Whatcom County Dahlia Society
Whatcom County Dahlia Society began in 1984. The original board members included Curt Sell, Chuck Hurlbert, Jim Brunreau, Bertha Larson, Bob Simon, and Walt & Cory Wynne.
Membership includes several well-known Hybridizers: Paul Bloomquist, Steve & Sandy Boley, Glenn Gitts, Jean Herringa, Cory Wynne
Dahlia Tuber Sale is the first weekend of April. There are thousands of tubers available. People start lining up an hour in advance so they can have the opportunity to purchase those hard to find varieties locally grown. The Northwest does have the best growing conditions for our tubers. The perk is that half the sale of the tuber goes back to the grower. WCDS’s Show sponsored by Whatcom County Parks Department is the first weekend following Labor Day. Both are in the gymnasium at Bloedel Donovan Park on Lake Whatcom. A delicious nutritious luncheon including their signature bean dish is served to the judges and essential clerks on the shore of the picturesque Lake Whatcom. After the show the flowers are gathered up and displayed on candle lit gondola floats commemorating lost pets
The show includes delightful arrangement themes: Examples of themes include Having Fun With Master (Artists): Renoir “Waterlillies” A pastel arrangement using waterlily dahlias and incorporating a water feature;. Van Gogh “Starry Night” Use any form of dark purple and/or black dahlia; / Where to Spend Winter Vacation: “Let’s Go Skiing in the Mountains” Think snow and ice. A design showing motion using white fully double dahlias of any size; “Going to the Desert” A design using two containers. Use cactus and semi-cactus or novelty dahlias in hot desert colors. Celebrate! “Superbowl” Go Wild! Any size, any color. Just remember the 24-inch size limit; “Birthday Party for a 3-Year-Old” Create a colorful design using Ball, Mini-ball and Pompon dahlias. You can find the current themes in the FDNDG Show Schedule.
Hovander Homestead Park Demonstration Garden maintained by Whatcom County Master Gardeners who are also Whatcom County Dahlia Society members. The Master Gardener project was initiated by Dick Porter and Jim Berg, two Whatcom County Dahlia Society members. Today, it is still maintained and cared for by members of both WCDS and WCMG. A majority of the flowers in the garden are originations by hybridizers of Whatcom County.
Monthly meetings are at 7:00 PM the first Tuesday of F, M, A, M, J, A, S, O,and N. The annual picnic is in August. It is a potluck. WCDS provides a Turkey. November is the annual pie social. Take a peak at the website to see the meeting topics, find the map for the meeting location and tell others about WCDS.
Come and join the discussion with other dahlia enthusiasts. You will find it worthy of your time and everyone will learn something new during the meetings if not during the hosted coffee break. Bring your dahlia related white elephants and see what new and exciting items you can take home with you.
