So Much to Learn!

I promised I would write more about the trip to Seattle on Saturday, September 4. It was a great opportunity for members of NCW Dahlia Society to learn by actually seeing how an established club runs a show, and having the chance to talk with veteran growers, including well known hybridizers like Bill Bonneywell. Bill's originations are prefixed "Snoho", as in "Snoho Diana" and "Snoho Doris." Bill has judged our shows in the past, and was a friend of my dad back in the day. His grandson, Richard Johnson, is a 23-year old up and coming hybridizers in his own right. His origination,an orchid variety known as "Midnight Star" won an ADS championship last year. Richard grows his dahlias on his grandpa's property in Snohomish, and was more than happy to answer questions from aspiring growers like myself, and also to spend time with our young junior members, Ellie and Fiona Koehnen. It was certainly nice to see such enthusiasm in growers so young, and it bodes well for the future of local dahlia societies.

In talking with Bill and Richard, I learned a little about how to enter seedlings, and the process necessary to have a seedling rated. That was helpful for future reference. One of the most important things that I learned occurred within the first 10 minutes that I was on-site, trying to get my dahlias staged. As I listened to other members of the club who were helping with this rush-task, I heard them comment on "disbudding" and "two leaves." I heard someone say "They won't even judge this if it hasn't been disbudded..." While I knew that disbudding was important, I thought I had been doing it right. I hadn't been.....really don't think I got the concept until that very moment. You see, when a dahlia starts to bloom, a main bud surrounded by two smaller side buds appear. When the two side buds are pinched off, they leave the two leaves directly below the main bud spiffy and clean, free of the stems that would otherwise have developed where the buds had been. So,first of all, the reason we disbud is to direct the growth energy into the primary bud, in order to produce a strong single bloom. The way that the judges KNOW that a dahlia has been disbudded is by the clean appearance of the first two leaves below the main flowers. There! Now if you aren't totally confused, then I haven't done my job! Suffice it to say that today, I went out to my back yard garden and the Russell Street garden, and disbudded everything that looked remotely like it needed it. I want these flowers to be a good as they can be!

While I was there, Mike Bonnicksen, photographer for the Wenatchee World, stopped by and asked if he could take some pictures. He said he was short one image this week, and needed to fill that spot. He followed me around as I pursued my mission do disbud, and then he asked for a little information that he could use in the caption. It is possible that he might not decide to use it, but if he does, it will be another great opportunity to inform the community about our upcoming show. I guess I'll know more later this week....