SUBMITTED BY SSI GARDEN CLUB
The next Salt Spring Island Garden Club speaker is Connie Young-Davis, with a presentation on growing dahlias.
The meeting will be held at Meaden Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 6:45 to 9 p.m.
We are fortunate to have Young-Davis, a.k.a. the “Dahlia Queen,” speak at our club this month, as October is her busiest time of the year. With over 800 dahlias in her garden, you can imagine the time it takes to lift the tubers after the first frost.
Young-Davis’ interest in dahlias was sparked over three decades ago. She said she was drawn to dahlias because of their variety and their ability to keep giving — the more you cut, the more you get. Her spectrum of dahlias has since expanded, with 13 varieties credited to her name. She cross-pollinates by hand, slips stockings over flowers to keep the bees off and waits years for results.
Young-Davis enters competitions around the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, she has won 40 best in show awards for a single entry and 27 for a triple entry. She transports hundreds of blooms to these shows in her van dubbed Dahlia Mobile II.
Young-Davis is also the executive Red Seal chef at The Wellesley Victoria. Throughout the growing season, The Wellesley becomes a showcase for her dahlias, with vases of flowers decorating the tables and halls.
If you have questions about dahlias, this is your opportunity to have them answered.
Newcomers are welcome to attend the Oct. 22 event. An annual membership is $25. Non-members pay $5 at the door.