American Dahlia Society

News from ADS!

Did you know that June 19-25, 2017 was National Pollinator Week? 

Ten years ago the US Senate unanimously approved the designation of a week in June as National Pollinator Week.  This year the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior chose June 19-25.  And the National Wildlife Federation decided to celebrate all month!


Here in the Adirondacks and in other places milkweed and Joe Pye weed have taken center stage. Dahlias are an afterthought. In fact, a visit to a dahlia patch from now to frost shows dahlias treating the honey bees and bumble bees to a pollen buffet. Open center dahlias are particularly accessible and delectable. But even the big double flower blooms have their flying aficionados.
 
When we grow dahlias, we are contributing to our apian neighbors as well as to the traveling butterfly population.


To learn a little more about the importance of protecting our bee population visit:

Whether you are a casual dahlia grower or a dedicated show-grower, grooming dahlias plants by removing lateral branches and side buds near the top of the branch will result in a bloom with an attractive stem. The bloom is enhanced in the garden and made attractive when it is cut and put in a vase, too.

Visit this YouTube video for instructions:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-wFuwzH-cnM

From the Adirondacks,
Harry Rissetto
 

 
American Dahlia Society | www.dahlia.org