New Mexico Dahlia Society - August 17, 2025

Julie Moss

The August meeting of the NMDS took place on August 17, 2025 at the Albuquerque Garden Center. President Edith Iwan called the meeting to order for the 19 members and guests who attended. The July minutes had previously been distributed via email; no notification of corrections were received.

The new interim Treasurer, Jo Ann Miller, has worked with Enterprise Bank to gather all the required signatures to add her to the NMDS account as an authorized signer. She reported that there is currently $4,878.74 in the account.

NMDS Treasurer Jo Ann Miller

Garden Council News:

Glow & Stroll – This event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, beginning at 5:30pm.
Candy Scott attended our meeting to speak about this Halloween-themed event; this year’s theme is “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The NMDS needs volunteers to help decorate the dahlia bed at the Garden Center for this special event.

Tomato Fiesta – This event is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, 2025 at the Garden Center. Obviously, tomatoes will be the main attraction, and the event will also feature vendors, music, and food (including BLTs!).

Other

Agri-Nature Center – There are now lots of beautiful dahlias blooming in the Agri-Nature Center, thanks in part to the hard work of Master Gardener Bill Shen, and also Aaron Greenwood, as they perform weekly weeding duties. Learning about dahlias and their care is provided by Bill Shen on Wednesday mornings at the Center.

NMDS Website – Aaron Greenwood reported on the latest updates to the website. He shared that a new section, entitled “Scenes fro the Garden” will soon be a regular feature of the website. The first installment of this new feature will focus on the gardens of our president, Edith Iwan. Aaron and his wife, Sue Isley, plan to travel to Thoreau this week to interview Edith and photograph her gardens. The goal in the future is for other members’ gardens to be spotlighted on a regular basis.

NM State Fair – Sue Bond reported the latest information regarding the State Fair. While the State Board is allowing the horticultural exhibits to take place, there are a number of changes from past years in terms of parking and other issues. To enter “Horticulture & Designs,” for Flower Shows 2, 3, and 4, as well as for both Youth Shows, participants will need to enter through Gate 6, which is off San Pedro Blvd. NE. There will be only 20 parking spaces available, and once those places are all taken, new arrivals must wait for someone to leave in order to park in this area. From the designated parking area, participants may either take the shuttle or walk to the Flower Building.
Members discussed the new process and procedures for entering Horticulture & Designs at this year’s State Fari, and how these issues are an inconvenience and hindrance.

Sue Bond stated that she needs a few volunteers to help with horticulture placement for Flower Shows 1, 2, and 3. She can be reached at: 606-923-9085 if you’re interested in helping.

NMDS members Aaron Greenwood and David Wimsatt (foreground)

NMDS Dahlia Festival – This year’s annual dahlia show is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025. Debi Harrington has completed the schedule and requested Edith Iwan to review it and recommend any necessary changes. She also asked Sue Isley to review the Photography section before the final schedule is released.

Special Gathering – Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 8:00am at the Agri-Nature Center
If you’re interested in learning how to photograph dahlias and staging/presenting dahlias, then you don’t want to miss this. The Agri-Nature Center is located at 4930 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107

Program
Edith worked with members in learning about the dahlia classification system using the “2025 Classification and Handbook of Dahlias” published by the American Dahlia Society. Although this system can be confusing even to those who are familiar with dahlias, Edith helped to explain it so that it all made sense! Thank you, Edith!

Member Diane Kolb distributed samples of the Horticulture Entry tag, made specifically for dahlias. These tags are required for any and all entries in the NMDS Dahlia Festival, and must be filled out correctly.

In preparation for the State Fair and the Dahlia Festival, several members brought cut dahlias from their personal gardens so that members might learn how to properly prepare them for exhibition. Edith and Julie Moss provided the lovely dahlias with which Edith demonstrated the proper ways to stage/present dahlias for exhibition.

Next Meeting – Saturday, September 13, 2025 at the Agri-Nature Center
4930 Rio Grande Blvd, NW
Los Ranchos, NM 87107