My late father-in-law Maurie loved his dahlias, as a result they are planted throughout the gardens at Struan Farm. I haven't been a lover of these flowers really, think of them somewhat like pampered french poodles that require all sorts of grooming: staking, cutting back, dead heading, etc. They also tend to swoon over at the hint of a breeze, are a bit too sensitive from my vantage point.
So in an effort to manage the gardens in the limited time we have available we don't stake them, and dead head only when time permits or if a plant has keeled over in dramatic fashion.
However I find myself starting to like them, and I suspect Maurie will be smiling down when he hears me confess to this! They provide color in the garden when the peak summer flowers start to wane, I now appreciate their contribution to the seasonal cycle of a garden.
p.s. sorry Maurie, I know that frilly yellow one was your favorite, but that one in particular does remind me of a pampered french poodle, it sprays yellow petals all over the lawn!
I love dahlias. They are gorgeous!
Posted by: Marilyn | 03/01/2012 at 05:20 PM