This picture is the best I can do today. I took this out in the Dahlia Garden this week on a rainy day. The exposure actually came out pretty good for such a dreary day. Not having bought identified Dahlias is sure going to be a source of frustration for me. Today we are going up to tend to the garden in Hyde Park. Since the owners have a staff we just take care of the pruning and some garden odds and ends. Unloading those trucks really kicked my butt yesterday. They were packed full of stuff including several hundred Boxwood. Now I remember why I don’t work at a nursery, too many trucks to unload!
I hope to have time to shoot a couple of pictures this weekend but I am not counting on it. There hasn’t been a lot of time for extra writing on this blog lately. I do want to keep sharing as many pictures as possible.
"The soft-shell season is traditionally marked with the first full moon in May.At that time, the blue crab begins its molting season to accommodate its summer growth.The actual shedding of the shell can take anywhere from one to three hours, after which it must be removed or the hardening process will continue, reducing the quality of the soft-shell crab."
Today I had the happy serendipity to come across the Dahlia Society of Ohio Show and Competition at the Petitti's in Oakwood.
Now, two things come to my mind when I see the word Society linked with any species of plant or flower. Those two things are snobs and "better gardeners than I ever could be". I am the first to admit that perhaps the first thought has more to do with the second thought
...
reBlogged
to dahlia shows
on Oct 8, 2006, 5:33PM
Posted by Hanna Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia, shows on 2006-10-09, 17:40:43
My dad gave me the tubers for this dahlia. It is at least 12 feet tall this year. And the brownish-orange flowers are about 8 inches across. This year I planted them in the perennial border next to my vegetable garden. They are blooming beautifully now. Probably 10 flowers on the plants blossoms today and many buds yet to open. Dahlias are great for the final garden show of the year.
I think of Dahlia's as the princess of the Northern garden. They require a little bit of extra care compared to the other perennials. Dahlia tubers need to be dug up each fall, rinsed, and stored in the basement in some peat moss for the winter. It is possible to store them in dirt without bothering to rinse them, but you risk them molding and developing rot. With careful storage it is possible
I'm a lazy gardener. I won't grow anything I have to dig up every year. -OR
reBlogged
to dahlia
on Sep 27, 2006, 11:07PM
Posted by Sharon Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-09-29, 15:34:08
I really wish that had used something to show the scale of the flower in this picture. When I say that this flower is as big as your head, I am not exaggerating (unless you happen to be a Macy's parade balloon).
This is a picture of a Dinner Plate Hibiscus aka a Mammoth Hardy Hibiscus. And for anyone who would like, if you click through on the picture, it will go through to a computer wallpaper
...
reBlogged
to dahlia
on Sep 12, 2006, 7:34PM
Posted by Hanna Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-09-13, 16:34:21
When it comes to storing dahlia bulbs, the rule of thumb is to keep them cool and dry.
As soon as frost hits them (the leaves turn black) cut off the stems, dig up the tubers (they're really tubers not bulbs) and then trim off the remaining stem down to one inch or so of the tuber.
Let them sit in the air for a day or three to dry off the dirt. Once the dirt will brush off, they are ready for
reBlogged
to dahlia bulbs
on Sep 11, 2006, 8:51PM
Posted by Doug Green Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs, dahlia on 2006-09-12, 16:09:26
Dahlia
(DAL-yuh)
I have two Dahlia portraits today. One is a bud of ‘Mom’s Special’ close up. This isn’t the way I would normally take a picture of a Dahlia. There were some distracting elements behind the flower and I wanted to get really close. I used my 60mm Micro-Nikkor lens on my D70s. The macro lens has been glued to the end of my camera. I would recommend it to any flower photographer.
Just a quick post today. I have multiple issues today including a smashed fingertip, which makes it really hard to type. Today I am hanging an exhibit at Molten Java’s in Bethel. I have about 18 pictures in a variety of sizes. This finger isn’t going to make it any easier. Also, later today I am going to do a big update at my other website (some time in the afternoon, Eastern time).
This is a picture of a Dahlia that I took in Claire’s garden. She returned from Martha’s Vineyard yesterday and I was happy to see a lot of Dahlias blooming. This one is either 'Mystery Day' or 'Edinburgh'. I also have 'Optic Illusion' but that seems to have a little more white towards the center. They are so similar it’s hard to tell them apart. My Dahlias are doing a better since I broke down and sprayed them.
I saw this beautiful cultivar of waterlily type Dahlia at Wave Hill. The light was hitting it just right and showed all the wonderful colors. I have become partial to the waterlily Dahlias. Cactus Dahlia are still my favorite, followed by the Dinnerplates. Waterlily types are running a strong third. I think they are a subgroup of the Decorative types. . . .
Wandering around the allotments, I was impressed by the range of Dahlias.
I have not had much luck with Dahlias in the past - snails and slugs consume them with the same enthusiasm that I eat pepperoni pizza. And I love pepperoni pizza . . .
But, I am tempted to try again. Just look at these . . .
Dark Beauty
reBlogged
to dahlia
Posted by Myrtle Luma Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-08-18, 11:09:10
I' ve written previously that I expected my allotment dahlias to give a powerful display of hot colours but instead were putting out attractive purple chocolatey pompons and delicate pinks. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Now a third tuber is blooming and doing what was promised on the packet! Dahlias are flamboyant, never dull.
reBlogged
to dahlia
on Aug 15, 2006, 1:01AM
Posted by John Curtin Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-08-15, 16:03:24
It’s not like there isn’t plenty of room for a flower garden in Ledger, North Carolina (Population: too few to bother counting). Windle Young put his dahlia bed on the side of Highway 226 so that it would be in easy reach of those headed to the family graveyards that dot Mitchell County. On the cemeteries’ Decoration Day, folks here know to ask Windle if it’s okay to pick some flowers for the graves. Young invariably says yes and so having his collection of 30-some-odd varieties of dahlias on the side of the road is handy. Besides, Windle Young knows his highly visible dahlia flock is a “conversation piece.†The tall splash of color that springs upon drivers cutting through Western North Carolina is, indeed, something to talk about. . .
National Trust Dahlia DisplaysThe National Trust for England and Wales is undertaking a revival in the cultivation of the Dahlia in a number of the gardens that it manages. According to the National Trust, thanks to recent television features and an increase in the cultivars available, the delights of dahlia growing have been re-discovered and they are firmly back on top in the gardening fashion stakes. . .
When you need your garden to look fabulous at a time of year when most gardens are just a bit past their peak (way past for gardens in Southern and other warmer climes), you develop a rather dysfunctional relationship with area vendors. I’ve found that the serious nurseries on whom I depend in the early part of the summer offer very little at this time—usually just a few sad perennials and incredibly rootbound annuals. However, regular monitoring of the offerings at Home Depot can offer unexpected rewards. In addition to the aforementioned sad and rootbound prisoners, on Friday trucks had just unloaded huge, cactus-flowered dahlia plants, covered in buds and blooms. For $6.99. . .
reBlogged
to dahlia
on Jul 24, 2006, 2:13PM
Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-07-25, 15:08:08
... to the Citrus Heights Costco for a rapidly dwindling (I'm sure), staggeringly beautiful dahlia selection in 3-gallon containers for around ten bucks a pop. Since snails ate my dahlia shoots, I justified hoisting a pink one into my cart.
They're located at the west end of the outdoor nursery area, btw. Other Costcos must have them too, but these babies I happen to know about.
OMG, almost forgot to mention that they also have mature... potted... fruiting... 'Early Girl' tomatoes! Procrastinators need not go tomatoless!
reBlogged
to dahlia tomatoes
on Jul 15, 2006, 5:43PM
While I'm not looking forward to digging them up every fall, these Dahlia sure are nice looking. My basement is quickly becoming a winter vacation spot all of my non hardy plants.
reBlogged
to dahlia
on May 8, 2006, 12:00PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-05-08, 23:06:42
As a rule, I'm not in favor of any plant that you have to repeatedly plant and dig up, plant and dig up, ad infinitum. But every rule has an exception and I think I've met mine. Dahlias. They're big and showy and prolific--really a lot of bang for your gardening buck and probably worth every bit of the extra shoveling effort. Naturally, a group shoveling effort is bound to produce even more dazzling results. So today, with long-awaited blue skies overhead, my Landscape-Hort class headed over to the Lakeside Garden Center by Lake Merritt in Oakland to till and plant an entire bed of dahlias under the direction of Charles Russell of the local dahlia society. . .
I'm a lazy gardener. I won't plant anything I have to dig up again.
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-04-18, 10:06:31
Don't you love receiving garden catalogs with a cheezy, personalized message printed on them?
"We've got the perfect plants for TAMARA's garden!"
"TAMARA, we miss you! Take $10 off your next order!"
I got one from Dutch Gardens yesterday with the telltale capital letters screaming at me:
"TAMARA, you ordered DAHLIAS last year for your PLANO, TX garden! See what new DAHLIA offerings we've got
I agree! Roses are MUCH better than dahlias.
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-03-08, 17:14:30
Name: 'Bishop of Llandaff' dahlia Genus/species: Dahlia Family: Compositae Description: An herbaceous, tuberous-rooted perennial, 'Bishop of Llandaff' grows to 3 feet or taller and is prized for adding an element of drama to mixed...
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-03-01, 10:23:19
Briggs is defending against squirrels and neighbors, while I battle an equally nefarious enemy -- laziness. I have a dozen dahlias in my garden, and I love them. But, digging, separating and treating them has become a difficult and time consuming chore, taking two or three full days of precious gardening time. And worse, this year I just didn't feel like doing it. So I must wrap myself in the holy mantle of science and do an experiment. Theorem: One...
I'm a lazy gardener. I refuse to grow anything I have to dig up every fall and replant every spring!
Posted by rich Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlia on 2006-02-28, 11:47:27
via Digital Flower Pictures.com on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00Unknown Dahlia
