I'm Sadie. Originally from near Phila, Pa and miss it, but have lived in NW Wa for 45 years and the San Juan Islands for 42 of those years. I always gardened from childhood and learned by doing and observing. I got the urge to garden and love of the outdoors from my dad, who loved both. I was lucky to make a "career" of maintenance gardening, haha. We don't get the big bucks like landscapers do, but we have years of grizzled experience. Luckily, t's a labor of love, and I became a plantswoman, collecting many rare perennials and tried and true ones. I love all plants but especially grow for bumblebees and pollinators.
I "discovered" dahlia addiction when I saw a whole field of them in bloom in Burlington, WA. My first two dahlias were picked up in that same field one Oct. in 1996 and I have been hooked ever since. (the varieties turned out to be Encore and Holly Huston. I still love tried and true older varieties and respect them for their longevity.) He was the first grower I ever bought from; also Sea Tac Gardens, where I once took a city bus down to meet Lou Eckhoff - what a treat! He was MOST excited to spend time showing me his seedlings! Dahlia growers are some of the nicest most generous and most in-love with what they do, people!
Through lurking on the cubits forum for several years, I learned so much from you seasoned pros. Dahlia people are my people! I love dahlias and spend much of my time looking at pictures of them, growing, plotting, planning, and experiencing the agony and ecstasy of it all - and our determination to keep going, no matter what. I think dahlia growers are also great optimists.
I am a certified dahlia addict; almost no day goes by, all year, that I don't think of dahlias or dream of them - replacing old almost extinct varieties or trying new ones I've never tried. Now, you people have me dreaming about hybridizing and breeding.... oh no! š I am so grateful for this forum and for the (former) Cubits forum.
