Dahlia Festival Wows Audience

Written By: Wiley Sloan | Issue: 2018/11 - November

The Eighth Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival was held at the Highlands Recreation Center on September 8.  The festival was the culmination of summer activities for the Highlands Historical Society.  The funds raised support the society, including the Prince House and Kelsey Kids Summer Camp.

 Forty-three exhibitors entered 277 flowers into the Dahlia Show, producing an explosion of color and shape that delighted around 200 people.  Dinner plate-size dahlias in stunning reds and yellows, Pom Poms, Water Lilies, Balls and Orchids in every shade under the sun were some of the varieties of dahlias that local growers proudly shared.  Judges awarded Best of Show to Clyde Howell for his singularly stunning Pom Pom.  Forty-eight blue ribbons were awarded in addition to many second place, third place, and honorable mention ribbons.

Jodie Zahner shared some great ideas on the best use of flowers and foliage during her demonstration and lecture.  Show attendees purchased 45 dahlia arrangements to brighten their homes. The dahlias were incredibly beautiful this year, in spite of heavy rains early in the growing season. The festival could not have been possible without the army of volunteers who worked diligently throughout the week.  Equally important were all of the enthusiastic dahlia growers and the judges who donated their time and talents.

Ribbons not already picked up will be available at Highlands Historical Society during their open hours, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.  As evidenced below, we had so many winners that we ran out of ribbons!  Ribbons have been ordered, and we will notify you when they arrive.

Winners:     

BEST OF SHOW: Clyde Howell’s Pompom

LACINIATED: 1st: Brightman Logan

POMPOM: 1st: Clyde Howell

WATER LILY: 1st: Helen & Natalie, Ann Maxwell, Carol Taylor, Wesleyan Church Glenville

BALL: 1st: Clyde Howell, Susie Day, Dena Williams, John Laulletta, Helen & Natalie

MINI BALL: 1st: Clyde Howell

ORCHID:  1st:  Drew English

ANEMONE 1st:  Margaret Laulletta

COLLARETTE:    1st:  Ann Maxwell

MIGNON SINGLE: 1st: Ann Maxwell  

DINNER PLATE: 1st: Cullasaja Dahlia Club, John Laulletta, Ann Maxwell, Clyde Howell

MISC.STELLAR: 1st: Debby Jamison, Clyde Howell

CACTUS (A): 1st:  Wesleyan Church Glenville; CACTUS (B): 1st: Clyde Howell

SEMI CACTUS(A) 1st: Helen & Natalie; SEMI CACTUS(B) 1st: Laura & John Bell; SEMI CACTUS(C) 1st: Helen & Natalie; SEMI CACTUS(D) 1st: Carol Kellettl; SEMI CACTUS(E) 1st: Ann Maxwell, Dena Williams, Clyde Howell

INFORMAL DECORATIVE(A): 1st: Clement Dennis; INFORMAL DECORATIVE(B): 1st: Margaret Laulletta; INFORMAL DECORATIVE(C): 1st: Natalie Laulletta; INFORMAL DECORATIVE(D): 1st: Jennifer Schmitt; INFORMAL DECORATIVE(E): 1st: Marlene Viers

INFORMAL DECORATIVE(F): 1st: John Laulletta

FORMAL DECORATIVE(A): 1st: Jane Youmans, Susie Day, Ann Maxwell; FORMAL DECORATIVE(B): 1st: Nina Burke; FORMAL DECORATIVE(C): 1st: Clyde Howell; FORMAL DECORATIVE(D): 1st: Clyde Howell; FORMAL DECORATIVE(E):  1st: Helen & Natalie; FORMAL DECORATIVE(F): 1st: Dena Williams; FORMAL DECORATIVE(H): 1st: Lee Havron for Sherry Cooper; FORMAL DECORATIVE (I): 1st: Jennifer Schmitt

STELLAR(A): 1st: Clyde Howell      

ARRANGEMENTS: 1st: Diane Warren