Dahlia days.....
I was never a successful grower of dahlias until we moved to Red Gate Farm.
Currently most of my dahlias are planted on the south facing side of our chicken coop... under an overhang of the roof.
Perfect for the lazy dahlia grower... or the novice.
I'll admit to you all now that I leave my dahlia tubers in the ground ALL year long.
With our sandy soil and the overhang of the roof it creates a perfect little place... drier than everything else all winter long.
I don't loose too many of them....
and they sure perk up the garden in late August when everything else is looking a bit ragged around the edges. This pink one is new this year... and it is as vibrant as this picture. Kind of an unusual, low growing one.
I've acquired a number of different kinds over the years.
I really like the "dinner plate" dahlias that get HUGE.
This one has even held up to our recent downpour on Monday.
And one of my favorites....
which I've shared before...
is this super dark centered red one... even the leaves are darker than most dahlias... with a purplish-black hue to the stalks and leaves.
This peach one is a nice color as we get ready to move into the fall months...
since I do cut my dahlias and bring some into the house it will look very pretty in an autumn display.
They keep blooming well into October and are a great cut flower.
And of course, are very prolific.
And you may have noticed... I've been on vacation again hence the lack of posts this past week. No excuse really since it has been another "staycation"... I've just been lazy!
Here's to a few more days off,
Currently most of my dahlias are planted on the south facing side of our chicken coop... under an overhang of the roof.
Perfect for the lazy dahlia grower... or the novice.
I'll admit to you all now that I leave my dahlia tubers in the ground ALL year long.
With our sandy soil and the overhang of the roof it creates a perfect little place... drier than everything else all winter long.
I don't loose too many of them....
and they sure perk up the garden in late August when everything else is looking a bit ragged around the edges. This pink one is new this year... and it is as vibrant as this picture. Kind of an unusual, low growing one.
I've acquired a number of different kinds over the years.
I really like the "dinner plate" dahlias that get HUGE.
This one has even held up to our recent downpour on Monday.
And one of my favorites....
which I've shared before...
is this super dark centered red one... even the leaves are darker than most dahlias... with a purplish-black hue to the stalks and leaves.
This peach one is a nice color as we get ready to move into the fall months...
since I do cut my dahlias and bring some into the house it will look very pretty in an autumn display.
They keep blooming well into October and are a great cut flower.
And of course, are very prolific.
And you may have noticed... I've been on vacation again hence the lack of posts this past week. No excuse really since it has been another "staycation"... I've just been lazy!
Here's to a few more days off,
linking up
to
Dahlias bloom just when everything else is looking a bit tired. I only have two blooms so far, but there are lots on the way!
ReplyDeleteYou really have some great colors! Welcome back from vacation!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to have Dahlias but knew that I wouldn't be good about digging them up. Now that I know that there is a way to get around that, there may be Dahlias in my future.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful and the purple one is my favorite too!
They are GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteI'd say you are very successful grower of dahlias :) Do you have to *stake* them because of their heavy-ness?
Remember..it's your bloggy, if you wanna stacation with no obligatios then do it!!!
Happy day to you :)
xo, misha
I love your Dahlias!! We can grow them in Alaska, yay!!!!....but we have to dig them out every fall, so sad!!! We have some beautiful dinner plate dahlias that are red and yellow. I love these flowers. Yours are absolutely beautiful. Even though I have to dig mine out I think they are certainly worth the work!
ReplyDeleteChris :o)
Your Dahlias are gorgeous. You should enter them in your local agricultural fair. They are always my favorite to view at the early fall fairs.
ReplyDeleteThose are amazing! If I had dahlias like those, I might even be moved to dig up the tubers! Mine always end up rotting :0( .
ReplyDeleteYour Dahlias are beautiful. I especially like the dusty red with the deep charcoal black. Not the usual. I think sandy soil might be a winner.
ReplyDeleteIn our "neck of the woods" we have a well known doc who has raised many, many dahlias. A trip to his home is a welcome to luscious gardens of color. He also creates gardens at various community locations in his way of " giving back."
I will see if I can get some pictures . . .
However, your photographs will take the prize.
I have never grown dahlia's, but your's are beautiful! And staycations can be a very good thing!
ReplyDeleteThe colors, the sizes, the beauty!
ReplyDeleteIt must be wonderful to look at in person.
Oh yes, that deep red color is stunning. My Dahlia's are so far behind and with hurricane winds and rain on the way I might not enjoy them at all. So, I will follow you so I can at least enjoy yours! have a great day..
ReplyDeleteYour photos are absolutely beautiful! Love the shadow photo-very creative!
ReplyDelete-Lynn
Gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI've never grown them~anything that requires digging up and replanting just doesn't happen here. But now I'm wondering if I could just leave them in the ground the way you do.
Wow - i love that dark red dalia = it is gorgeous! I've tried my turn in growing a dalia or two, i've had them come back a few years & this year that didn't return...they are so lovely but a lot of work! i can appreciate your dedication you've given to enjoy such beautiful blooms! Thank you so much for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday's this week so i can enjoy your beautiful Dalia's! xoxo, tracie
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have perfected the growing of Dahlias now and have such an array of beautiful colours.
ReplyDeletetreasuresAugust 25, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Hi Chris, your dahlias are lovely. I don't have any in our garden. Do you have to dig them up over the winter. My neighbor does that, and I just thought it would be too much work. They do look lovely in bouquets!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
~ Julie
Your dahlias are amazing! I never knew there were so many varieties until my brother got into them. He had 300! He got tired of digging them up every year and has whittled his down to a more manageable number.
ReplyDeleteYour red one with the almost black center in really unusual!
Your dahlias look great! I never had much success growing the dinner plate cultivars until I started growing them in containers... they certainly are a great joy... enjoyed your many lovely blooms...Larry
ReplyDeleteYour Dahlias are gorgeous! I planted dinner plate ones one year and loved them. Dug them up, laid them out in sawdust; only to find them moldy in the Spring. Other Dahlias that I planted on the South front of my home came back for years. Finally, one harsh winter took them out. I too love how beautiful they are long after other flowers are all pooped out.
ReplyDeleteI received my first Dahlia as a hostess gift last year and I replanted it again this spring but it seems to have disappeared. They sure seem like a lot of work but looking at yours perhaps I'll try them again! Gorgeous!! But then all of your flowers are!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to me that you leave them in the ground!
ReplyDeleteMakes me think that even I could do it! ;)
Beautiful ~ thanks for sharing!!!
Dahlias are so beautiful, and so diverse! I can never figure out which kind are my favorite! My hubby's grandfather was the president of the dahlia society. He developed several varieties and named them after family members. Unfortunately, he died before he was able to name one for me. If he had, I'd have wanted it to be a big, spidery orange one!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! They are like zinnias on steroids! I have never tried to grow them. To have to unplant them seems a little excessive. I don't have the patience for that. Such pretty colors, and you're right, come August, we need some!
ReplyDelete