September 29th, 2007---------
Greater St. Louis Dahlia Show Report
This year saw Maleta Fox win for the first time, outside the arrangement section, with the best entry in the bouquet
of dahlias. The section proved to be popular, again. Mike Plannett headed the judging team, which relied on an
agreed point system to determine the winner.
Eight categories were missing from the Court of Honor, among which was a vase of 15BB's. That means that the
$50 Ellis Evans award will be extended, yet, another year. And surprisingly, no Pom found its way into the show,
thus no "smallest" bloom.
While blooms were under-sized, for the most part, the Court of Honor still proved to be a spectacular sight to the
visiting public. Many who come to the Garden show weekend continue to marvel that the blooms come from
backyard patches. One visitor even wanted to know if the "big" flowers were the by product of steroids?
Two people who voted in the People's Choice section just wrote, "To hard to vote, all are too beautiful" in lieu of a
specific number on each ballot. And a dollar bill found its way into the ballot box, compliments of a dahlia society
member from Washington State who was visiting the Garden.
Thanks to everyone who contributed in some way to the success of the show! (Click on pictures to enlarge)
September 8th, 2007---------
National Show Report
Fourteen members of the GSTLDS attended the combined national / Midwest conference show held recently at
the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, II. The Central States Dahlia Society was the host. The majority of the
delegation was attending the national show for the first time and all first-timers agreed that it was an eye-opening
experience. And for Bob and Judy Sewell it brought back memories of the 1985 national show in St Louis. "We
didn't really know what dahlias were at the time," she recalled. Thinking back she added, "We just decided to go
to the (Missouri Botanical) Garden that Sunday afternoon and happened on the dahlia show somewhat by
accident. And we have been growing dahlias ever since."
Comprising the delegation in addition to Bob and Judy were Bob and Donna Himmelberg, Jerry and Judy Donley,
Colleen and Fletcher Simons, Brian and Sarah Meyer, John and Maleta Fox, Hank Soltermann, and Joe Meyer.
John and Maleta were the deans of the delegation, having attended several previous national shows.
Bob Sewell, Hank Soltermann and Joe Meyer each entered blooms in the show and Colleen Simons entered the
photography section. Colleen and Bob led the way. Each won a blue rosette in their respective classes. Bob was
so excited that he even had the chairman of the show sign the back of the rosette. Three of Hank's class entries
received a blue and the lone Meyer class entry won a third.
In keeping with the wishes of Ellis' late wife, Toni, the Midwest Conference recognized the long-time deceased St.
Louis member by awarding a $50 stipend to the best three-bloom miniature entry. The winning entry was
Sugartime Sunrise exhibited by Jim and Vilma Thomas of the Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society.
The show activities extended over five days and included everything one would associate with a national
convention. Attendees could select whatever activities were of specific interest. Following the Sunday morning
classification committee meeting and the annual ADS morning business meeting there was a bus tour of two
gardens of Central States Dahlia Society members. Steve Meggos was the most notable. He lives in a
Carpenterville subdivision but his dahlia garden consists of over 900 plants. He is a dahlia enthusiast but
surprisingly does not show his blooms. Rather, he helps other enjoy the fruits of his labor by giving some away
and the remaining blooms on his plants eventually become seed pods. Steve hand pollinates. One of his primary
crosses currently is Zorro on Formby Kaitlyn.
Members of the delegation were assigned to respective judging teams and that also proved to be an interesting
experience for all.
All of the awards, which included medals and honorary stipends, were predetermined by the show committee.
Those receiving awards at the Saturday banquet did not have to come forward to receive them. Each award was
brought to an individual at his/her table by a group of runners from the host society. Instead of crystal or
glassware all such awards were different types of handmade pottery donated by an artisan friend of the host
society.
A string quartet provided music during the noon luncheon and two harpists played before and during the evening
banquet.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
National Show Report
Fourteen members of the GSTLDS attended the combined national / Midwest conference show held recently at
the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, II. The Central States Dahlia Society was the host. The majority of the
delegation was attending the national show for the first time and all first-timers agreed that it was an eye-opening
experience. And for Bob and Judy Sewell it brought back memories of the 1985 national show in St Louis. "We
didn't really know what dahlias were at the time," she recalled. Thinking back she added, "We just decided to go
to the (Missouri Botanical) Garden that Sunday afternoon and happened on the dahlia show somewhat by
accident. And we have been growing dahlias ever since."
Comprising the delegation in addition to Bob and Judy were Bob and Donna Himmelberg, Jerry and Judy Donley,
Colleen and Fletcher Simons, Brian and Sarah Meyer, John and Maleta Fox, Hank Soltermann, and Joe Meyer.
John and Maleta were the deans of the delegation, having attended several previous national shows.
Bob Sewell, Hank Soltermann and Joe Meyer each entered blooms in the show and Colleen Simons entered the
photography section. Colleen and Bob led the way. Each won a blue rosette in their respective classes. Bob was
so excited that he even had the chairman of the show sign the back of the rosette. Three of Hank's class entries
received a blue and the lone Meyer class entry won a third.
In keeping with the wishes of Ellis' late wife, Toni, the Midwest Conference recognized the long-time deceased St.
Louis member by awarding a $50 stipend to the best three-bloom miniature entry. The winning entry was
Sugartime Sunrise exhibited by Jim and Vilma Thomas of the Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society.
The show activities extended over five days and included everything one would associate with a national
convention. Attendees could select whatever activities were of specific interest. Following the Sunday morning
classification committee meeting and the annual ADS morning business meeting there was a bus tour of two
gardens of Central States Dahlia Society members. Steve Meggos was the most notable. He lives in a
Carpenterville subdivision but his dahlia garden consists of over 900 plants. He is a dahlia enthusiast but
surprisingly does not show his blooms. Rather, he helps other enjoy the fruits of his labor by giving some away
and the remaining blooms on his plants eventually become seed pods. Steve hand pollinates. One of his primary
crosses currently is Zorro on Formby Kaitlyn.
Members of the delegation were assigned to respective judging teams and that also proved to be an interesting
experience for all.
All of the awards, which included medals and honorary stipends, were predetermined by the show committee.
Those receiving awards at the Saturday banquet did not have to come forward to receive them. Each award was
brought to an individual at his/her table by a group of runners from the host society. Instead of crystal or
glassware all such awards were different types of handmade pottery donated by an artisan friend of the host
society.
A string quartet provided music during the noon luncheon and two harpists played before and during the evening
banquet.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
THE GREATER ST. LOUIS DAHLIA SOCIETY |
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August 18th, 2007---------
The annual picnic / fish-fry. Another success.
The annual picnic was once again a successful fun day, with great food and conversation about dahlias.
Thanks to all who made it a great day!!!!!!!!
The annual picnic / fish-fry. Another success.
The annual picnic was once again a successful fun day, with great food and conversation about dahlias.
Thanks to all who made it a great day!!!!!!!!
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