Which dahlia are you most looking forward to seeing this summer?

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KitCMC Can you even pick just one?!

Thanks so much for your encouragement guys! I'm happy to report that I am satisfied with my progress and looking forward to the season. Of course I can't pick just one. My most exciting acquisitions were Lexa, Mary P, Mel's Louisa and Belle of the Ball. Anyone else want to share?

MissyWeitzel

This will be my first time growing Summer Rain and I'm excited to see it in person! Some others I can't wait to see in person are Clearview Leroux, Clearview Cinnabar, Hollyhill Pink Martini, Sandia Nocturne, and Crazy for Wylie Quinn.
I've wanted C4WQ since it came out a few years ago but couldn't ever successfully order it. 3 weeks ago a lady on an online dahlia group asked to trade me for some Crazy 4 ieashia tubers and we had our trade worked out and then she asked for my wishlist and sent me that one off my list too! It was such a nice gesture and makes me look forward to the blooms that much more.

Bessie

I haven't counted, but I probably have over 30 new dahlia varieties, this second year of growing dahlias from tubers. However, I'm most excited about seeing the flowers on the 80 seeding dahlias planted in the ground and 20 more growing in pots. The first seeds were planted on January 18th, and it looks like some of the plants are starting to form flowers, although they are still very, very tiny buds. The anticipation is building😊

SteveM

Bessie at our latitude don't be too critical of the very first blooms on your seedlings. If the buds were formed in early April the blooms will likely be open-centered because of the short day-lengths. From now (late Apr. - early May) onward the days will be long enough for most developing buds to be fully double when mature (if that is what they should be). I just don't want you to cull any of the earliest seedlings when the form could improve drastically on the second flush.

Teddahlia

For us the answer is always the seedlings,, especially the best from the year before. 2022 was a good year for seedlings.

calico20hill

I did not buy a lot of new tubers this year but I have Bloomquist Ruby and Bloomquist Dave on order and I am really looking forward to seeing them bloom. Also, HH Letitia that I was gifted.

KitCMC

I’m excited to grow them all, but especially looking forward to Wyn’s Moonlight Sonata - it’s been rather difficult for me to find and I finally have one! Close seconds: Wyn’s Desert Glow, Hollyhill Pinkie, Hollyhill Serenity, Barbara B, and Jennie. I can’t wait to see how this list compares to my favorites come September.
I am also really excited to help my 10 year old plant his “orange garden” I think we have some real humdingers in terms of color and size!

edewitt

Yeesh, uh ...all of them, but I've got a few I'm really looking forward to returning to the garden after not having them for a decade or more. Formby Kaitlin, Skipley Spot, and a few more. New to me varieties would be Brooksie, Zwink, HH Shaggydog, HH Serenity, Hapet Electra, Eva Luna to name a few.

Krista

Well, this was the year that everyone talks about; I went from 35 varieties last year to 105 for this year. I learned so much about dahlias this winter that some of the varieties I ordered last fall aren’t of interest even anymore. It’s been such a journey. I was pretty excited about some of the older varieties I found, and Vesuvius and Wyn’s Eeek!! because of what I’d read on Cubits, but knowing what I know now about the mutation of stock, I’m not sure I’ve a lot to look forward to. This is the first year I’ve connected with other dahlia folk, and I think now I’m most excited about the tubers I acquired based on personal relationships. Discovering dahlia people and being able to trade and share with people I admire has made this obsession unbelievably rewarding. My trade with Noni meant so much to me that I can easily say I’m most looking forward to seeing my Salish blooms this summer!

calico20hill

When I was starting out I was treated to a long visit and lovely tubers from the founder of our Cubits group...can't think of her name but sure enjoyed knowing her while her enthusiasm for all things dahlia was at its height! I like to do that for other new dahlia lovers...if we all pass on those tubers and the knowledge it spreads like candlelight in a dark space. And then there was Ted and getting to know his Hollyhill Dahlias! So much good advice and humor over the years since we met on line! It is a wonderful thing to be a learner under one of these experienced people but its also lovely to return the favor to the beginners. Then you join a dahlia club and get more advice then you quite know what to do with and the club members start arguing about who's advice is better, LOL. I like knowing that there can be more then one right answer sometimes. And learning new thing is exciting too.

Normally I would be most excited about seeing my new Hollyhill Dahlias. This year I was only able to acquire Leticia (Thanks, Krisa!). I am ecited to see my Birch Bay new Waterlilies along with HH Letitcia, and Happy to have replaced some other old favorites. But probably most of all I am happy that my B sized seedling "Salish Breaking Dawn" has gifted me with several tubers this year and I should have a nice display of in autumn!

Krista

calico20hill Salish Breaking Dawn

Stunning! 🤩

calico20hill

THat photo is a bit washed out. The yellows and reds should be quite a bit brighter.

Juliarugula

Gosh, that question is a big ask! Maybe, in no particular order…

New to me: Skipley Reboot, Brooksie, JS Pinky, Sandia Cancan, Hollyhill Daydream, Hollyhill Lilibet, Lakeview Premier, BQ Octopus, Baron Chad

Returning blooms that I can’t wait to see again: BQ Globe, HH Moonsong, HH Zarina, AC Twisp, Formby Alpine, JS Butterscotch, Sandia Tiger, Clearview Jazz

Teddahlia

HH Moonsong is personal favorite and not just because it is the only flower I successfully bred by hand crossing two flowers(hand crossing is Margaret's thing and I spent about 10 hours of my time and got one flower). Moonsong is tall and has very pretty flowers.

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Teddahlia HH Moonsong is personal favorite

I got HH Moonsong from Bulldog and am very much looking forward to it. It looks like my HH scores for this year are:

I have a 3-4 year old clump of HH Margarita that is doing its own thing. The size of it is probably terrifying, but I love the flowers every year, and could enjoy it on years when I could not really garden.

SteveM

I am most looking forward to seeing my first first-year seedlings in years. I still haven't planted my seeds so that will have to come first. 🙂 Checking on new seedlings is the most enjoyable part of growing dahlias but it does take time and is not a priority for me yet.

Bessie

SteveM I really, really appreciate your advice on my seedlings.

Teddahlia

HH Twilight is very rare and I used keep a pot tuber of it but finally lost it. Steve Meggos has grown it for years. A visitor from Australia declared it to be his favorite in Steve's garden when he visited several years ago. When it was in the Tacoma trial garden we visited the garden when it was in full bloom. I did not recognize it as it was so much better than in our garden. It is a variety that fades easily and I had only seen the faded versions.

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Teddahlia HH Twilight is very rare and I used keep a pot tuber of it but finally lost it.

I got it from Jerry Schoenauer of JS Dahlias. He sells it in limited amounts most years I think. I am going to sink a 1 gallon pot of potting soil to plant it in, in hopes of keeping it going in my garden. I've had some success with that method so far for shy tuber keepers. Wish I had adopted it sooner.