The NEW website is up (and sorry, yes, part of it is still under construction - I do have a life, of sorts). AS members provide photos, we're adding GARDEN GALLERIES - the name of each gallery will include the County - so you can see exactly what's growing in 'them thar hills' (ooh! Dahlia Double Entendre) At our March Meeting we'll have a slide show of the NEWEST Dahlias to be introduced. (ItÂs also a chance to start learning about Dahlias before you try to pick out tubers! At each of our Meetings, we have a short discussion about what you should be doing, at that time, in your Dahlia patch.) The TUBER SALE is slated for Saturday, May 13th 2006 at the Arboretum. (shhh: The Members Only Sale IS held the Saturday before, at a secret location. But anyone at the March or April Meetings will know where!) And we're offering a special deal: 12 bucks will get you into the Members' Only Sale, a box with those yellow wooden tags & a marker, some reference materials, AND get you a Mentor for a year. Think about it - somebody who knows what they're doing, at your beck & call! AND THERE WILL BE OTHER TIMES & LOCATIONS to get Tubers or cuttings. (Check out the website  if the info isnÂt there, itÂs Âcause we donÂt have the specifics yet, so keep checking back). Our ANNUAL SHOW is always the 2nd Saturday of September - this year, Sep 9 & 10, at the Arboretum, Noon til 5 pm - CAUTION: We can't open the doors on Saturday until the Judging is completed, even if it's after 12 noon. But in the lobby of the Arboretum, the winners are brought out and placed in the Court of Honor as theyÂre identified. NEW this year: a YOUTH competitive division & an UNJUDGED division (for older flowers that perhaps canÂt compete fairly but are still beautiful, or just for Dahlia growers to show off their favorites) SPEAKERS this year: WeÂre trying for a nationally recognized Floral Designer and a Photographer. Our goal is to increase participation in Artistic Divisions of Arranging and Photography. THE SHOW IS NOT LIMITED TO MEMBERS ONLY! And we sell cut flowers. And we have educational opportunities! We encourage our members (& other Dahlia growers) to participate not only in our show but in the NC Mountain State Fair competition as well. Our members are also available to talk about Dahlias and the Society - at our Show and at the Fair. And at your gardening club. Here is a link that might be useful: CarolinasDahliaSociety

Hi everyone , Well this is turning out to be a can of worms. Not at all what I intended. But then worms are good for the garden. I wrote to Blueiris because I was concerned that the saturday dates for the swap that I suggested were not good for a number of participants(Lilacislove, Gardeng8 who travels so far to come and Luckynes) and Sunday dates are not good for me so I asked her if she would choose a date so that I could know if I could attend . If it turned out to be a Sunday , so be it . It just makes more sense for me to bow out so that three others can attend. I dont have a problem with that . It just means that I may have to pass on the swaps I have arranged as I dont know when/where I could get your plants to you. If we can work out something that's great otherwise I have to cancel the swaps I have made with you all . Blueiris has very kindly offered to pick up and take but it is so far out of her way that I just dont feel right doing that and if past experience has proven anything , I am working on swaps right up to and including the last minute of the day of the swap . I just want to say that I appreciate all the garden plants I have traded all of you in the past.They for the most part are growing merrily along and increasing as I write. I now am working on garden number 40. Who do I blame ? The fault belongs to all of you LOL! This has grown to be quite the event since I started it all some years ago . So when you choose a date please choose what really works for you all . If you think we can still work out swapping outside of this swap let me know . I was ssssssooooo close to having a dark purple lilac !!!!!!! I will check in some time later to see what everyone has decided on , in the meantime I am all about making a Ladybug cake for 30 people for my neice's first birthday right now . Ladybug , Ladybug fly away home ....UGH!!!really this is a horrible nursery rhyme! Signet

Wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to be outside on a beautiful day like today, but I think we had a better turnout than last year. I had the pleasure of meeting another one of our MN GW members: Karen. Participating this year was: Bonsai Society Peony Society Gladiolus Society Northstar Lily Society Orchid Society of Minneosta Minnesota Water Garden Society Ornamental Grass Society Iris Society Herb Society U of M Extension Edina Garden Council Hemerocallis Society of Minnesota MN State Horticultural Society Native Plant Society Dahlia Society MN Master Gardeners Federated Garden Clubs of America Rock Garden Society American Conifer Society Debuting: Friends School (Plant Sale)-Julie, you could have met Henry! I sat right across from the Bonsai Society, and watched them trim branches, roots, repot, and wire. Even a lowly (very lowly) one gallon potentilla was transformed into a respectable bonsai.

Hi everyone, Happy Belated Birthday Mary Ellen. Hope it was a good one. I received a wonderful box from Treasa. Thank you so much!!!! I love everything in the box. Here is what I received. Gardening gloves, three different garden figures, a really nice garden book, several different dahlia tubers, tuberose and a flower shaped floating candle. I love all of it and can't wait to plant those tubers. I have always admired dahlia's but have never actually had any. Can't wait to read my new garden book as well. What a great box! It has been raining like crazy here today in Texas but we can sure use the rain. I bought a weed popper gardening tool that is supposed to get the weeds out down to the root so I think I will try it out this weekend while the ground is still wet and see how it works. Have a good weekend everyone. Dianne