Rarities - ISO and Sources

katyaker That is so unfortunate to hear. I am sorry you are having to witness your friend going through that. it is never easy. I stumbled across this comment because I was on the hunt for Keewatin Pioneer and Jan's was listed as the ONLY place that had it. I'm sorry I never got to see her gardens in person because I visit the Sequim area a couple of times a year; I just started to get into the Dahlia world before the pandemic in 2020 and only dove back in this spring once I moved into a place with a big backyard.

bloomhjelm I have been looking for any of the Keewatin varieties (specifically Pioneer and Special) all over the place!! would you feel comfortable maybe sharing a way to potentially contact them? I am in Washington if you need to know that as well.

joepa60 I will send you a direct message.

bloomhjelm sent you a reply!

Gordie Leroux of Kenora dahlias fame named his introductions that were not intended to be show flowers , Keewatin. after an area in Canada. He was from Kenora, Canada.

Not an ISO post, but I’m wondering if anyone has grown Mingus Roger K? I picked up a tuber at the Elkhart Dahlia Society sale yesterday, but can’t find much of anything online except this one photo. I found the person who had brought it, but she said she planted it late, in a pot, and so it only had a few blooms.

Phil Mingus introduced very many dahlias. As I have stated, he mentored Margaret and I and we learned a lot about growing dahlias as he grew them for 70 years. I will write a short piece on how he bred dahlias in the hybridizing section.

Juliarugula In all seriousness, I would pay you any amount of money, or trade any dahlia I have, for a tuber of this next year. 40 years ago, Phil Mingus taught me how to grow dahlias, when I lived near him. He was the nicest man and would spend hours talking to me about growing, storing, dividing. I wish I could remember everything he told me, especially regarding hybridizing. I am now trying to grow as many of his varieties as I can find. I have 21 Mingus varieties. Still have a long ways to go.

Phil Mingus : "He was the nicest man." Phil had two personalities and for most people he was the gruff , no nonsense person who grew dahlias. He worked at the aluminum plant and fishing and hunting was important to him. The first couple of times we met Phil he was in his "gruff" mode. When he found out we were members of the Portland Dahlia Society, he switched to his "nice mode" and every time we visited with him after that we got the personal tour and at least once he fed us at the picnic table. He was the "Shell Answer Man" (most of you are too old to know what that means) for all dahli questions at the club meetings. A typical presentation would be Phil on the stage answering questions, one after the other.

katyaker If you want to share Mingus varieties you do or don't have I am happy to keep my eyes open. Dahlia hunting is about my favorite thing.

The Mingus dahlias I see the most of are Phillip Sr, Randy, Joshua, Paula, Leroy T, Toni, Alex, Gregory, and Wesley.

katyaker I will try to remember in the fall/spring! I’m happy to share - feel free to send me a reminder if I forget.

I picked up a few other Mingus varieties that I don’t see often this year. Mingus Anita, Heather, and Harry (L? I think?). Let me know if you’re looking for any of those also and I’ll try to keep them mentally tagged for you!

Nice! didn’t know there gives a dahlia with Anita in its name. I had did a dahlia search for one since my son wanted one for everyone in our family ( that’s the only name I was missing) came to the conclusion I’ll have to either convince him Nita is close enough or breed my own.

I’ll have to keep my eyes open for that one. Are there any more with the name Anita in that I haven’t heard of?

Mingus Toni in three different color variations - all growing on one plant in 2022.

katyaker I actually don't have those varieties, I was just naming ones I have seen for sale this year. I think I only have Selena, Heather P, Franklin and Phillip Sr. so I would not be helpful.

Juliarugula I got Mingus Harry L at my society sale! I hope so much that it looks like this:

@katyaker I am happy to share as well

katyaker the one I picked up is Anita P - sorry. That’s really cool that you were able to get so many varieties from his sister!