Dig on Dahlias

Join Joann and Allison chat with Sabika of Seattle Girl Farm. Sabika shares her story how gardening to support her father during health concerns unexpectedly brought her to grow and love dahlias. Once in the tech world and fashion design, Sabika now finds herself growing hundreds of dahlias, a member of her local flower cooperative, SnoCoFlo, and a memeber of her local dahlia socieity.  You can fi...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Catheriya Burke of South Moore Garden. Catheriya is a hobby grower who fell into learning how to clean dahlias of virus through tissue culture because of her desire to grow healthy stock after purchasing some expensive international cultivars. Catheriya openly shares with others how to be able to do the same on her social media. Catheriya has started hybridzing dah...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Liz Appleby of Lilibet dahlias. Growing and exhibiting dahlias over in East Sussex, Liz focuses on growing dahlias both for exhibition and improving cut flower varieites. Liz shares with us her story of how she got started in dahlias and what she is currently up to. Spoiler, Liz is a waterlily lover!  You can find out more about Liz on Instagram @lilibetdahlias an...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Philip Merritt, dahlia enthusiast and successful dahlia exhibitior. Philip went all in on dahlias after planting a few during the COVID lockdown. His love for dahlias exponentially grew into entering blooms into exhibition and winning Best in Show! While he was newer to growing dahlias, Philip is certinaly not new to growing and arranging beautiful flowers. Listen...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Karen Sanchez, ADS Classification Chair. Karen shares with us a look into keeping all the show results organzied within the Classification Handbook of Dahlias, an annual publication sent out by the American Dahlia Society summarizing all the show winning and newly introduced dahlias. Karen is an active senior judge in the Pacific Northwest. She has released a few b...

Join Joann and Allison chat with one another about it being the Dig on Dahlias' second anniversary! We have had so much fun meeting all of you. A huge thanks to all of you who support and listen in each week! 

Join Joann and Allison chat with Brenna Estrada of Three Brothers Blooms all about her experiences writing the book, Pansies: How to Grow, Reimagine, and Create Beauty with Pansies and Violas. Brenna shares with us some of her inspiration, travels and connections that made this book possible. Pansies just recieved the 2026 AHS Book Award, sure to be enjoyed by anyone who picks it up.  You can find...

Join Joann and Allison chat with collarette breeder Stuart Wilkinson. Stuart grows and breeds dahlias in the UK. His dahlia prefix is DN, for dahlia nut. He is currently working exclusively on growing gorgeous unique collarette form dahlias, especially those with a dark center. Stuart also shares with us what it is like growing in his area.  You can find more about Stuart on his Instagram, @dahlia...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Michael Burns, the current President of the Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society of Canada. Michael's excitement and love for dahlias is infectious. He is growing and hybridizing dahlias in Ontario, Canada. He is both a successful hybridzier and exhibitionist. His dahlia hybrid prefix is Eire. Micheal has a few blooms that have been released and has many more in the qu...

Join Joann and Allison chat with John Farris, Physical Therapist, share some insight on how we as gardeners can care for our bodies during times of often sudden significant increased activity. In his practice, John helps gardeners work through common problems caused by over use/repetitive movements, prolonged posture, and heavy lifting. He shares some diffierent practical techniques on caring for...

Join Joann and Allison continue our interview with Dave Gillam of Dave Gillam Dahlias. Dave is currently serving as Chairman for the UK National Dahlia Society. He is an exceptional exhibitionist. During this Part 2, Dave shares with us more about how the UK National Dahlia Society trains judges, classifies new blooms, his history of how he got into dahlias and some of his favorite blooms to grow...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Dave Gillam of Dave Gillam Dahlias. Dave is currently serving as Chairman for the UK National Dahlia Society. He is an exceptional exhibitionist. During this Part 1, Dave shares with us his passion for dahlias and what it is like to exhibit dahlias over in the UK.  You can find out more about Dave on his YouTube video at  https://www.youtube.com/@DaveGillamDahlias...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Jeff Miner, ADS National Show Chair. Jeff shares with us a little sneak peak into what to expect for the 2026 ADS National Show at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He shares with us details about weekend tours and activities and how to stage and enter your blooms.  You can sign up here to get email updates on the National Sh...

Join Joann and Allison talk with Levi of Levi's Dahlias and plant biologist friend Mike Qiu. Levi shares with us a bit of his dahlia journey and how he went from growing beauitful flowers to sowing his first dahlia seed. Levi shares his currently breeding goals. Levi and Mike dive deeper into how Levi focuses on healthy growing stock through virus testing.  You can find out more about Levi's dahli...

Join Joann and Allison chat with Janell Weiss of the Pollinator Patch. With a professional background agriculture, Janell grows thriving dahlias in Ohio, placing a strong emphaisis on virus free dahlias. When she was first made aware of virus in dahlias, she set a goal to clean her garden and has stuck with it. Janell shares with us her experiences along this journey and how others can also achiev...

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...

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...

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...

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 www.birchbaydah...

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...

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 podc...

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 www.crazy4dahlias.com . 

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. 

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 www.iaflowerfarm.com and another family mem...

Join Joann and Allison chat about our recent adventures and our emotional preparation for the seasons end.