Dahlias!

[Garden_of_Mu]

Dahlias are not doing well here this year. A late start then right into a cool dry summer has just not given them the push they need to really perform. Finally tho a few are starting to open. I really love this golden orange one.

[govgirl75]

They are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.
Gloria

[nanny_56]

I'm with you love that first one..my kind of color!!

[newtohosta-no more]

Those are all beautiful , Mike!

[TKHooper]

That first one is fantastic. And the rest are really nice too. Thank you for sharing.

[oldcoot]

OC likes purple, so he liked the later ones ,best but all were beautiful and really sharp !!!

[tsneal]

All gorgeous Mike!

[Garden_of_Mu]

A few others are just starting to perform, so I'll try and get some more shots this weekend of them. What a disappointing year for this lovely perennial tho - usually we get a wonderful show for months on end. Oh well, next year. Hope springs eternal!

[LucyGoose]

This was the first year that I ever grew Dahlias. It was a lady I ran into at work....a customer I was chatting with.....she told me I HAD to try them.....well, I did and I liked them....I just got the bag of assorted ones and then I bought one just like your second one, Mike and another fancy one.....I hope to get more.....but ones that do not break in a wind......she warned me of that.....so I staked them.....Your pictures are beautiful......You say they are a perennial where you are? We have to dig and store them here.....

Thanks for sharing!!

[Garden_of_Mu]

Yeah, our temps are mild enough that they are fine in the ground if the drainage is good - and lord knows I have perfect drainage in this sand and rock that passes for soil around here. I have to stake mine as well. Unless you get the short ones they usually have to be given some support. I really love them for cut flowers, as they last a long time, and the more you cut the more they bloom. I like to go to the local dahlia farm every few years and pick out a few new ones. I always look for ones with nice long stems.

As a matter of fact I think I'll go cut some now.

[Garden_of_Mu]

Two more. Keith H is a fantastic variety. Great for cutting and looks good with a wide range of colors. I forgot to look at the name of th dark red one. It is such a luscious color. First bloom on that one. Hope we get more!

The only thing that I dislike about dahlias is the tendency to attract earwigs. Nasty little bugs, they are always crawling around when I bring in a bouquet.

[newtohosta-no more]

Ooooh, Mike.... I love that last pic!