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Delightful Dahlias

September 30th, 2014

I love dahlias, but have never grown them in my garden. Digging up tubers to overwinter seems a bit too much for me, but perhaps someday I’ll grow a few. When my mom and I were in Seattle, we went to Volunteer Park to visit the conservatory. While there we noticed that right across the street there was a dahlia exhibit maintained by the Seattle Dahlia Society.
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 9
There were dahlias of all colors, shapes, and sizes, each one nicely labeled. We really enjoyed looking at each and ever one.
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 1
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 2
Dahlias at Volunteer Park
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 3
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 4
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 6
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 5
Dahlias at Volunteer Park 7
Here in Maine we’re lucky enough to have the Endless Summer dahlia garden featuring tons of beauties, at least that’s what I hear. I didn’t get over to see them this summer, but it’s on my “must see” list for next year. A local friend was just telling me how wonderful it was. Perhaps I’ll visit next year and get a dahlia of my very own. If you’re looking for dahlias, consider ordering from Endless Summer and support a small business!

Do you grow dahlias? Do you have a favorite?

8 Comments to “Delightful Dahlias”
  1. Nebraska Dave on September 30, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Susy, nope no Dahlias here. I haven’t dedicated too much time to flower cultivation yet. I would like to incorporate more flowers into the garden beds to attract the pollinators but just haven’t done that yet. I have one flower bed to plant next spring at Terra Nova Gardens and will most likely just put some Marigolds in it for this year. I know, it’s not very creative but Marigolds are pretty rugged and bloom all year long once they start. It’s the best an old row crop farmer can do for now.

    Have a great Dahlia day.

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  2. Tonya on September 30, 2014 at 10:53 am

    Three years ago my sister-in-law planted HUNDREDS of dahlias at my mother-in-laws in an attempt at starting a micro-business. I helped her plant and then later, dig the tubers. What a gloriously beautiful summer that was! I didn’t fully appreciate dahlias until then. They are real troopers, blooming their little hearts out until heavy frost and they hold up well once cut. A couple of my favorites are “Rip City” which is a large, almost black, deep burgundy and “Blizzard” which is snow white as its name implies. This year my mother-in-law has those two together in her border and it’s a stunning combination. I intend to start some inside in late winter so I can drop them in spots that need some quick color.

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  3. DebbieB on September 30, 2014 at 11:16 am

    They’re all so different! I don’t know all that much about flowers, I like them all. I would never have been able to identify these dahlias without you telling me what they are!

    We grow marigolds in the vegetable garden, and I have a barrel with portulaca (moss roses). We used to have begonias along the front of the house when we had the big shading magnolia trees in the front yard, but since we took those down in the beginning of the summer, we’ve gone from full shade to full sun and the yard hasn’t adjusted yet. Or maybe it’s the gardeners who haven’t adjusted. :)

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  4. Myra S. on September 30, 2014 at 11:21 am

    When I’m out driving and see what looks like your dahlias in someone’s yard, from a distance I thought they were zinnias. Up close in your pretty pictures now I have to laugh and wonder how many are dahlias I’m actually seeing!

    Reply to Myra S.'s comment

  5. Dana on September 30, 2014 at 11:23 am

    Gorgeous photos! I’ve loved all your trip recaps. As someone who just moved to western Washington from New England you’ve helped create my must-see list!

    Reply to Dana's comment

  6. Colleen on September 30, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    Yes, we do have dahlias in our garden, but I do not have a favorite. Too many to choose from. I do enjoy having them, they last well into the fall and the bouquets are so colorful.
    I always thought we needed to dig up our tubers in the fall, store them and then replant in the spring, until….my grandmother told me she stopped doing all that maintenance to hers and they came back year after year. So, last year we left them in the ground, mulched well and, in the spring, they started growing. We live about two hours north of Seattle on a small island, maybe our climate is just mild enough to leave them in the ground, I do not know. I encourage you to give it a try. I agree, so much work every fall to dig them all up and then replant in the spring.
    I have enjoyed reading about your trip to the Seattle area.

    Reply to Colleen's comment

  7. Lexa on September 30, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Susy, boy do I have dahlias! 246 plants this year, about 80 varieties. I think some of my favorites include Pam Howden, Lakeview Glow, and Crazy 4 Jessie. If you ever decide you are willing to try some, I would be glad to send you some tubers in the Spring. I am so glad that you got to see one of the many dahlia display gardens in the PNW. Almost all of the local dahlia societies have display gardens in their towns. On your next trip, I would recommend seeing the American Dahlia Society Trial Garden at the Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. It is outstanding.

    Reply to Lexa's comment

  8. Maybelline on September 30, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    Beautiful. I cannot decide my favorite variety. Beautiful.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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