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Dahlia Division Workshop
Saturday, February 21 or Sunday, February 22
from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
in the MCBG Propagation House
Learn to divide dahlias before they begin to sprout! In this workshop, we will discuss dahlia anatomy and the different types of dahlias before diving into the art of dahlia division. The class will wrap up with tips on storing tubers, tricks for overwintering, and a discussion on how to grow dahlias. You will take a tuber home, watch it grow, and then have the opportunity to practice all you have learned next winter as you get your hands dirty dividing dahlias.
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The workshop on February 21 will be taught by Janie Notmeyer of Janie's Dahlias, and the February 22 workshop will be taught by MCBG Nursery Manager Lyn Anton.
The Details​
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The class will be held in the Propagation House; be prepared for cool temperatures with appropriate layers.
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Bring a sharp pair of pruners (if available) and gloves.
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We recommend bringing along drinking water, a notebook, and a pen.
Workshop Registration
Class size is limited! Registration for this workshop must be completed in advance online or at the MCBG Store. The registration fee is $46.00 per participant or $36.00 for MCBG Members and covers your admission for the day. There is a 3% fee on all credit card purchases. All fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens. ​​​​Proceeds support our nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Registration – $46.00 per participant, includes Gardens admission for the day
Member Registration – $36.00 per current MCBG Member – sign in to access your discount​
About the Instructors
MCBG Nursery Manager, Lyn Anton, has been gardening and growing houseplants since her early teens. She grew her passion for plants with a bachelor’s degree in Plant Science from UC Davis. Lyn worked as a field technician at a seed research company, a research assistant at UC Davis, and a technician at a plant pathology testing lab. She then shifted her focus to inspiring the youth serving as a teacher’s aide at the Mendocino Unified School District, a 4-H Youth Development Program Poultry Project Leader, and Mendocino County 4-H Leader’s Council Board Member. For the past four years, we have been lucky to harness Lyn's expertise in our retail nursery beginning as MCBG Nursery Assistant. She was promoted to Nursery Manager two years ago.
Check out this great article in Word of Mouth magazine, Fort Bragg's Dahlia Queen Keeps Blooming, by Torrey Douglas
Janie Notmeyer owns and operates Janie's Dahlias, a small dahlia farm in Fort Bragg, California. She has spent over 35 years growing, learning, and loving dahlias in multiple gardens.
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Janie’s Dahlias is a love story. In November of 2008, Janie met Barry while she was living in the East Bay and he was in Mendocino. For seven years, they traveled to see each other every other weekend. In 2015, Janie made the move to Fort Bragg with her dad, “Big Jim”, got married to Barry, and started planting dahlias immediately. Her dad loved seeing the earlier dahlia beds but was unable to see the larger dream of Janie’s Dahlias come to fruition after passing away in 2017.
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Janie's love of dahlias turned into a dream to sell at the Farmer’s Markets in our local community. The dream very quickly turned into an obsession after her tuber supply exploded, and she needed more space to plant. Barry was all in, he quickly rallied some friends with equipment to get the first rows put in. In 2021, they planted over 250 dahlia plants with over 40 varieties. In 2022, they added more rows and planted over 525 dahlia plants with over 60 varieties. And they are still growing!
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Janie and Barry have learned so much over the years and continue to gain more knowledge by reading books, joining dahlia groups, visiting other farms, watching videos, and learning from their own mistakes.
Janie’s Dahlias now sells beautiful stems, tubers, and one-gallon starts at the Fort Bragg and Mendocino Farmers Markets from July - October. You may also find their pop-up on the weekends on Main Street in Fort Bragg.