Highland Garden Club speaker is expert on dahlias

The Highland Garden Club’s speaker this month is a fountain of knowledge on the topic of dahlias.

The Highland Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 in the upstairs meeting rooms (Nos. 2 and 3) at the Korte Recreation Center.

Joe Meyer has more than 65 years experience growing dahlias. He is a member of the Greater St. Louis Dahlia Society and currently is the society’s show chairman. He is also a member of the American Dahlia Society. His 2016 home garden contains 104 plants. Before retiring, he had as many as 250.

Meyer’s presentation will consist of an “introduction to the diverse dahlia plant” and a “tour of the dahlia growing season,” which extends from early spring to late fall.

According to Meyer, if you consider yourself a “people” person, then you must grow dahlias, because dahlias are a “people” plant.

At the close of the meeting, Meyer has offered to bring his pH meter and test soil samples. If you would like to have your soil tested, bring a composite of several samples from the test area. The best thing to use for the sample is a 32-ounce plastic cup filled about 90 percent. The sample should also be damp — moist but not muddy.

The Highland Garden Club meets monthly on the fourth Thursday of each month. The mission of the club is: “To plant the seeds of knowledge, cultivate friendships, grow in our appreciation of nature, harvest ideas, and preserve the beauty of our community.” Anyone interested in learning more about the Garden Club should call Kathy Moore, club president, at 654-3579 or email her at wmoorekm@gmail.com.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 4:18 AM with the headline "Highland Garden Club speaker is expert on dahlias."