I've read that staring at white can harm the retina. Might be a tale or may be true. I'll ask my eye doc next time I'm there.

Nadine Jessie appears to be the ideal purple for my garden; time will tell.

You are not alone with the woes white blooms gives you. They do go fine with some/most lavenders.

Now I've progressed to working on my River's Dahlias order and it's almost complete.

Holy cow look at Poppers and River's Novelty! Not only the eyecatching colors but the form. There's something about that spiky look that appeals to me.

Still debating over one. The one at the lower right looks salmony but photos online show it's pink. I do like pink but have enough.

I have very few whites because I do not care for the color. I have never noticed any insect problems with white...

and my retinas seem ok:)

Long ago, it was Poochella who mentioned the earwig problem with white tipped and solid white dahlias. The older I get, the faster those earwigs move so it's easier for me to just not buy those dahlias. I still use the combination slug and earwig bait for all dahlias but don't have to use it often to eliminate the problem.

Glad your retinas are safe, Frank! See what the lack of white dahlias did for you?

I put in two more orders last night, River's (without the salmon one) and Frey's Dahlias. Little by little, I'm getting with the program.

I had more earwigs last year that I have ever seen in my garden, And not just on the white dahlias, they were very happy eating the yellows and pinks too. This coming year I will be using a lot more of the Sluggo plus.

They really can destroy blooms but I get that creepy feeling when they're inside of a bloom and only escape as I bring the blooms to the sink. I haven't had slug problems with the dahlias but I do use a lot of pine bark mulch. Maybe they don't like the mulch.

Okay people earwigs are creeping me out. Rod Serling had a series in the 70s called Night Gallery and there was an episode about earwigs. Scarred(as well as scared) my impressionable teenage mind.

OMG - I think I remember that episode - maybe thats why I find them so disgusting!!

I didn't see it and won't try to find it online.

They probably wouldn't bother me as much if they moved more slowly but it feels like they're prison escapees when they zoom off as they do.

OH I loved Night Gallery. Creepy indeed.

Best that you don't Arlene, you won't rest well tonight.
I find a few in the garden but it will be interesting to see if they become a problem with my new treasures.

Last night I did order some short dahlias for the porch window boxes. Only two more orders to place.