Dahlia Care Workshop

Learn to grow dahlias on the Coast and nearby

Saturday, April 5, 2025
from 10:00AM to 12:00PM
at the MCBG Farmhouse with Janie Notmeyer

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Join Janie Notmeyer of Janie's Dahlias and learn to grow dazzling dahlias. This workshop will teach you the basics of growing dahlias just before it is time to put your tubers in the dirt. Learn how to prepare the soil, where to plant, and how to plant dahlias. You’ll get your hands dirty potting up a tuber to take home and practice all you have learned. Janie will also teach you the best methods for staking, fertilizing, watering, pinching, deadheading, and a bit about keeping your plants healthy.

Janie has been growing dahlias for more than 35 years, both inland and on the coast. Last year alone, she cared for 525 plants featuring around 65 varieties.

THE DETAILS

• The class will include a little indoor instruction and hands-on time outside. Be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers.
• Bring a water bottle, paper, and a pencil/pen.
• Masks are optional. If you are sick, please stay home.

REGISTRATION

Class size is limited! Registration for this workshop must be completed in advance online or at the MCBG gift shop. All workshop fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Register Now

Workshop Registration .......................... $35 per participant and includes Gardens admission for the day

Member Workshop Registration ............ $25 per MCBG Member   
*Click Members Sign In Here to receive your discount

RECOMMENDED READING

Connie's Dahlias: A Beginner's Guide by Connie Thompson

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Hi, I’m Janie of “Janie’s Dahlias”, a small dahlia farm in Fort Bragg, CA. I am passionate about dahlias and have spent over 35 years growing, learning, and loving dahlias in multiple gardens.

Dahlias bring happiness, peace, and healing to my heart. I love planting season when we place each funny-looking tuber into nutritious soil and watch over time as the water, sunshine and pollinators transform the living tubers into mature plants that produce many different colors, shapes, and sizes of beautiful dahlia blooms.

Janie’s Dahlias is a love story. In November of 2008, Barry and I met while I was living in the East Bay and he was in Mendocino. For seven years, we traveled to see each other every other weekend. I have four beautiful daughters and Barry waited patiently for me to transition my girls from home to college/career one-by-one. In 2015, I made the move to Fort Bragg with my dad, “Big Jim”, and Barry and I got married. I started planting dahlias immediately. My 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.

My 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 my tuber supply exploded and I needed more space to plant. Barry was all in. He supported me by rallying some friends with equipment to get our first rows put in. In 2021, we planted over 250 dahlia plants with over 40 varieties. In 2022, we added more rows and planted over 525 dahlia plants with over 60 varieties. And we’re still growing!

We 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 our own mistakes.

Janie’s Dahlias has become “our” dream and we love sharing our passion for dahlias with the local community. My husband and I now sell beautiful stems, tubers and one-gallon starts at the Fort Bragg and Mendocino Farmers Markets July - October. You may also find us set-up on the weekends on Main St. in Fort Bragg.

Janie and Barry at the 2023 Dahlia Care Workshop