-chair with equal and better expertise and experience than your own!? I’m delighted to report that Tony Evangelista is the new Judging Committee Co-Chairman. We are very much looking forward to working with each other and with our DSO judges and, maybe most importantly, with our new members who are interested in becoming a judge!
Our first judging seminar in 2022 will be on-site after the picnic on August 6. I want to encourage everyone to join the judging discussion. We will provide an overview of judging dahlias and Tony will help us to understand the changes in the judging process that come with our new judging manual. If you are an ADS member, you got a complimentary copy in the mail a couple weeks ago. Tony was a key part of the team that wrote the new manual.
Please let me or Tony know of any questions you might have about judging. For that matter, please feel free to ask us anything about dahlias. We have a ton of experience and maybe even a little expertise that came from all that experience – and we are happy to share that with all, particularly our new members and judges-to-be.
We will have another judging seminar after the Petitti show in October.
Ron Miner
Introducing New Members!
Name: Elizabeth Hamilton
City/Town: Mayfield Village
Tell us a little about yourself: I am in my second season as a backyard flower farmer. I grow all kinds of cut flowers-both annuals and perennials. I’m married to Stephen & mother to an almost 7 yr old son and a brand new puppy-named Toast! I enjoy gardening, baking, walking in the Metropark & listening to audiobooks.
Number of years growing dahlias: 7 years
How did you get into the world of dahlias? Floret flowers shared their dahlias on social media and I was hooked!
What is your favorite dahlia to grow? Peaches N Cream
Social media profiles: @redhouseflorals on Instagram.
Name: Meg Witten
City/Town: Cleveland Heights
Tell us a little about yourself: I work at the Cleveland Clinic as a project manager and my creative outlet is all things garden related. I live with my husband, James, and our two cats. I love cooking, gardening, traveling, and spending as much time outside as possible.
Number of years growing dahlias: 3 years
How did you get into the world of dahlias? My husband brought home a dahlia plant three years ago and we’re been obsessed with dahlias ever since!
What is your favorite dahlia to grow? Cornel Bronze
Social media profiles: @meg_witten on Instagram