Dahlia Society of California -
August, 2004

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, 10th August, 2004 @ 8 PM @ 9th & Lincoln. 

Morning dew on a freshly blossoming Aksel Juul

Program: NOVICE ONLY MINI SHOW!  You may enter up to 2 flowers in AA, A, B, BB, M, BA, MB, P, WL, AN, ST, NOV, S, COL, O, MS, PE or LC as well as x3 & x5 of the same variety.  Please come early to have your exhibits set up by 8 PM.  Please fill out exhibit cards on each entry including ADS classification number.  Capitalize on this practice before THE BIG SHOW.  Your benevolent DSC rewards winners with applause &  $1.50 first place, $1 second place & $.50 third.  As the sagacious Erik G adjures, “ 80% of winning is just showing up.”  Bring your blooms to educate your fellow growers.  Show schedules will be available for pick up at the August meeting or immediately online. 

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MORTAL SINS & MISDEMEANORS:  Deborah & Tinnee staged a Hall of Shame to help novices avoid common mistakes at their first show. 

A magnificent H G Chad E (AA SC PR) waved only one leaf (not the requisite 2) thus garnering much praise but exemplifying Mortal Sin #1. 

Mable Ann (AA FD O/Y) brilliantly represented Mortal Sin #2 by showing its plentiful pollen. Judges should not be able to spot pollen in fully double dahlias. 

These 4 Mortal Sins would disqualify your exhibit.  Attentive audience members spotted many misdemeanors: top or side facers, lack of complete disbudding, extra foliage, leaves below the container rim, too tall stems, big flowers in tiny vases or tiny flowers in huge vases.  These faults do not disqualify blooms, but they certainly add nothing to an exhibit’s appeal. 

To unfurl crumpled leaves, Deborah cupped one in her hand, blew warm air on it, & gently helped it straighten out—a neat trick.  Given 7 foliage-challenged CG Eclipses, Tinnee deftly circled them into a x7, - stunning Lou when she said, “Seven or more -  you don’t have to have leaves.” 

Tinnee & Deborah brought 3 containers of flowers & 3 boxes of vases so members could try their hands at staging x1, x3 or x5.  Search for heavy, short lipped vases at thrift stores & garage sales. 

Talk to Lou L., Barbara or Mina about pin-frogs. The Japantown hardware store at 1699 Post carries these pin frogs at reasonable prices as well as great waterproof glue. Mina suggests the Flower Mart down on Bryant. Jamie says he's been cruising garage sales, but it's hit or miss. 

I attach my pin-frogs with aquarium cement; Tinnee utilizes silicon gel and Jytte recommends florist tape, as it is less permanent.  Whatever means you employ, stick it at least a week in advance & check out the integrity of your vase.

Remember that a crashed exhibit is not just your tragedy; a domino mess could trash an entire table.

Noteworthy Flowers

Monstrously huge
Goshen Cathy (AA IC Y) practically growled

A jaunty So Happy (B BI Y/W) soon-to-be-introduced by Lou Paradise

Jazzed and frazzled Caproz Jewel of Arlene (B LC DR)

Pastel perfection x3 Nenekazi (B LC LB R/PK)

Very spiky Western Spanish Dancer (M C FL);

Franz Kafka
( MB L)

Perfect Jomanda (BB FD OR)

Ready for a fiesta Capsicums (BB SC FL)

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PREPARATION FOR OUR FLORIBUNDA:
So many members volunteered to sponsor special sections at our upcoming show that Carol suggested we auction off the privileges!  Thank you all!  To learn more about the intricacies of dahlia lore, volunteer to be a clerk.  Clerks accompany judges, overhear their assessments & record the results.  Assiduous, obsessive compulsive clerks are so appreciated.  If you are willing to help in setting up or tearing down the show,  answering the public’s questions during the show, hosting our membership table, purveying our books or assisting competitors to set up or break down, please call Elsie 415-566-5222.  The greater your involvement the greater your enjoyment & the more successful our show.

All are encouraged to enter the show, please download the Show Schedule and the Entry Form in PDF format
or in Word Format
If you cannot download the PDF file, you may also obtain a printed copy at the next DSC August meeting.

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GREEN GENEROSITY:  New members Mike & Martha from Moss Beach brought in 40 beautiful cuttings including many Camano Denalis (B SC LB P/Y) to add to Deborah’s 48 milkcartoned plants. Baker Bill will tend the leftovers to sell at the SSF exhibit in September.        Returning from a 2 year hiatus, Pat helped schlep like a trooper.  Joan shared a whole bag of fresh herbs: basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, & bay leaves.  So thoughtful!  

VZ packed goodie bags of synesthetic treats:  the chocolate represented the earth while the gaily colored cookies & juice harkened to dahlia colors. Too fun.      Baker Bill’s applesauce cake & Judy’s strawberry cake disappeared in a twinkle.  Kim’s sesame cookies,  Thelma’s chocolate chip cookies  & Joanne’s lemon slices also evaporated. Who will bring goodies in August?

DAHLIA PICNIC:   Erik G. passed out maps & invitations to our annual dahlia picnic potluck for DSC members & their friends on August 14 from 11 AM to 5 PM.  Once again Erik has arranged for table delivery, a clown & a fire truck.  He hopes you will concoct something delicious to share, while reminding the more able-bodied to park up the road to leave closer spaces for our more infirmed visitors.  We’d love to have help earlier in the morning (after 9 am) sprucing up the garden, covering the tables, getting drinks into coolers and setting out traffic cones.

TIME TO VISIT THE DAHLIA DELL

OUR 4 PHOTO CATEGORIES:
1) One or more dahlias - a single variety, 2) Dahlia Garden, 3) Flora & Fauna (i.e. dahlia with human or animal life included, 4) Snapshot with dahlia in it somewhere. All pictures (digital or film) should be 5x7 or 8x10, mounted. ‘Cheap Pete’s’ on Geary has pre-cut mats from $2.

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAYS  to Lou & Thelma Cornish.  Wow!

EXHIBITIONISTIC AUGUST:  Show time!  Cut early in the  morning or later evening & put immediately in water.  Professional florist, Mina, reports that touching the ends in alum  sustains the blooms longer.  What should you bring to compete in a show?  Obviously your flowers & vases, your ADS Classification book, pen or pencil, scissors, water pail, large bucket for excess water, & paper or cloth towels for clean up. You can download the Entry Form in PDF format or in Word Format and print them with your particulars already entered beforehand.

Remember when showing multiples, that the blooms should not touch one another. Spray NOW to fend off powdery mildew!  Continue to tie up tall plants to prevent crashing & smashing.  Check your labels for your blooms against the ADS definition.  Toss out questionable plants which show stunting, virus, or consistently gnarly blooms: when in doubt—throw it out! Leonard reports that SLUG occasionally offers free rabbit manure—gourmet excrement, indeed.  He ferments a “tea” with which he waters his beauties.