MIDahlias Tahoma Tiger is sort of a lighter dusty orange for me.
Baron Chad is a very bright orange formal dec. It’s listed as bronze on DahliaAddict. But I definitely think of it as orange.
Also, I forgot about WB’s Molten Lava, which is about right for the color of a Mexican sunflower. This photo looks a little redder than it is - it’s really an intense intense orange.
Juliarugula I fell in love with Baron Chad last year. I saw it at two different shows without knowing what it was until looking at the tag. I did grow it this year, but it didn't bloom for me.
I will definitely try growing WB's Molten Lava. Please let me know if you want to sell or trade a tuber.
MissyWeitzel What orange varieties do you all love?
My favorite small cut orange is Maarn (Sylvia). It is a heavy producer with strong stems through several flushes and 5 months of production. My favorite medium size orange cut is Bracken Palomino. It sells all summer and not just in the Fall like many oranges. I didn't grow any orange dahlias this year because, in addition to yellow and pure red, yellow is not a great seller at the market for much of the season.
SteveM I actually ONLY bought it for the reason of it being advertised as short/compact. I also bought Mary Jo, china doll & a few others for this reason. When I was planning my garden over a year ago I did not want to stake my dahlias in my front yard garden and landscape. After growing many plants that do need support I realize it’s not that big of a deal/that big of an eye sore to stake them. Cutting flowers wasn’t even something I was thinking about at the time. Change of plans, none of the dahlias got worked into the landscape and everything is getting cut.
Bessie 
lol I’m very new to accidentally torturing dahlias as well haha but I agree.
Not very good is one thing, but I mean it has to have been somewhat better than this at one time right?? online photos vs what I wound up with are a big difference. Bummer since it is a lovely color
MissyWeitzel I have really liked “my forever” dahlia. The description says it is peachy but turns more orange towards the end of the season. Here in the pnw everything seemed behind this season so I’ve only seen the more orange version of it. I’m surprised by how much I like this orange color. Maybe I’m just not used to seeing orange in my garden so I’m more easily impressed by it
I too had ugly looking Crichton honey this yr. I had good stock of it at one time an loved the color but now I’m sticking with Clearview Peachy and Suncrest instead because everytime I’ve tried to buy back in Crichton honey it’s always been open centered.
MIDahlias did grow it this year, but it didn't bloom for me.
Try again next year. It’s a good bloomer for me. It’s definitely one that prefers full sun though, so keep that in mind
I will definitely try growing WB's Molten Lava. Please let me know if you want to sell or trade a tuber.
I didn’t grow WB’s Molten Lava this year, unfortunately, or else I'd be happy to trade.
Does anybody else’s brain quietly whisper “Serenity now!” To them any time they pass by their Hollyhill Serenity plant? Too much Seinfeld in my youth…
Juliarugula Okay, question. I have this (I think) but the tag got separated. Would you let me know the size of your blooms? Mine are HUGE, which is why I am doubting its identity. I'll post a pic when I get back to my phone.
It’s difficult for me to say right now. I haven’t been measuring it. It’s still blooming, but the blooms are all small right now since it’s kind of bloomed out for the season. I wouldn’t say it’s huge exactly, but it’s always been one of my larger waterlily blooms.
We've had some light frosts but no dahlias were affected. I lost my beans and celosia only. Unless something major changes with the extended forecast, I should have dahlias 'til November. I'm about 1/3 done digging, but I don't cut plants down unless there's zero chance of more flowers opening. I'll take even the late lower quality blooms as long as possible!
The sky was beautiful this morning. 
Juliarugula insanity later 
MissyWeitzel Unless something major changes with the extended forecast
Wow! So you guys don’t have a frost forecast for tonight? I would have assumed so, since we have a frost warning tonight and you’re north of us. I’m about halfway done digging, but my favorite rows are still standing, so I’m hoping tonight’s frost warning is a false alarm.
Juliarugula when I wrote that the overnight low tonight was supposed to be like 3 or 4 degrees warmer than last night but now it shows 34 and clear. I'm ready either way and my insulated Bogs and coveralls are ready. If we get frost I'll go out early and try to cut everything down before it gets slimy!
We’re forecast for freezing temps tomorrow night in central Washington. I’ve chopped down about 2/3 of my plants and pulled drip lines already. Our curbside yard waste bin is full to the brim, and the city’ll be picking it up it in the morning. I’ll be set to finish removing plants before the freezing temps hopefully and then it’ll be time to begin digging.
I’m really ready to put these tubers to sleep, if I’ll be honest. It’s been one heck of a growing season (not in a good way) and I can’t wait to find out what kind of magic has been happening underneath the soil surface.
Juliarugula Well, you bet I will now 
I Love Seinfeld.
After last night’s temps, pretty sure my garden is done. I cut down the worst of the frosted foliage this morning (made use of of MIL’s trash bins as disposing of foliage is complicated), and we’ll see about the rest. My guess is it’s all toast. 
As I shucked a seed pod, I was thinking…. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a dahlia seed pod advent calendar? Open a new pod of seeds every day. Too bad the timing is wrong. Countdown to Thanksgiving? Countdown to the Lobaugh’s opening? 
I made an accidental discovery this week that may be helpful, so I thought I would share.
I have been shucking seeds and my hands and fingernails are stained, as I do not wait for the pods to dry before collecting seeds. I was cleaning a piece of silver jewelry by rubbing toothpaste all over it to remove the tarnish (the plain white kind of toothpaste), and voila my nails and fingers lost most of the dark stains.
I shucked more seeds a few days later and tried it again, and it really does help. Here is a picture of my hand after shucking and several washings and a shower.
The second picture is five minutes later after a quick scrub with toothpaste. Not perfect, but way better.
My kids get really grossed out when my nails look like zombie nails, so I am glad to have found a quick fix!
