Don't forget to label!

As I mentioned previously, label your roots!  Use an ink pencil...as an anonymous dahlia grower once said, "A dahlia without a label is a weed", hhhmmm, I am not totally sure about that BUT I do label!

The Task Begins...

Just a few of the tools I use to divide.  These knives are very sharp, I love 'em.  Clippers of course to clean off the dangling roots.  An ink pencil to write on the tubers.

Photo 2 shows you the clumps and the roots where they attach to the "Mother Tuber".  You can see there is a swollen area at the connection. This is where I cut to free the new "root tuber" from the "Mother"

Photo 3 shows you the root removed, and the indentation on the "Mother" from where it came.

Photo 4 reveals the tuber, ready for a bath ( I soak them in a pan of water with a touch of chlorox ).

Photo 5, the storage bag.  These are perforated zip lock I purchased from Canada some years ago, I am grateful they hold up!

You can see that the dahlia plant in the first photo has been "lopped".  All the stems and remaining leaves have been removed.

Photo 2 shows you what the clump looks like just pulled out of the ground.

Photo 3, the clump sits atop the washing area, reading to be cleaned of the excess soil.

Photo 4, a nice clean clump ready to go up to the greenhouse for dividing.

Digging et Dividing

Over 200 dahlias to dig, divide, label and store.  Here are a few photos of my process.  Digging the roots up let's me see how they are doing, approx how many I will have for Spring, and it also allows me to replenish the soil.  After the tubers are up, compost and soil optimizer will go back into the ground.  In feeding the soil, we make it possible for the plants to absorb nutrients more effectively.  The earth smell sweet and delicious.  The texture was fluffy, and there were tons of earthworms, a VERY good sign.

This first photos shows the dahlia plant completed.  It is ready to be lopped.

Christmas Day 2008, Soquel Lucchesi Gathering

We sure had a lot of fun, wish I had taken more photos.  I am very naughty as I took no photos of my beloved family on Christmas Eve.  Guess I was too busy talking!  Here are some photos at the Christmas dinner hosted by Linda & John.

Canning for Christmas!

Sometimes, well often times, I get INSPIRED to make or do certain things.  Today, it is jelly making and canning!  This was a lot of fun, you can see red and green to be traditional.  The red is a delicious cranberry-apple spiced jelly.  The green is jalapeno jelly.  Both are delicious served over cream cheese, or tofutti cheese served with your choice of crackers!

Christmas Tree Time

I usually do not decorate the tree until around the second week of December.  This year however I am early, as we are having a small group of friends and neighbors over for an 'Open House'...I haven't hosted a holiday open house in years.  Hope I can remember how?

End of November in my hometown...

This is heaven...well close anyway.  There were supposed to be huge waves today as a result of a storm out in the Pacific.  While I didn't see huge waves, there were some pretty awesome sets near Pleasure Point.  The temp must have been at least 70 today, gorgeous!  Here are a few photos for your viewing enjoyment!

Oregon November

We made our annual trek to Grants Pass, Oregon for Makaila's birthday.  As you can see by the cake she decorated, she is now 9 years old!  Pictured with her is Hannah, a friend she has known since daycare years ago.  This was taken at our Oregon "bungalow" which is right across the street from Mak's house.

My Veteran's Day Message

Birds and Bees

Winter birds are arriving to the feeder.  The gold crown sparrow and nuthatches have arrived.  Actually the nuthatches are prolly here all year, but there are more now.  Here is a nuthatch at the birdbath.

You can see our bees like to drink from the mini water garden.  It has been a real Indian Summer these past few days!

A Birthday Grevillea

Wednesday 10-22 was my birthday.  I stayed at home to hang out with Geo as he had a knee arthroscopy 10-21.  I was surprised by a knock at the door and presented with this amazing specimen of a Grevillea  "Robyn Gordon", apropos as it was developed in the 1950' ( like me ), at the Myall Park Botanic Garden.  The original plant still grows there! Oh it was gifted to me by 2 co-workers, Linda and Julia. I thank them!

Speaking of Gourds

On Sunday 10-19, I visited the home of the Albrecht-Sprinsocks.  I have been fortunate enough to meet this lovely family through the dahlia society.  Not only do they grow dahlias, but they grow giant pumpkins, and quite well I might add.  This year Riley grew a large variety of gourds!  Riley won many awards at our County Fair.  He sold the surplus on Sunday and the $885.00 went to "Obama for America"...I left with a beautiful collection of pumpkins and gourds for my front entry way.  I will save the seeds from some, and next year add gourds to my growing agenda!

Gourds

While visiting my friend and dahlia mentor Kevin Larkin earlier this year, he cracked open a really neat gourd and I pocketed 3 seeds.  All 3 germinated and I planted them in wire baskets and fashioned a teepee trellis out of bamboo.  I really didn't think they were going to produce gourds, as most of the small fruits shriveled up...Well, after being attacked by aphids ( which the ladybugs feasted on ), I see where I actually have some nice looking gourds.  One is particularly large and a few other are catching up.  I hope the gophers and deer stay away!  I love gourds.

Probably one of the last dahlia bouquets of 2008

Picked this one 10-11-08...love the colors!

Capitola Seawall Dedication 2008

Sunday October 12, 2008. We trucked on down to Capitola Village for the seawall dedication.  Truly a wonderful thing, the seawall decorated with hand painted tiles.  Each person paid $35.00 for a blank tile and made it into a piece of art.  The theme, why Capitola of course.  Because I drug my feet I only got to paint one.  It was pretty fun, and hearing the stories of various artists was inspiring.  A gorgeous day as well.  I feel so grateful to live in such a magical wonderful place on Earth!

Halloween Party at Gonzo's SJFD & Central Fire Folks

We attended Gonzo's Massive Halloween Party.  The theme was "Rock Stars and Super Heroes"...after a good long shopping spree at "Hot Topics", we rocked the star look...