Thanks Arlene - I was just looking at the pics in the data base and saw your Giraffe images - not only are they screaming orange - the form is different - are you sure they are Giraffe? The pic in there posted by Songs of Joy - is right on - thats what they should look like.

I received them from Easy to Grow Bulbs and hoped they were correct, as we all do. This year one tuber produced a bloom with more yellow so I'll have to get more photos.

Your Galen Rose looks rather like Ice Berg. IB is a really large bloom. I should have a few soon. I keep taking pictures but can't quite find the time to post. I promise I will. More are opening and I was waiting for them to be more fully open.. some of the ones I posted previously are sending better secondary blooms now. I am so pleased with so many of them.

Your dahlias are to die for Mandolls (Jeff??) Gorgeous pictures also.

Thanks Mary - (yes pronounced Jeff, but spelled Geof) This is one of the best years for blooms I have ever had. They are loving all of the regular rain we have been getting all summer. It makes me realize I usually don't water enough in July & August.

Gaylen Rose is only about 4.5", I do like the delicate coloring.

there are some repeats here but now they are more fully open
Puget Sparkle

Giggles

Valleyview Porcupine

cheyenne

Croydon Masterpiece

Gay Princess

Pineland Princess

White Fawn


I borrowed the idea of having a black background to show the flower better. I may have to buy a piece of black velvet and attach it to a 3x3 board.

Beautiful photos. I especially love the form and color of Croydon Masterpiece. As far as backgrounds go, while black does put the accent on the bloom, I prefer the garden scenes (just to see what else I can spot in bloom).

Nice Mary.

Is you Valley Porcupine healthy? Mine was stunted and twisty and obviously virused this year, so I pulled it out.

Interesting, Geof. How would a person know a dahlia was virused?

Apparently lots of dahlias are virused, but don't show signs unless stressed. And some are simply more susceptible than others Yellow spots on the leaves, yellow veining in the leaves, leaves that are twisty instead of flat, and stunted compact growth are all signs of virus. One problem is that some of those are also simply signs of nutritional needs, or the wrong ph in the soil.

I tend to only toss mine if the have multiple signs. My Valley Porcupine was stunted, with yellowy twisty leaves. I think I pulled one other plant this year, there are others that are suspicious, but have the right kind of growth pattern and are blooming well, so I will keep them and see if they show the same signs next year.

What I know about it all is really minimal, I am just spouting off what I have read from Ted of Hollyhill Dahlias, who is a regular on the Dahlia Cubit.

Thanks so much for the information, Geof. Ted is a wealth of knowledge and I'm grateful for all you've passed on to us.

My dahlia "Sweetness" was all twisted and stunted last year but I saved the tubers and it is doing wonderfully well this year. Porcupine is also doing well, healthy and the most lovely blooms. It is by far the best year I have ever had for dahlias. I am hoping Porcupine produces a nice bunch of tubers. Geof was it you who asked for a tuber if I managed to get a good batch?? I had someone's name on my desk wall all winter but in the spring it looked like I had lost the tuber so I pitched the note. Now I wish I hadn't as I am more than willing to share.

Thanks for thinking of me Mary - I don't think I requested one last year. I had a couple from the previous year when the plant did very well, but it only made two tubers. However I think the one I saved didn't make it, and the one I am growing this year was sent to me by one of my trading partners.

When I pulled mine this year, I didn't pull up the tuber. It then sent up more sprouts. So far the growth (while small and shaded out), looks normal which seems odd to me.

A few more blooms - some not quite full yet but..........

Brindisi - an odd open centered flower, but I think I like it.

Maisey Mooney

Patricia Ann's Sunset

Peaches

Kenora WIldfire

French Doll

Vassion Meggos - I was wrong about losing all of these - Hurray!

Maniac

Raz Ma Taz

Love them all but especially Peaches and always French Doll.

Your Maniac dahlia is really lovely, Geof. It has a very interesting color blend. I love it.

Karen - Maniac is a nice one! It usually has more intense striation in the color, and maybe when it is fully open that will show up more.

Arlene - Peaches and French Doll are both new for me this year, and I really like them.

French Doll changes color so beautifully through fall. I don't want a dahlia garden without that one! The photo on the left includes an Akita but all others are French Doll.

French Doll is definitely adorable. I too love the color changes. It is like getting two plants in one.

All lovely. I have Vassio Meggas but it is really strange. Strange and straggly. Not sure what is going on. Holyhill Candystripe is just opening as is Iceberg.

Arlene - thanks for the multi photo's of French Doll - I look forward to seeing what it does for me. Also thanks for the "tip"