Terry Schroeder: Pacific Northwest Trial Garden Director
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison discuss the Pacific Northwest Trial Garden in Tacoma, WA with Trial Garden Director Terry Schroeder. Terry has made significant contributions to the dahlia community. In addition to being director of the Tacoma Trial Gardens, Terry also serves as secretary for the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers and secretary for the American Dahlia Society. Terry shares with us how she and her husband, Bob, help coordinate all that is involved with running the Trial Garden. Its not as easy as just throwing some tubers in the ground. If you're interested in getting...
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Dr. Jan Gawthrop of Oldoc Dahlias
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat with Dr. Jan Gawthrop of Oldoc Dahlias. Jan is a bovine pediatrician. He grows dahlias in Northeast Indiana and is a member, previously Vice President, of the Elkhart Dahlia Society. Jan shares with us a bit of his dahlia history and reminds us how much joy sharing these flowers with others can bring. Jan new dahlia introductions are distributed through jsdahlias.com and missysdahlias.com.
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Barbara and Paul Bloomquist of Bloomquist Dahlias
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison sitting around the table with Barb and Paul Bloomquist of Bloomquist Dahlias talk about how they started growing dahlias and how it looked for them over the years. Bloomquist dahlias are known for their beauty and strong plant habits, definitely staples in the dahlia garden. If you're intereresting in purchasing new Bloomquist releases be sure to follow Paul's son's dahlia farm and @northcascadedahlias on social media. North Cascade Dahlias grows around 600 Bloomquist varieties and is home to to Paul's seedling patch (hardly a patch when you're growing...
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Part 2: Steve and Sandy Boley, of Birch Bay Dahlias, Discuss Mentors and Breeding
Dig on Dahlias
Part 2 of our discussion with Steve and Sandy Boley of Birch Bay dahlias discussing their mentors. However, we do often get off topic and Steve and Sandy share quite a bit about breeding. Part 2 cover mentors: Wayne Holland, Jean Herringa, Steve Santose, Walt and Cory Wynne, Dick Williams and Bill Bonneywell. You can find out more about Steve and Sandy's breeding on their website or on their facebook page. Dahlia Legacy Project: https://www.legacy.nwdahlia.org/person/boley-steve-sandy/
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Part 1: Steve and Sandy Boley, of Birch Bay Dahlias, Discuss Mentors
Dig on Dahlias
Steve and Sandy Boley of Birch Bay Dahlias are back! This time our converstaion focuses on how the many mentors of theirs influenced their journey to become the incredible hybridizers that they are today. Part 1 goes over mentors: Dr Kieth Hammett, Gordie Leroux, Richard Raymond, Evie Gullikson, Curt Sell and Bill McClaren. You can find out more about Steve and Sandy's breeding on their website www.birchbaydahlias.com or on their facebook page.
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Deanna Kitchen with the Growing Kindness Movement
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat with Deanna of the Growing Kindness Movement. Driven by a mission to use flowers as a way to connect and show kindness towards others, the Growing Kindness Movment has become a worldwide effort. To find out more about the Growing Kindness Movement, check out www.growingkindndessproject.com or on social media @growingkindnessproject. You can listen in on their new podcast, Growing Kindness, on all the major podcast platforms.
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Rich Gibson of 20th Ave Dahlias
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat with Rich Gibson of 20th Ave Dahlias. Rich shares with us all about his dahlia hybridizing from history to technique. You can find Rich's new introductions for sale through .
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Heidi Zierdt ADS Chairperson, Trial Garden Director
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat with Heidi Zierdt. She is the North Central Trial Garden director as well as the ADS Chairperson for all Trial Gardens. We discuss what an ADS Trial Garden is as well as how to go about entering hybridized blooms to be evaluated.
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Jean Heeringa of Vista Dahlias
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat with Jean Heeringa of Vista Dahlias! Her niece Lindsey, of IA Flower Farm, joins in on the conversation. Jean truely has a love for growing this beautiful flower, paired up with her innovative husband, Ron, the two grew thousands of dahlias in Whatcom County. Jean no longer sell hers tubers. You can find them with Lindsey at and another family member, Stacy, . You can read more about Jean's dahlia history at the Dahlia Legacy Project webstie here: .
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Joann and Allison: Chatting about the season coming to an end
Dig on Dahlias
Join Joann and Allison chat about our recent adventures and our emotional preparation for the seasons end.
info_outlineJoin Joann and Allison chat with Jim Kassner. Jim is the Show Chair for the 2025 ADS Nationals in Chicago. He is responsible for making sure everything is in order for another fantastic national show. While we didn't spend much time discussing it, Jim is an excellent exhibitor and senior judge.
Jim covers a few of the differences between exhibiting dahlias in the Pacific Northwest compared to exhibition in the Midwest. We also get a sneak peak into the speaker line up.