We hear many wonderful things from our customers. Here is a sampling of what people have to say about our dahlias.
VANCOUVER DAHLIA SOCIETY
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE * NORM SHARP
The VDS meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, except January,
November and December in the Floral Hall at the VanDusen Botanical
Garden at 7:30 p.m.
Promot ing Dahl ia Growing Sinc e 1955
March - April 2010
Bulletin 2
Next Meetings:
March 17, 2010
April 21, 2010
Inside this Issue:
President’s Message 1
Message from Tina McNabb 1
Wynn’s Dahlias 2
Wynn’s Dahlias 3
Tuber Sale Information 4
Special Show Flowers 2010 5
Books 5
Dahlia Auction 5
Tuber List Reminder 5
Tuber Sale Photo Reminder 5
50/50 Draw 5
VDS Contact 6
Membership Cards 6
Refreshment Reminder 6
Our Website is
www.vancouverdahlia
society.com
Now that you have your garden all planned for this growing year,
it’s time to wake up those little jewels, (big ones to), with a little
warmth to “eye them up“. All those extra eyed tubers that do not fit
into your plans can mean extra cash for you to purchase fertilizers,
other tubers, etc. when sold at our annual Tuber Sale this April 3rd
& 4th at VanDusen Gardens. This is a great way to help your Society
at the same time to help yourself, as one half of the money raised
goes to pay for the Society’s many expenses. The sale is open to the
general public starting at 1 P.M. Saturday, April 3rd so encourage
your friends and neighbours to come and shop. For further information
regarding the selling of tubers contact Vera Williamson at (604)
574-5791 or Wally Kurth at (604) 536-6878.
Our speaker for the March General Meeting will be Del Knowlton, of
Art’s Nursery, he will talk on all aspects of growing dahlias. So come
with your questions and note pad, there will be a lot to learn by all.
On behalf of everyone, we wish Tina McNabb a speedy recovery.
See you all on March 17th @ 7:30 P.M.
MESSAGE FROM TI A MC ABB
As some of you already know, Tina McNabb is in Vancouver General Hospital at
the time of this bulletin. She called me today, February 28, 2010 to give me an
update on her condition. Tina had a spinal cord stroke and at this time is not able
to walk. She says she is feeling good and on the mend and awaiting a transfer to
G.H. Strong for more intensive rehabilitation.
… Robin Blackmore
Bulletin 2 March - April 2010 Vancouver Dahlia Society
Page 2
A funny thing happened on the way home from a dahlia show.....
Last summer, many VDS members had the pleasure of attending the ADS national
show in Snohomish. It was a dahlia packed weekend, and many members attended
the tours, seminars and luncheon and banquet as well as the show.
But as often happens, one of the highlights of the weekend wasn't planned at all. While
I was judging on Saturday morning, my husband Frank and Walt Wynne struck up a
conversation outside the show hall. As they chatted about their gardens, Walt generously
invited us to stop at the Wynne garden on our way home.
I have had the pleasure of seeing their garden before, but my husband had no idea
that the humble man he was talking with tends to one of the most talked about dahlia
gardens in the world, with over 6500 plants growing in a tucked away corner of Ferndale
with awesome views of Mount Baker from every row. Are you sure about us visiting?
I asked Cory – after all they had just hosted busloads of guests as part of the ADS
tours.
I deliberately kept the magnitude and beauty of this garden a secret from my husband
so that I could watch his jaw drop as we walked down the little lane to the dahlia patch.
And jaw-dropping it was. He was speechless as he surveyed the garden. The entire
garden has only large and giant dahlias with rows of Wynne introductions, seed parents,
and seedlings. As I tripped from row to row looking to see what future introductions
are coming – Frank just stood still and speechless. I don't think he will ever say
my 80 plants or so are too many again!
Of course I wanted them all, but I was particularly drawn to a 2010 introduction called
Wyn's Sleepyhead (A ID Y). This dahlia got its name because of its habit of going to
“sleep” at dusk. Some dahlias will do this; the petals curl up and the flower gets smaller
at dusk, only to open back up even better the next day. As interesting as the flowers
were, we were also asking lots of questions about the irrigation system in the garden.
Walt has this down to a science, with rows of T tape irrigating each row from a series
of stopcocks at the beginning of the garden. Cory says people are always amazed that
they care for the entire garden without any outside help, and it is ingenious systems
such as the irrigation that help them out.
The VDS annual show will be showcasing the Wynne introductions as the Challenge
Flower for 2010 is any Wynne introduction. You know which ones they are by the prefix
“Wyn's”. If you haven't had the pleasure of growing a Wynne dahlia, consider picking
one up at the tuber sale. You won't be disappointed!
KK. Betty Girard
Bulletin 2 March - April 2010 Vancouver Dahlia Society
Page 3
WYNNE’S DAHLIAS
waltsdahlias@yahoo.com
Bulletin 2 March - April 2010 Vancouver Dahlia Society
Information for Sellers
The Tuber Price List is now available from Vera Williamson for all sellers. You may pick it up at the March
General Meeting or call Vera at 604-574-5791 if you require it sooner. The pricing stated on this “List” for
tubers will be the only acceptable selling prices at our sale. All sellers must have a number (get one from
Vera Williamson). Your number remains the same from year to year.
Benefits of selling through the club sales:
• Recyle extra tubers you might otherwise throw out
• To earn money to buy new stock
• To help the society earn money (1/2 selling price goes to the club)
• To get your own tubers ready early
• Sellers will be able to purchase tubers at 9:30
After our sale, we will need tubers for subsequent sales. All proceeds will go to the VDS. These extra sales will
(we hope!) pay for some of our rentals plus any other expenses directly pertaining to our tuber sales. After our
sale on Sunday there will be boxes under the tables marked “Donation Tubers” for your unsold tubers.
For all Dahlia Club Members:
As a member of our club you may purchase tubers earlier than the public:
Saturday morning - 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Members not on the volunteer list may not enter the hall until 10:00 a.m. sharp.
If you decide to shop at this time, you must wear a name tag or pick up a name tag from Pat Ianson (or designated
helpers).
DAHLIA TUBER SALE NEWS ** Vera Williamson and Tina McNabb
APRIL 3, 2010
8:00 - 9:30 Put up tables, place tubers
9:30 - 10:00 Sellers only Sale
10:00 – 11:30 Club members only may buy
12:00 – 12:30 Straighten out sales tables,
complete members sales
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch (Bring your own)
1:00 - 4:00 Public Sale
4:00 - 5:00 Clean up by all members
APRIL 4, 2010
12:30 – 1:00 Preparation for crowd
1:00 – 4:00 Public Sale
4:00 – 5:00 Clean up by all members
For Details:
Vera Williamson at 604-574-5791
Wally Kurth at 604-536-6878
Page 4
Bulletin 2 March - April 2010 Vancouver Dahlia Society
Page 5
50/50 Draw
Tickets will be available when you sign
in before the start of the meeting
from Robin Blackmore.
Tickets are 1 for a Looney, 3 for a
Tooney and 10 for $5.00.
We had 24 members at our
February meeting and no 50/50
Draw was held.
Add these varieties to your Tuber Sale Shopping List
VDS Challenge Flower for 2009 - Any Wynne
Orgination
Jackpot Flower for 2009 - Just Peachy
2010 Federation Flower of the Year - Vista Lindsey
2011 Federation Flower of the Year - Skipley Spot of
Gold
VDS TUBER
AUCTIO
Up for auction
again this year
are those “special”
dahlia tubers.
Auction date is April
21 at the general
meeting.
NOTICE TO MEMBERS WHO ARE SELLING TUBERS
Tina McNabb has requested all members who are selling tubers this year to please give her a list of all the
varieties you are selling. These lists help her to set up the picture boards ahead of time and to find new
pictures if they are needed.
TUBER SALE PHOTOS ** Tina McNabb
Did everyone remember to take photos of the dahlia varieties you are selling this year? The
club would appreciate any extra photos you may have or I can make copies from actual photos
or from a CD or Memory Card. Remember the varieties with photos sell better than those
without.
BOOKS
A GUIDE TO GROWING DAHLIAS
Guides will be available for sale at all future general meetings.
DAHLIAS OF TODAY
Limited amounts of these books will be available at future general meetings.
Bulletin 2 March - April 2010 Vancouver Dahlia Society
VANCOUVER DAHLIA SOCIETY CONTACTS
Refreshment Reminder
March Meeting April Meeting
Sandwiches: Evelyn Crawford Sandwiches: Arlene Brodie
Sweets: Susan Birchmore Sweets: Dorothy Malkin
Fruit/Veggies: Wally Kurth & Peter Krueger Fruit/Veggies
Page 6
MEMBERSHIP CARDS
If you receive your March/April bulletin by regular mail your 2010 membership card will be included
in this mailing. If you receive your bulletin by email your membership card will be available at the
March meeting. If you do not plan to attend the March meeting, please contact Betty Girard at
vdsmembership@telus.net and it will be mailed to you. If you do not pick up your card at the March
meeting it will be mailed to you the following week.
For the complete list of the VDS contacts, please see our website at www.vancouverdahlia society. com
VDS FUND RAISER
Unexpected guests? No time to bake? We have a solution for you.
Frozen cookies that go from the freezer to your table in less than
10 minutes.
The VDS would like to hold a Fund Raiser featuring 14 varieties
of “Gourmet Cookies.” Each flat contains 50 - 1 ounce cookies
that you keep in the freezer until baking time. This way you can
bake as many as you require. Each flat of cookies is $11.00 of
which the VDS receives $3.00 per flat. We would like your
opinion on this fund raiser. If you want to voice your opinion, for
or against, please email Robin Blackmore at vdseditor@shaw.ca
or phone at 604-435-2530. Results and perhaps sign up forms will
be at the March meeting. As you can see from the second picture
all ingredients are on each flat. If YOU have any ideas about a
possible fund raiser please let Robin know by email or telephone.
President Norm Sharp 604-589-0463 sharpz@shaw.ca
Vice-President Peter Krueger 604-241-4995 peterkrueger53@hotmail.com
Treasurer Carole Rollie 604-572-3941 crollie@telus.net
Membership Betty Girard 604-431-8611 vdsmembership@telus.net
"Your dahlias were tall and luxurious in my garden – I planted them among other tall favorite and they still stole the show! Thanks so much for the beautiful blooms! Your fine work is made evident each time a flower opens. I brought bouquets to friends with whom I work. One gal walks onto the Whidbey ferry boat. Other boat riders were amazed by the size and colors of the blooms." Linda
"Just wanted to thank you for the great extras!! Everything arrived in fantastic shape." Mari
"I've really enjoyed growing your dahlias and look forward to trying some new
ones this year." Bob
"Thank you for the bonus and great insulation, healthy tubers, nicely marked labeling, etc. on them." Carrie
"You have the most amazing dahlias" Grahame Goodwin
"First time I ordered from Wynne's Dahlias and I am very happy with my purchase. Tubers were healthy and clearly marked, and all produced strong plants which are blooming right now. Great communication too" Sabinka from Bainbridge Island
"08- another order from Wynne\'s arrived exactly on time and in great shape. Their tubers tend to keep better than many varieties: bred for quality, perhaps. Order with confidence and especially enjoy their massive A and AA blooms" Poochella, Issaquah WA
"Wanted to let you know the tubers I ordered from you last year were wonderful" John
"Eeek! bloomed beautifully, Moonlight Sonata was amazing & Dapper Dad was a wonderful addition to my garden" Devi
"Wow! The tubers I purchased from you grew amazing dahlias! Thank you!" Jamie
"King Salmon performed very well in the Cashmere show, folks loved it!" Ed & Barb
"Wynne's Dahlias are highly reputable and Wynnes themselves are about the nicest people ever treading in the dahlia world. They are known for hybridizing many of the large beauties you see posted here and keep the winners coming every year. Their tubers are tops"
"I went south to take in the show this afternoon & was stunned to see a seedling get Best in Show- then I heard that it was yours! It even out-shone the Inland Dynasty. Congratulations!!"
Thanks so much for all your help. This has certainly been about the most pleasant ordering experience I can imagine. Diane
I received my dahlia order today.Thanks a million for your prompt and excellent service and the quality of the tubers! Have a great growing season! Cyril
