I thank you, gg5!
I grew up in Erfurt/Germany which is known for their beautiful Dahlias. I would think the climate is close to that of Maine. Now the Dahlias really like the cooler Summer temperatures and grow and flower perfectly there. I have tried many times to grow them here in NJ, but the hot Summers here make them grow like crazy and then they just topple over/bend their stems and flop all over the place. I had some tubers surviving a couple of Winters - close to the South facing house wall, but never in the middle of the garden here in zone 6b.
