It’s been a spectacularly beautiful and productive week, despite a couple days of hazy weather due to wildfires to our north and south. I’m joining again with other garden bloggers to present six things from our patch of land. Thanks go to The Propagator in the UK who hosts this weekly event.
I’m absurdly fond of dahlias and grow as many as I possibly can handle digging, sorting, storing, dividing, and replanting. The Pacific Northwest has the perfect climate for dahlias, and the plants gift us with a vast variety of blooms from the end of July to first frost, usually mid-November. I have a preference for solid color, informal varieties, but dabble in dinnerplate, cactus, ball, and anemone style dahlias and lovely mixed hues. Over the past few years I’ve collected close to 150 tubers and given away dozens, but as I’ve mentioned before, to keep things in check I only grow as many varieties as my current age. The only negatives I can possibly note about dahlias are 1. Their lack of fragrance and 2. Their relatively short vase life (4-5 days max). Here are some early blooms from my garden, and for some unknown reason I refer to them in the female gender. 🙂
ONE – All That Jazz lights up a room with her vibrant splashes of orange and magenta. I’ve brought her indoors to appreciate her up close, and have paired her with Cafe au Lait dahlias in a new (old) Lenox vase for fun.
TWO – Southern Belle is one of the most symmetrical dahlias I grow and could almost be considered in the waterlily class of dahlias. She is pretty in pink and very, very prolific as the season progresses.
THREE – Sonic Bloom has been one of my favorites for a few years because of her crazy floppiness and diverse colors which shift as the light changes. She usually resides in a gifted Heath bud vase in my bedroom where she mimics my early morning “bedhead”.
FOUR – Swan’s Gold Medal has a simple, pristine beauty and plays well with others.
FIVE – Oregon Reign produces blooms faithfully month after month. She’s large, as shown outside the basket at 4:00 in the photo and also brought indoors and mixed with friends.
SIX – Tsuki Yori No Shisha is sometimes called Tsuku Yori No Shisha, but whatever you call her, she’s pretty awesome. Her name means “messenger from the moon.” It’s her first year here at Coppertop, adding some zaniness to my whites, and she’s a keeper.
Gardens at Coppertop 
I share your admiration of Dahlias. I don’t have a one in my garden. Just crazy. When I see these gorgeous blooms of yours I am disappointed in myself for not seeking some out and planting them.
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They’re amazingly affordable so don’t hold back next year!
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Well, wow times six! They are all so beautiful and I totally understand your fascination with them. Tsuki is amazing…what a show-off. I only have a few, but I think I should get some more……
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As a self-proclaimed official dahlia ambassador, I say GO FOR IT. And thanks for the kind words.
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This is making me rethink dahlias.
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Well then I’ve finished my work for the day, Mala. 😉
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Your dahlias are beautiful.
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Thank you, Cindy!
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I totally agree. I let a couple of mine set seed and grew about 60 which are on my allotment. A few are poor, lots are average and a couple are superb but as a block of colour they are a total joy. We’re mild enough here to leave them in the ground over winter, which saves a lot of work.
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That does save a lot of work. A big, colorful block of dahlias is a treasure.
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Great Six Mark. These 6 dahlias delight us! The last Tsuki is so unusual and gorgeous… I guess the flower fades a little faster compared to others? If I had another one to add in my garden it would be # 2 (because I don’t have pinks and this pink is not too bright)
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Thanks, Fred. Southern Belle is a nice, softer pink. Yes, dahlias fade pretty quickly, but new ones are always popping up, so it’s all good! By the way, my name is March, like the month of March (in English) — and I’m a woman. Believe me, with an unusual name, I’ve received my share of mail, etc. to “Mr.” March Picker, and I get a chuckle every time. Have a great week!
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My apologies …I’m sorry March … I’m like the others because I had to read quickly your name and yes I thought about Mark and a man … it doesn’t change anything to my comment about your SoS and the dahlias that are superb. Have a good day and still sorry
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The Northwest is the perfect climate for them? I would think that they would be happier here, where winters are mild and summers are a bit warmer. Do they need to be dug for winter there? I still think that it is funny that the main growers are in the Willamette Valley. I never would have guessed. That white one is the RADDEST!
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I’m enjoying the white blooms — almost like an heirloom chrysanthemum of some type.
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I am dahlia mad too, I love your selection, all gorgeous but I will look out for that lovely white one.
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I’ll watch for your photos, Chloris! Yes, isn’t the messenger from the moon fun?
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Love them all but if I had to choose I’d take number two, Southern Belle, as I love the waterlily group, closely followed by number six
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The waterlily class is very eye catching. Do you have any favorites in that group you’d like to share in photos? 😉
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Such variation. I always get mesmerised by symmetrical dahlias like your southern belle, but then I see the messy ones, & really love those as well. That messenger from the moon is so . . . . it’s just beautiful. A great six. Really enjoyed these.
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Thank you, Lora. There’s something about the ragged edges of informals that I’m drawn to.
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Such a beautiful palette of color. I think Sonic Bloom is my favorite, a little messy, just like me.
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Me too!
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