Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
7/21/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
James Romer, Horticulture, (515)-294-2336, jromer@iastate.edu
Diane Nelson, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)-294-3178,
dinelson@iastate.edu
New Dahlias Publication Backed by Experience
AMES, Iowa -- With 23 years of experience growing dahlias, James Romer has a story to tell. And he's done so in a new Iowa State University Extension publication.
"Growing Dahlias" (PM 1925) discusses different types of dahlias, planting and growing tips, fall care, insect and disease problems, enjoying cut flowers and tips for showing dahlias.
Romer's dahlia expertise has been earned over more than 30 years--beginning
in 1965 when his parents started showing dahlias at the Minnesota State
Fair.
In 1988, Romer convinced his parents that their back yard was too large
and was given an area where he planted 25 dahlias. Today, Romer has more
than 300 dahlias growing at his Ames residence.
Romer and his family still attend the Minnesota State Fair every year to show their prize dahlias. "I'm the southern most member of the Minnesota Dahlias Society," Romer said. "Very southern!"
Romer, who also coordinates the Iowa State University Extension Master Gardener Program, usually attends between four and seven shows a year and has won several awards. He recalls his favorite award: the King of Show award at the Iowa State Fair in 1989, only his second year in growing dahlias.
"You never know how much you appreciate winning a show until you don't win it. That provides the motivation to struggle through the very hot days and very large mosquitoes," Romer said. "I try to have the best blooms possible so that I can't say to myself they would have been better if I'd done something else."
Romer's passion for dahlias led to his current career choice, "It seemed like a natural fit to go into horticulture because I like dahlias and plants." Next on his to-do list is breeding dahlias. He recently purchased some dahlia seeds that had been crossed. "Waiting for the blooms is like waiting to open presents," he said. "Sometimes you get socks, and sometimes you get something completely unexpected."
Copies of "Growing Dahlias" (PM 1925) are available at ISU Extension county offices or on the Internet at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pubs/PM1925/homepage.html.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click to download; the file size is 116K. Caption: PM1925 cover |
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