Swan Island has sent out an email about storing and dividing but also showed their new exclusive very expensive 2016's

http://www.dahlias.com/2015-ne...

I just got it and thought of you immediately!

They really are gorgeous. But I am determined not to order new ones much less $30 tubers. Lilies maybe, dahlias no.

It is down to 10F. Husband can take credit for dawdling on getting the pond winterized. I put on my waders and went into the pond to retrieve the pots and stands. Wore flannel lines pants under them. Only my hands got cold.

Vacuumed as much as I could after breaking the ice on the surface and setting up the vacuum and drainage hoses. My poor big koi who is all by himself out in the pond (the rest are hiding in the caves) will have a breakdown with all the activity. Mostly he just drifts around lazily.

Pulled the gravel bags and filter pads from the biowell. That is usually D's job but with his hands getting so cold with Meynards and his shoulders I figured I could do that part. He is grumpy now as he usually shuts down the main pump to keep all the crud in the biowell rather than pumping it down into the pond. Oh well. We will have to pull the heat trace through the line from skimmer to biowell to keep it thawed out so we can start the pond up earlier. Otherwise it takes forever for the low spot in the line to thaw out. Thanks to our idiot builders who left that low spot.

Well, off to finish then I I have a knitting lesson from 3-5. Knitting socks. Boy will I need them.

I mostly stay away from the pricy ones too - Last year was actually the first time in years I have bought new ones. I have been trading exclusively, and that comes to about a dollar a tuber for postage - so if they don't grow well, I am not so miffed. 2 of the 5, I paid full price for last year didn't grow for me. ( I do think it was my fault - not the grower)

I did put in an order with Blossom Gulch Dahlias - I couldn't resist their new anemone (yes top dollar) also bought three of their orchid dahlias. I am loving the orchids. http://www.blossomgulch.com/bl...

I am also eyeing a few from Bloomquist (Les and Viv), but so far am holding out

Mary - I sure don't envy with you dealing with your pond in that kind of weather - you are a brave soul. Hearing about it makes me feel much better about WI weather.

That dahlia is cute. I had in the same shape called Mexico. A substitute.

Pond is all put to sleep. I am still trying to warm up. Going off to knitting lessons soon.