October Digest 2022

Dear Dahlia Friends,

Happy October! Please read below for October tips, a summary of the ADS National Show, and profile of a new member.

Meg

What You Can Do With Your Dahlias Now

As fall starts to settle in, we're starting to experience colder days/nights and shorter days. You're probably starting to notice that your dahlia stems might be a little weaker and you're most likely starting to think about digging tubers. Before you do that, it's the perfect time to think about saving seeds!

You can start dahlias from seed and it will be the first dahlia of its kind—pretty cool, right? There was a book published recently, Dahlia Breeding for the Farmer-Florist and the home Gardener: A Step by Step Guide to Hybridizing New Dahlia Varieties From Seed which is a fantastic reference for anyone who is ready to dive in this year. The DSO is fortunate to have a number of hybridizers as members who would be happy to answer any questions you might have. If you send your questions to info@dahliasocietyofohio.org we'll be sure to pass them along to someone who can help!

Jess Becker

Wyn’s Neon Dream - grown by Todd Imhoff

ADS National Show

The ADS National show was in Reston, VA at the end of September and the Dahlia Society of Ohio was well represented. A number of blooms from DSO members made the head table including:

• Todd Imhoff

  • Small Grower Miniature Decorative

  • Small Grower BB Cactus

  • Small Grower B Cactus

  • Small Grower A Cactus

  • Small Grower AA Cactus

  • Best Federation of NW Dahlia Growers Introduction

  • Largest Blue Ribbon

  • Best Miniature Entry - Clearview Butterscotch

  • Best Medium Entry - Hamari Accord

  • Best Giant Entry - Wyn's Neon Dream

  • Junior Grand Champion - Clearview Butterscotch

  • Senior Grand Champion - Wyn's Neon Dream

• Tammy May

  • Best Other Flower Decorative Open

  • Best Novelty Fully Double Open

• Ron Miner

  • ADS Seedling Bench Evaluation

• Jessica Becker

  • Best Photograph

The following people also earned awards from the American Dahlia Society, including Sharon Swaney who was awarded the ADS Gold Medal, and Ron Miner, Tony Evangelista and Jim Chuey who were each awarded the Clean Garden Award.

Congrats to all of the winners - it was truly an impressive showing!

Jess Becker

Introducing a New Member!
Name: Colletta Somrack
City/Town: Newbury, Ohio

Tell us a little about yourself: I live with my husband, Larry, on a farm in Newbury. We have six wonderful children who live in Geauga County, Ohio and Texas, California and Wisconsin. I recently retired from full time work at University Hospitals as a Registered Nurse. I have always loved gardening of both vegetables and flowers.

Number of years growing dahlias: One

How did you get into the world of dahlias? I have been working at Ransom Sage Farm in Chardon, Ohio. There I care for many plants including dahlias. I fell in love with the Dahlias. For Christmas, my husband gave me a give of membership to the Ohio Dahlia Society.

What is your favorite dahlia to grow? A la Mode is my favorite dahlia to grow. It is a very hardy plant with lots of coral and cream blooms.