March Meeting - ZOOM

This month’s speakers are Joann Hartwell and Allison Lingbloom, hosts of the The Dig on Dahlias podcast.

The Dig on Dahlias began in early 2024 when Joann envisioned creating a podcast dedicated to sharing all things dahlias. What started as a dream quickly blossomed into a growing community of dahlia lovers.

Joann and Allison will share how the podcast came to life, how it has evolved into what it is today, and some of their favorite highlights and memorable moments along the way.

Joann Hartwell (Blue Sky Dahlias) has been growing cut flowers since 2015 and fell in love with dahlias in 2018. She began exhibiting dahlias last summer and was hooked from her very first show. Joann has been taking judges’ classes through the Federation, clerking at shows, and cohosting The Dig on Dahlias. She also volunteers with the Whatcom County WSU Master Gardener program at Hovander Park, where she co-leads the Dahlia Demonstration Garden. As part of the dahlia team, she helps educate the public about all things dahlias. She is currently a candidate judge.

Allison Lingbloom (Kale Lane Dahlias) started with about five dahlias when she moved into her first home in 2013. As often happens with dahlia enthusiasts, that number grew exponentially over the years. Today, she grows 5,000 dahlias and enjoys every moment of it. A self-proclaimed waterlily enthusiast who appreciates all forms, Allison focuses on hybridizing, dahlia exhibition, and sharing the wealth of dahlia knowledge generously passed down by leaders in the field. She currently serves the Whatcom County Dahlia Society as President and ADS Representative, is a Whatcom County WSU Master Gardener, and is a candidate judge.