Richfield resident known for her dahlia blooms

by Laura Straub

Richfield resident Pat Sadataki grew up a gardener. Like her parents who love to garden, she, too, has always enjoyed nurturing plant life.

In 2012, her home vegetable garden was doing well when Sadataki saw a dahlia tuber at a garden center. Thinking the image of the flower on the package was beautiful, she decided to raise dahlias.

Already a dahlia fan, Sadataki stumbled on a Dahlia Society of Ohio show at Summit Mall in the fall of 2013.

“I talked with a member there and fell in love with the variety and colors I saw,” Sadataki said.  “The following year, I bought tubers at their spring sale and from then on added more and more every year, eliminating my vegetables entirely in favor of dahlias.”

She also joined the Dahlia Society of Ohio to learn how to be successful growing dahlias.

“The variety of color, size and forms seems endless. I think there are several thousand cultivars at least,” she said. “Several hundred varieties seem to find their way to the show tables every year, as they are reliable and show well. Dahlias bloom from mid to late July to frost, so the length of blooming season is worth the effort.”

The Dahlia Society of Ohio, a local chapter of the American Dahlia Society, uses shows like the one Sadataki attended to promote growing and enjoying dahlias. Those shows often include competitions.

“Competitions can include themed arrangements as well as single and multiple flower displays, so there is a lot of room for creativity,” said Sadataki. “I was encouraged to show my blooms, and for three years one can show as a novice. Everyone is so helpful and encouragin so that their enthusiasm can’t help but increase your love of dahlias.”

According to Sadataki, the competitions typically have three classes: novice, small grower and large grower.

“For three years I was permitted to show as a novice and was competing against other novices,” she said. “I have clerked for the show judges, which means I follow them around the show tables and write down their decisions and, of course, listen to their comments. I learned what it takes to grow and stage a winning bloom. I am working my way up to becoming a judge.”

In September, the Dahlia Society of Ohio had the honor of hosting the American Dahlia Society’s national show in Wooster.

“People came from all over the country to compete,” Sadataki said. “I competed as a small grower and won four first-place and four second-place awards for my entries.”

Sadataki’s blooms also earned a blue ribbon from this year’s Geauga County Fair.

“Some people grow dahlias for their own personal enjoyment, some to sell at markets and some to compete in shows,” she said. “My garden is for my enjoyment and to share with friends. Some of my plants are grown with an eye for competitions, and my choices have evolved over the years.”

Sadataki may not grow dahlias to sell at markets, but she has given dahlias to Sandra Apidone at Countryside Florist in Richfield to use in arrangements.

“I like the thought of my flowers making someone else’s day happy,” Sadataki said.

Sadataki doesn’t sell her blooms, but she has donated tubers and plants to spring Dahlia Society sales and has sold plants at the Richfield Community Garage sale. She plans to sell them again next year.

“I dig up my tubers in the fall and store them for the winter,” she said. “One tuber planted in the spring usually produces at least three and sometimes many more by the time they are dug in the fall. Last fall I stored over 300 tubers.”

This year, Sadataki grew 50 varieties and about 130 plants.

“I think next year I will simplify a little,” she said.

Sadataki uses some tricks to nurture her plants into beautiful blooms.

“Andy Luther at Luther Farm shares his cow manure with me every fall,” she said. “I think of all fertilizers, aged cow manure has worked the best at planting time.”

She also performs ongoing disbudding. Sadataki explained that each flower bud has two small buds that need to be removed to encourage a larger bloom. She regularly waters and feeds her plants, and sunlight is also key, which is why Sadataki has a garden at the community garden plots in Eastwood Preserve.

“I only have six hours of sun at my home garden, which is enough to grow dahlias, but the abundant sun at Eastwood is the perfect environment,” Sadataki said. “Richfield Village supports the gardens with mulch, soil, water and even tools. They maintain the grounds beautifully. We are so lucky to have this place to grow.”

It just took one visit to the garden for Sadataki to fall in love with the quaint atmosphere, charming buildings and well-tended gardens. She’s had a plot for two years.

“Last year I had one plot with vegetables and about 12 dahlia plants. I added the plot next to it this year so that I could plant just dahlias there,” she said. “I have about 40 dahlia plants at Eastwood Preserve. I am hoping to have more next year.”

No matter what she’s growing – at home or in Eastwood – it’s no secret that Sadataki feels at home in a garden center.

“My Christmas present from my family every year are gift cards to garden centers,” she said. “I’ve often thought I should write a book about Cleveland area garden centers. My car automatically turns into any garden center parking lot it passes. I can’t control it.” ∞