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?