The Schedule for the 2023 State Show on 25 & 26 February is now available here. It sets out how to enter, provides instructions and guidance for exhibitors and lists the show competition items in which you can enter. You may enter in any number of schedule items and can make multiple entries in any item.

Hard copy of the schedule will be posted to members (except Overseas Members) before the end of January.

The schedule items are unchanged from those for the 2022 Show except for Item 10. The Nine Bloom Challenge has now become the Six Dahlia Bloom Challenge.

The online sale of dahlia tubers from the DSV is suspended for the time being as current stocks of tubers have sold out. If we receive more supplies of tubers donated by members of the DSV over the next few weeks we will reopen the online sale.

A field day will be held on Sunday 25 September from 11am to 2pm at the home of the DSV President, Pam Albutt and Les Albutt at 155 Victoria Road, Pearcedale. There will be demonstrations on how to split clumps of tubers and a hands-on workshop on taking cuttings from shoots. There will also be a pop-up stall offering quality tubers at a reasonable prices. The tuber sale will be restricted to members only, but visitors can sign up to become a member of the Society on the day. There will also be a sausage sizzle for a gold coin donation. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground may still be muddy.

RSVP Pam Albutt by email to pam.albutt@hotmail.com

The DSV Gold Service Award given to retiring DSV President, Dwight King has arrived at his home in Ohio. Dwight writes:“I feel very honoured to have received this award from the members of the society. There have only been a few to receive this special recognition. This will have a prominent place in our home. Thanks!”

The 2022 State Show Schedule has been finalised. The Schedule contains all the information you need to exhibit at the show: timelines, what you can enter, how to enter, rules of the show, hints for exhibitors and more.

View the Schedule via a link on the Showing page or use the link here.

The Queensland Dahlia Society, host of the 2022 Dahlia Society of Australia Conference, has announced it will be held in Toowoomba form 10 to 12 June. Details will be posted on the Events page as they are confirmed.

Dwight and Alice King have decided to move their primary residence to Lakeside, Ohio, USA where they have spent the Northern Summer for many years. As a result Dwight will not stand for President at our AGM in May 2022.

Dwight and Alice are currently in Ohio, unable to return to Australia because of Government and airline restrictions until January. On return Dwight will focus on the tasks of Show Manager for the DSV State Show, a role he has filled for many years, before leaving for the US at the end of March.

Dwight has served as President with distinction for 16 years. He and Alice will both be missed.

Regrettably, we have had to cancel the Public Tuber Auction scheduled for 6 November and our October Members' Meeting will be held Online. Details to follow.

Shirley, wife of Life Member Bob Yeomans, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday 31st August 2021.

Joy and Les Lawson remember Shirley as a life-long friend upon whom you could always rely at any time:

“At our Annual State Dahlia show Shirley would be there, behind the scene, helping in many ways: setting up rooms, laying out the show benches, recording entries and awards, and, before leaving at night, watering every exhibitor vase to ensure each bloom looked its best the following day. Always with a smile and friendly word for everyone.”

Sadly missed. Rest in Peace.

Now is the time of year to prepare the soil for planting starting from mid-October.

A green crop planted in autumn can be chopped down and dug into the soil. Add fertilizers to encourage the soil organisms that break down the organic material provided by the green crop. If you did not grow a green crop, add organic material such as leaf mould, compost or manure. The ‘trench method’ of soil preparation – whereby the top soil is pushed to one side, a trench is dug, filled with organic matter, and then re-covered with the top soil – can be used.

If there is insufficient nitrogen in the soil, the surface mulch will deplete it further and create a problem with the growth of the plants and, in particular, the leaves and photosynthesis.

Tip from the Top

There is a distinct advantage in combining animal fertilizers like chicken, pigeon, sheep, cow and blood & bone if they are available to you. I also like to add some quality mulch (lucerne, pea straw, seaweed) at the same time in my trench. This absorbs nitrogen and releases it at a later slower (more controlled) rate to the plants, even when the surface mulch absorbs nitrogen as it breaks down.

Chris Michalopoulos, Life Member