March Meeting

The Lane County Dahlia Society will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 4th at 7:30 PM at the Celeste Campbell Center. The meeting will feature a talk by Pat Patterson, OSU Master Gardener, entitled  "Fostering the Life in Your Soil". Pat is a long-time friend to the LCDS and as radio host on "The Hatch Patch" call-in gardening program, has helped immensely in generating awareness about our society events and interest in growing dahlias. The meeting is free and open to the public.

February Meeting

Hollyhill Icarus  A SC Y      Originator - Ted Kennedy

Happy New Year! The Lane County Dahlia Society will hold its first meeting of the year Thursday, February 4th at 7:30 PM at the Celeste Campbell Center. The meeting will feature a program showing a DVD of 2010 introductions -the top scoring dahlias from the American Dahlia Society Trial Gardens, along with other promising varieties. This will be proceeded by a discussion concerning on-line sites and tools for ordering dahlia tubers. The meetings are free and open to the public.

It's Time to Renew - Your Membership Counts!

January is the time to renew your dahlia society membership and pay yearly dues to help sustain our organization. If you joined the Lane County Dahlia Society after September 1st 2009, then your dues are good thru 2010. We encourage members to join the American Dahlia Society and the Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference as well.

Lane County Dahlia Society Dues are $10 per person, $15 each family

American Dahlia Society  $20 per person, $23 for a family. Members receive the quarterly ADS Bulletin and the 2010 Classification Guild. The Bulletin contains timely articles pertaining to dahlias, information on new cultivars, and a host of other topics. The Classification book is indispensable as a guide that states which cultivars performed well in your region and lists winning varieties from around the nation. The ADS provides a great service to all dahlia enthusiasts at a bargain price.

Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference $10 per person or $15 for a family. The PNDS hosts 3 trial gardens: Inland Empire Garden in Spokane, Canby Trial Garden in Canby, Oregon & the Victoria Trial Garden on Canada's Vancouver Island. The PNDS provides training for judges, maintains records for all member societies, and sponsors an annual show. Each member of the PNDS receives 3 newsletters a year, a membership booklet, and an exhibiting number.

Please renew your dues by mailing them to our Membership Coordinator Camille Noel at : 2330 W. 27th Ave. Eugene, OR 97405. Make all checks payable to : The Lane County Dahlia Society.

Lynn Dudley Award Winner Announced

The Lane County Dahlia Society was thrilled to learn that Don C. a Miniature White Cactus has won the 2009 Lynn Dudley award. This award is annually given to the highest scoring minature fully double bloom on the ADS seedling bench. Don C. was hybridized by the late Dick Canning, longtime member of the Lane County Dahlia Society. This past year Don C. was grown and entered in shows throughout Oregon by Dick's son Michael Canning and by Wayne and Eleanor Shantz. Pictured above is a basket entry of Eleanor's.

Dick let the bees help him with his hybridizing efforts so the only known parent of Don C. is Mary Jo (M C Pk). Don C. will be introduced this coming year by Ted Kennedy at Hollyhill Dahlias

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November Meeting - Digging & Dividing

This past Thursday, The L.C.D.S. held its last meeting of the year. Although it was a very rainy night outside, 48 folks filled the Campbell Center. We began the evening with our business meeting, followed by our door prize. Sue P. brought a beautiful ceramic bowl and a large packet of Spring bulbs as the giveaway which was won by a very happy Terri M. The program began with an overview of the entire process of digging dahlia tubers, dividing them and then storing them for the Winter. Anne P., pictured above, gave a great talk. After delicious refreshments, provided by Gen H. & Suku A., the group divided around 5 demonstration tables.

Each group was lead by a knowledgeable L.C.D.S. members who had brought clean dahlia tuber clumps from their garden. Here Art R. demonstrates. Art's table was covered with healthy, large tuber clumps.

Above, Wayne S. shares his experience with eager participants. After each clump was divided by the demonstrators, observers were invited to take home a free tuber. This always is a hit with our visitors and members.

Above, first time demonstrator Eugene K. divides a clump. Besides dahlia tubers Eugene also brought a beautiful bouquet of "Snoho Dorris" which was a treat to see in November.

Above, Sonia Hall shares her advice to L.C.D.S. members. Sonja is a talented grower and hybridizer of anemone form dahlias.

The 5th table featured Michael C. demonstrating. Above, he gives advice as Sue P. tackles dividing a tuber clump.

November Meeting

Our November dahlia meeting will be held Thursday, November 5th at 7:30 PM. The topic of this meeting will be the proper digging, dividing, and storage of dahlia tubers. Society members will be set up at many work stations, giving hands-on demonstrations of tuber dividing. This is one of our most popular meetings of the year and we expect a large turnout. As always, the meeting is free and open to the public.

2009 LCDS Annual Dahlia Show - It's a Wrap!

The weekend of September 19th-20th, the Lane County Dahlia Society held its 46th Annual Dahlia Show. This year our venue moved to the Wheeler Pavillion at the Lane Events Center. This space proved to be a wonderful place to hold a show.

The room was full of beautiful dahlia blooms. It was literally a sea of color and our many visitors were awe-struck!

The top prize winners:

Best (1) Double Bloom     Narrows Tricia     Eleanor Shantz

Best (1) Disc Bloom     09-Seedling     Wayne Lobaugh

Best (3) Double Bloom     Narrows Tricia     Eleanor Shantz

Best (3) Disc Bloom     07-Lo Blush     Wayne Lobaugh

Best Basket     Don C, Linda Harris,     Eleanor Shantz

& Chimicum Troy

Best Design Arrangement     Westward Ho     Gordon Jackman

Largest Blue Ribbon     Westward Ho    Gordon Jackman

Smallest Blue Ribbon     Glenplace     Paulette Woodward

Sweepstakes

Advanced  Amateur     Wayne Lobaugh     406 Points

Amateur          Tiffany Boatwright     156 Points

Novice          Linnea McIntosh      183 Points

Basket           Eleanor Shantz      36 Points

Design (Tie)       Margaret Kennedy & Georgia Zahar    

Special Entry Awards

Best (1) Bloom     Flower of the Year     Ray Sturman

ADS Seedling Bench      Kelsey Sunshine     Wayne Lobaugh

People's Choice        Greendor           Jerry Rasmussen

Dick Canning Memorial        Emily C          Ron Clack