Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ -June 20, 2020
Since Sunday Cathy of Words and Herbs has been hosting a week of flowers. Garden bloggers have embraced the chance to post one or more photos a day of our flowers and gardens to brighten our week.
As a novice dahlia grower I am just discovering what other gardeners have known for years. They have a long bloom season and are great cut flowers. Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ began flowering May 27 and dahlias proved to be the mainstay of my summer garden only to improve as days and nights grew cooler in autumn. I thought they would keep going until frost, which for us happened November 17, two weeks later than average, but in fact the dahlias decided on their own to stop flowering a week earlier. Next year I plan to try different varieties and to learn to stake them more seriously.
Dahlia ‘David Howard’ -June 20, 2020
Dahlia ‘David Howard’ July 25, 2020
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ August 5, 2020
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ September 11, 2020
Dahlia -September 15, 2020
Dahlia -September 15, 2020
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ September 25, 2020
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ September 25, 2020
Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’ September 29, 2020
Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’ October 3, 2020
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ October 13, 2020
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ -October 13, 2020
Dahlia -October 13, 2020
Visit Cathy to see what she and others are finding to bring us cheer and smiles.
pbmGarden 
They are, indeed, just wonderful. Strangely I used to hate them – too ‘blousy’ for me – but I’m a big convert now! Yours are marvellous and, of them, I only grow Café au Lait – so you are a good person to ask: it’s supposed to be the florists’ favourite (especially for weddings). But I find the flowers very difficult to use except in short vases because they tend to hang their heads. Do you think that florists wire them? Have a lovely day!
Funny! I didn’t use to like them either, Cathy, for same reason. I haven’t had much luck with Café au Lait but it always looks glorious in those wedding bouquet photos. Those pictures are what made me want to start growing it, but after 2 seasons mine haven’t produced very well. I’ve had best luck cutting stems short as you mentioned, or using a tall vase with a very narrow opening to help support the flower. Hadn’t thought of wire but perhaps. Hope you have a good day too.
Thanks Susie. Well, if you are not too sure how to treat them, what hope for me? They have done very well, nonetheless and I can lose myself in their (short-stemmed!) flowers on the kitchen table.
A great selection! So fun to meet another dahlia devotee! Do you dig them all as I do?
Yes! I’m looking forward to exploring your blog when I have a chance.I leave them in the ground, although I know it’s risky. Last winter was mild so they survived. Do you have a special technique for storing the tubers? What I’ve read makes it sound complicated.
I leave about half in the ground and pile on the leaf mulch. The ones I dig and divide, I store in wood shaving in cardboard (copy paper) boxes in our 50degree(F) garage — and spritz them with water each month. Not too complicated at all.
What a great variety you have Susie. I have just seen dahlias on (Rambling in the Garden)Cathy’s blog too and am beginning to think I should perhaps give them another go. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful photos. So uplifting!
Glad you enjoyed the dahlias Cathy. Sharing our flower photos this week has been uplifting all around. I think everyone is feeling happier! I am.
😃☀️🧡
I LOVE this post, Susie. Dahlias look like they love your garden, too, your warm summer days are just what they crave. You get twice as long a bloom time as we do, lucky you!
I tried dahlias after seeing them in various forms on IAVOM and have grown them ever since. I use tomato cages to stake mine secured with thick dowels, which works well. They are worth the effort.
I’ve often wondered how Northern gardeners manage to squeeze in so much. Thanks for the staking tip!
I am in the Dahlia dungeon! none here, though I love yours..
Thanks Amelia. Is it too hot for dahlias in your garden? Mine did seem to like the heat but then again they took off even more when it got a bit cooler in autumn.
I have never figured out the Dahlia thing. I think it is the too well drained sand. I had some hang around for a couple of years, they never bloomed and finally expired.
You have a great dahlia collection and you grow them well, Susie. I’d hoped that, as mine were planted late, they’d continue blooming through November as freezes aren’t an issue here but, as you say, they have their own schedule.
Perhaps it is the change in light signaling the dahlias to rest.
These are lovely! I tried Dahlias very briefly than gave up.
Thanks. I’ve had mixed success with mine. Some didn’t do well while others thrived.
You have an amazing dahlia collection! Years ago I grew a purple and white called Rothsay Reveler and that one did well but several others melted down in the heat.
Thanks. I’ll check out that dahlia. Hoping to add a couple new ones next spring.