General Dahlia Chat 2024

Teddahlia that one is so cool! Man, my allium skeletons are toast by this time of year.

MIDahlias do you know Cammi Waggoner from the Elkhart society? I think she got pictures of the junior arrangements.

Teddahlia wow!! This combination of flowers perfectly captures the look of fireworks! So impressive

MissyWeitzel Beautiful Mother Nature arrangement!

I love this Outhouse Section award from Snohomish County. I would have a ton of contenders.

Steve Cox has a good sense of humor. He grows show dahlias in his sandy soil in Australia. Planting time is about a month away for him.

Another Eugene show design.
Nice design but it has one major fault. Can you guess what it is?

At 78 I am doing pretty well with that. But I have spent many many years getting to this point. I've done the thousand dahlia garden. And would likely still be doing it if not for the "I need some help in the garden today", and the "Could you please carry these buckets to the work room?" questions that were not happily received. Now I Am limited to 6 raised beds 20 by 4'. And then there are grow bags :-)...

Sorry, didn't mean to land this in the middle of a different discussion. Not sure where the question is that I was answering now...

Teddahlia Poison oak?

Teddahlia There should be an odd number of each element in the design. So, there should be one more (or one less) bloom of Weston Spanish Dancer. I like Amanda's guess better.

Designs are supposed to have more than one "texture" of greens. At least two and three different "greens" just to be sure. For example, if the person used New Zealand Flax leaves that are very long and pointed, the line to the top of the design would be finished by the flax leaves and to the right where the flowers extend to the right a flax leaf would continue past the flower. The monochromatic oak leaves need something to break them up. Classically, baby's breath might be used. Actually, this is very good arrangement otherwise.

Teddahlia the water element is separate from the floral design? As an aside, the flower on the left is not pointing to the center, it's floating.

blown_dry I thought it was poison oak for a second too!

You are all invited to the potluck picnic and judging session at the trial garden at Swan Island Dahlias today at 3PM. Supposed to be sunny and about 74F. Barbecue is being catered by Busters Barbecue. Usually, Nick Gitts of Swan Island will show us their new introductions for next year and do a question and answer session. I will be judging the entries at the trial garden before I get to eat. Perhaps I will post picture or two for those of you that cannot make it.

Teddahlia Now that I look at it again, I very much see your point.

Teddahlia Please do take pictures! I'd love to see what's happening at Swan Island. Thank you.

Teddahlia I’d love to see the SwanIsland trial garden and say hi to you and Margaret in person! It would be a bit of a commute from Indiana though. I’m looking forward to your photos!