Awards Dinner and Farewell to our Demo Garden

October 20, 2018 was a big day for the Utah Dahlia Society. 

We dug our tubers and had our awards dinner.

Karen and Megan at the demo garden

Thanks to Ryan, Julie, Alice, Daniel, Jan and Megan for processing the dahlia tubers. Also, Steve, Karen and Gary that are not in the photo.

We are saying farewell to our demo garden after several years and thank 

the Granger Community Church for their hospitality and support.

Our annual awards dinner was held at Joe Morely BBQ.  We had a smaller group this year because many of our members were out of town or not feeling well enough to attend.

 Head Table Winners

Steve was our big winner this year with 4 wins on the head table including best of show.

Sandy Allred is a new UDS member and won a head table spot her first year entering.

We missed our dear, Mark Hurst and his daughter Clea who were unable to attend.

Best of luck to everyone for a good year storing our dahlia tubers and look forward to seeing you all next spring.

How to Store Dahlia Tubers

We often have requests for information of how to store dahlia tubers.  Over the past 10 years we have tried many methods and have decided the following works best for us:


We no longer buy into the need for them to freeze before we dig the tubers out.  We dig them the best possible days the last week or so of October.   It is easiest to leave about a foot of the stem when you cut the plants down just so you have a handle to help lift them.  Many of us spray them with the hose to get the dirt off or use an air compressor to blow them clean.   If using water let them sit on newspaper on a bench or table (not cement) in a garage for about 2 days to dry.  After that, you should see "eyes" to divide them (lots of You Tube videos to show you how) then put them in zip lock 1 gallon freezer bags with about a cup of coarse vermiculite to cover them mixed with a scant teaspoon of sulfur. We use a metal knitting needle to poke the bag for ventilation.  We write the variety on the tuber and the bag with a sharpie and only put the same variety in the bag.  Then, we buy moving boxes from Lowes and store them in a dry place that is ideally around 42 degrees until mid April for our area.  If using a refrigerator line the boxes with several layers of newspaper on all sides because the side touching the inside of the fridge may freeze the tubers.  Loosely pack the boxes with the bags of tubers.  More newspapers on top, close the box and put them in the refrigerator with a thermometer to monitor the temperature.

We have had good luck with this method and hope you do too.  

2018 Annual Dahlia Society Show

Another spectacular show on Sept 29th for the Utah Dahlia Society.  Thanks to everyone's entries it was quite the competition.
 

1.  Best of Show President's Award - Holly Hill Angela - grown with loving care by Stephen LeCheminant.

2.  Best AA - AC Ben - another by Stephen LeCheminant.

3.  Best A - Spartacus  - Raised and loved by the Utah Dahlia Society Demonstration Garden.

4. Best BB - Holly Hill Angela - for Stephen LeCheminant.  Also won Best of Show.  

5.  Best M - Outta Da Blue - Thanks to Megan Badger for this lovely.

6.  Best Ball - Mirella - This makes 3 or is it 4 for Stephen LeCheminant.  Who is counting?

7.  Best Pompon - Stolz Von Berlin - This beauty was brought in by Sandy Allred.

8.  Best Exotic - Holly Hill Spider Woman - Mark & Clea Hurst grew this wild looking flower.

9.  Best Three Blooms - Blyton Softer Gleam - Megan Badger for another one.

10.  Best Arrangement - Karen Crook's beautiful small arrangement dedicated to Sandy.

There were beautiful photographs to choose from, beautiful people and well deserved winners.  Here are a few pictures from the event.

We hope you all enjoyed the show and can join us for the fall social.  This year it will be held at Joe Morely's 100 West Center Street in Midvale.  An invitation will be sent shortly, but save the date, Saturday October 20th at 5:30 p.m.. Cost $20 a person.