April 7
Gardening with Dahlias
Presented by Betsy Szymczak
Someone once said that peonies are the “Show Girls” of the spring garden; with dahlias, it’s all about late summer-early fall “Royalty”!
Following a brief history of the discovery of dahlias and their introduction into the American garden, you will learn how to select dahlia tubers, where to plant, how to water and fertilize.
To stake or not to stake, to dig or not to dig — these are the questions! If you dig tubers, how to store, overwinter, and then how to wake them up and perhaps make cuttings.
This will be followed by a brief discussion of American Dahlia Society Classification and how to enter a dahlia show.
About Betsy Szymczak
Betsy has been growing dahlias for more than a decade. She is a member of the American Dahlia Society (ADS), Rhode Island, Connecticut and New England Dahlia Societies, and also an ADS candidate judge.
Before retiring, she spent more than 35 years teaching clinical microbiology at several Boston area colleges and universities.
In addition to her passion for dahlias, Betsy is an avid vegetable gardener and a member and judge of the American Begonia Society.
The Amherst NH Garden Club 