Tacoma Trial garden photos

Justafewdahlias

oint defiance park dahlia trial garden

Lots of flowers I didn’t take photos of. I think there is over 30 varieties in this trial garden. It was a really rushed trip passing through on the way to go biking.

These ones I liked because of the fun colors! So many variegated blooms this year, vs last year I only can remember one that was variated at this trial garden. The white orchette was probably my favorite. I want this one, it seems so perfect for adding to a vase of flowers! The ball dahlia seems to be orange/bronze on the reverse and red inside. The lower right variegated blooms white with maroon was really big, very few that size in the trial garden. I would say over 10 inches easy.

There was a surprising number of WL dahlias entered this year. I saw an orange one (dahlia color chart may call this color bronze), a pink; dark purple, red, and the peach colored one in the photo. Hopefully I make it back before the season is over. I love seeing the plants growing in real life to know what I may want to grow in the future.

Teddahlia

Tacoma Trial Garden at the Zoo: Years ago, they had 70 entries there each year. They have the room for more entries but they do not have enough people: (1) Volunteers to weed, disbud deadhead and all of the dahlia growing stuff. (2) There are not enough judges to judge that many. Only senior judge scores count while accredited count half and novice judges scores are tossed.(sometimes they are used to break a tie).
Picture from 2009. Margaret is in front of our entry that did well that year.

calico20hill

I used to take the ferry over from Vashon Island every Tuesday (I think) morning and help dead head and tidy up. The Waltons were in charge and I was only allowed to deadhead, LOL. I learned a lot and loved being out in the park. It was a beautiful place and a nice trip back and forth on the ferry.