Scarlet- our weather was wild last night, but my garden fared pretty well, just had some stakes knocked out of the ground/leaning due to the wind. We also got about 2.5 inches of rain, but after the hot/dry spell, I don't think my dahlias were complaining. I usually worry about that much rain at once, but over the last few years I have identified the areas where the soil doesn't drain as quickly, and have made adjustments.
I did not know that cats were such garden pests! A couple of my neighbors let their cats wander, but they never do any damage to my dahlias. There used to be a couple of ferals that I semi-tamed (yes, I am a cat lady, but my cats live a posh little indoor life), and I didn't mind them hanging around as it tended to scare the rabbits off for the most part.
Hiyamakki- you'll have to let us know if you figure out what the critter is! I live on a busy main street, and my neighbors have seen a fox stroll by nightly on their Ring camera.
I have never ordered from Old House Gardens, but my friend did this year. I will have to check her plants out once they start blooming. I don't think you would need to treat them any differently. I figure if they've survived this long in this crazy world, they are probably pretty much bomb proof!
