February 2013 Newsletter

Hello fellow dahlia growers,

Welcome to 2013. Soon, we will be starting a new Dahlia Season.

If you have not renewed your WCDS membership dues, please bring them to the February meeting. Jean will be collecting dues from everyone who has not paid their 2013 dues. Remit Payment to: WCDS c/o Jean Heeringa, 1216 Birch Bay Lynden Rd, Lynden WA 98264-9492
The Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers (FNWDG) is an organization comprised of thirteen Associate and Affiliated societies, and nearly 300 individuals. FNWDG provides judges' training in accordance with American Dahlia Society regulations, and - through its Associate societies - puts thousands of blooms on display each summer at a series of dahlia shows throughout the Pacific Northwest. Benefits of Federation membership: Receive the annual show schedule and free seminars about our favorite subject. The NW Federation of Dahlia Growers judges class is a great place to learn about the basics and how to clerk. If you can help clerk at the shows, you will be fulfilling an important role. The class instructors explain how the shows are set up and how to fill out the forms used at the shows.

This month’s meeting will include a discussion panel…Glen Gitts will bring examples of tubers to help us in selecting from our own for the sale. We will have examples of how to package dahlias. You can contact Paul Bloomquist to receive your personal number and color identification for your labels. We encourage new growers to help with the sale.

If you are selling dahlias at our local WCDS sale, please send in or bring your list by the March meeting. Committee members will be sorting picture cards for the sale. It is better to list all possible dahlias than not. That way the cards with the pictures on them will be pulled for the sale tables. If you decide that you are not going to sell the tubers it is OK. If you have new varieties to sell, please bring pictures that you took last year so we can set up cards for the tables.

I’ve been working on the WCDS Website. Please take a look at it and let me know what information you would like added.

If anyone would like to write a story or have done research that you would like to share with the WCDS members please send me the articles and I will include them in the newsletter. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We are looking forward to a new year of Dahlias.

The April newsletter will include: Photo opportunities.

If you would like to send suggestions or have special interests for the meetings, please email Paul Bloomquist. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Items that everybody should bring to the meeting: questions about dahlias, white elephant, sign up to serve refreshment at one of our monthly meetings. Dues if you have not already paid them. Sellers should bring their list of possible dahlias they will have for the sale.

Cory Wynne, Denna Boyington and Jean Heeringa will provide refreshments.

WCDS Contact Information

President Paul Bloomquist 360-354-4346

Vice President Butch Hannah 360- 398-2768

Membership/Treasurer Jean Heeringa 360-354-1273

Newsletter/Website Gretchen Kulpa 360-305-9600

Public Relations/Marketing Denna Boyington 360-770-5469