Do you belong to the Seattle Dahlia Society? I belong though I can't attend their meetings and events. Maybe this year. Have also been to Swan Island but in the spring (mud fields galore) to see peonies at Adelman's and iris at Schreiner's. Welcome and nice to meet you. I am also retired and have just a home garden - 13000 sf lot in town. The real fun should begin soon.

Welcome, Connie!

Connie! I think I saw your "name" on Geof's Pinterest link. Just some of your own pictures, or do you sell, too?

Connie and I have a trade going - which is why some of those pics have her user-name on them.

She has some pretty ones! I thought I recognized her from somewhere! If I get half of what I have requested from you I'll keep busy this year! And if the majority of mine make it...YIKES!!!

Welcome to the Dahlia forum. It must be awfully fun to be able to visit dahlia growers and see their plants in person!
Gary

Hi Mary, Arlene and Dan, I believe we conversed a little on another forum that I won't name. I am glad to see you here. I just found this site today and will start following and hopefully putting my 2 cents in occasionally. Hello to Geof, Gary, Jennifer, Rose, Liz, Karen and Connie, I hope to get to know you all.
I love dahlias and have been growing them for quite a few years. Last year I had 112 plants. I try to save them from year to year but don't have a great place for storage, so they get to stay in the garage and I lose a few. I order a few, well maybe more than a few, each year. I love Swan Island Dahlia's and order from them each year. My favorite are the very large dinner-plate and the waterlily dahlias, but I buy dahlia seed every year and see what I get.
I also love Hardy Hibiscus and collect seed, grow them and share them. I have 110 plants in my yards. I hope to add a few of my seedlings this year.
I am an RN and work 3 days a week, the other days I am usually seen out in the garden. (I have advanced, as I say, to the Same Day Surgery area so I get all holidays and weekends off. It has been so great for me.)
I bought the little house next to me and have renovated the house and the garden and turned it into a Vacation Rental. I am having so much fun, I call it my full size doll house. I believe I will have over 125 in that yard alone this year.
Happy Gardening. I am always looking for tips and pictures of beautiful flowers and yards.
( I plan on going to the Swan Island Dahlia Festival in August.)

Welcome to ATP. So glad you found us. Your house, yard, job, etc sound like the best of all worlds. My very good friend works day surgery about like you do - 'on the register'.

We look forward to seeing how your yard develops. I also love hibiscus but they simply won't over winter here. I have grown Missouri Primrose but it became so invasive that while I loved the flower (looked similar to the hibiscus to me) I am digging them out. Will take a while though. The stolons ?? are every where in two areas. I guess I could put them in a large pot, put the pot in the ground and cage them in that way. Having my cake and eating it so to speak.

Hi Mary, Glad to be here and find some of my former gardening friends.

Welcome MyRee. It great how many people have come over to ATP of late. We will be looking forward to seeing pics of your blooms this summer.

I am assuming that you live in the PNW, if you attend Swan Islands festival regularly. I am always jealous of people living in Dahlia Country. It would be really nice to have the longer grow season.

I'd love to see some pictures of your yard and your vacation home, MyRee, it sounds amazing! I'm just getting started with dahlias but have felt so welcomed by this group; ATP has the most wonderful group of member gardeners. I know you'll love it here as well!

Welcome to ATP, MyRee.

I just placed an order from Swan Island. They are such a reliable company and their staff is so nice. It's always fun to look forward to our new treasures.

Hi Myree! I'm glad you've found ATP. It's a great site with great people. As I recall, it was your photo of Lady Darlene that caught my eye a few years ago. I've grown it ever since. Thanks! I hope you and everyone here will be posting lots of pictures this year. I need to get "hooked" on a few more varieties.

MyRee thanks for joining us. There are some very experienced growers here. They share advice and opinions freely.
Gary

Hello MyRee and welcome! I too love hibiscus. I tried winter sowing some seeds a few years ago, and it was very successful until I forgot to water them in August.

I do hope you have a camera because it sounds like we're all going to enjoy some pictures of your blooms!

Thanks for the welcome everyone.
Geof, no, I live in Utah. It is a 12 hour drive to the festival, but my twin brother lives very near there. I will get to see both. I planned on going last year, but it didn't work out with work and everything else going on. I am excited to go this year.
My Lady Darlene did not make through the winter of '14/'15 and have been looking for another one. I haven't been able to find one, so, if you know where I can get one please let me know. I would also like detailed instructions on how you overwinter your tubers. I just threw mine in boxes with perlite this year.
This is a picture of the little house. I am having such fun with it. These were taken before most of the dahlia's were flowering.

Wow, MyRee! I don't think that I have the energy to handle the scale of 200 dahlias in a growing season. Eventhough you don't dig and store them, planting and staking them is alot of work. Do you have a system of staking them?

What lovely gardens! Both your home and your gardens are wonderful.

That is absolutely lovely, MyRee!

Thanks, I sure enjoy it. I think the most dahlia's I have had is around 120. Last year I staked them with colored tomato cages and some with twine to other plants. The plants are so close together that some are held up by others. I do try to dig and store every winter, but I loose some to rot. I need to learn form you all as to how to store them.