Dahlias 2013 Part One

The dahlia garden is still pretty green, with some notable exceptions.  The smaller varieties have been blossoming for a few weeks with Susan Komen being the first to put on a display.  It is the smallest plant of all of mine, a gift from a neighbor who didn’t want to over winter the tubers from a late season purchase.

Dahlia Susan Komen

Dahlia Binky
Dahlia Binky

 

Dahlia Binky is generous with its blossoms and and easy to grow, one (picky) undesirable habit is that the blossoms tend to be hidden in the new growth.

 

 

Dahlia Patches
Dahlia Patches

Binky fronts large-flowered dahlia Patches, which was the first of the large varieties to open.  It’s purple and white markings are more irregular than this picture would indicate and the white tends to fade to pink as the flower ages, for a unique blend of pink and purple.

 

 

 

The biggest and the showiest of the cool colors this year is Kidds Climax.  I grew all of these last year but this is the best performance that I’ve had from this dahlia.

Dahlia Kidds Climax
Dahlia Kidds Climax
Dahlia Croydens Masterpiece
Dahlia Croydens Masterpiece

In the warm colors side of the bed, Croydons Masterpiece, the one that motivated me to grow these myself, is not a disappointment this year.  I love its subtle blends of yellows, pinks and purples.  It’s described as an orange blossom but it’s much more colorful than that.

 

 

The new and much anticipated warm color dahlia this year, Lady Darlene, has also opened to meet all expectations. Although at first I thought she was too red, as she’s opened, she’s showed more yellow and I like the blend with the red petals, most.  She’s only showing one other bud at the moment so I don’t know whether I will have much opportunity to judge whether this is typical this year.  I’m just enjoying what she’s showing now.

Dahlia Lady Darlene
Dahlia Lady Darlene

I am not the only one.  This small fellow lived in her for a couple of days.  My guess is an immature grey tree frog.  I read they have chameleon tendencies so are rarely grey.  But if anyone can ID him for sure, I’d be interested in knowing his variety.

I was worried about whether he could really get enough food and water there, as well as fluctuations in temperatures; our nights have been almost cold.  So was fine with him moving on.

 

 

 

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