Dahlias for Senior Center: free dahlia tubers at the Senior Center May 22

John Hibbs' dahlia beds last August
Photo by John Hibbs

Ridgecrest resident John Hibbs, ND, will reprise his Dahlias for the Senior Center fundraiser this summer during dahlia season.

Bouquets last summer at the
Ridgecrest Public House
Photo by John Hibbs

Hibbs, who supervises the naturopathic clinic at the Senior Center, is an avid dahlia grower. Last year, he started offering bouquets of mixed dahlias in return for a donation to the Senior Center.

He partnered with Bastyr University in Kenmore, the Ridgecrest Pub at 5th and 165th, and Vesper in the North City business district.

All of those locations purchased bouquets, with the money going to the Center.

The Ridgecrest Pub allowed customers to take bouquets for a donation, which also went the the Center. Hibbs set up a table in front of his house, so neighbors could get bouquets in return for a donation.

In all, the dahlias brought in over $2000 for the Senior Center.

Hibbs planted his dahlias last weekend
Photo by John Hibbs

It's planting time now. Hibbs has planted his dahlia beds and has the tubers of about 70 varieties left over this year. Says Hibbs,

I'm going to kick off the 2018 Dahlias For Seniors Project by having a tuber giveaway at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center from 9-11am on Tuesday May 22.

With the warm May weather dahlias should be blooming by the end of June.

For the first time, bouquets will also be available at the Center itself. Once blooming season starts, fresh blooms will be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Ridgecrest Pub and Bastyr University will again be partners.

The Senior Center is in the stand-alone building at the south end of the Shoreline Center, at 1st NE and NE 185th.