In the spring, I told you about the 18 dahlia varieties that I was planning to grow this year. Today I bring to you real life photos of the ones that have bloomed (and baffled me.) Up first, the MAGNIFICIENT bloom of AC Paint.
Tonight I sit in my backyard having just come home from the community garden where I harvested another armload of flowers. What I'm saying is that I'd really rather be arranging my dahlias, than writing a post about them but here we are.
I know you won't take it personally.
If you did the puzzle on Sunday you saw the pretty darn magnificent AC Paint. The dahlia at the beginning of this post. I talked about what makes it so remarkable in this post where I listed all the dahlias I'm growing this year.
Table of Contents
AC Paint
AC Paint was the dahlia I was most excited to grow. Each flower that blooms on it is a bit (or a lot!) different than the other blooms on the plant.
The flowers are huge and heavy, on very sturdy stems and plants.
I highly recommend it.
The dining room table.
The COLOURS are difficult to get accurate in photographs so keep that in mind.
Alpen Cherub
A delicate little white flower with a puffy yellow centre.
Very prolific.
I recommend it (reservedly because 75% of the blooms have some sort of pest damage to the petals).
Cornel Bronze
Orange, but not that Halloween orange.
Very prolific
I recommend it
I've grown this one for years. It's sturdy and rarely breaks a stem.
I'm not always as delicate as I should be when harvesting dahlias so I like a sturdy stem. I'm actually not delicate in general. I even have a hammer toe.
I Have No Idea
Honestly. Not a clue. I think it was supposed to be Henriette but it is not that.
I'll get back to you on this one.
Rock Star
An anemone dahlia with a yellow centre that fluffs out into a deep purple cloud as it matures.
I recommend it. Love it.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Even with a dropped petal it's pretty. The colour on this particular photo is off. This particular dahlia isn't as dark as Rock Star's I've grown before for some reason. Normally it's a much darker shade.
Dollarama Black
I made the name up. It's a "purple" variety that you can buy at Dollarama in the spring.
It's a very, very dark flower.
I recommend it.
Alfred C
A HUGE bloom from a huge sturdy bloom. This semi-cactus dahlia is always one of the first to bloom.
One of the most commented on dahlias in my garden.
I recommend it.
Just another AC Paint photo.
Hamilton Lillian
This is a truly peach flower with the occasional hint of soft, buttery yellow.
This is beautiful. If you gravitate towards more nuanced colours this is your gal.
I recommend it.
Below from left to right: Alfred C, AC Paint, Hamilton Lillian.
I'll let you in on a secret. Halfway through writing this post I walked away and spent half an hour arranging flowers.
Don't take it personally.
This is just some of the new varieties I grew so you have another dahlia variety post exactly like this to look forward to before summer's end. They're just starting to bloom so once they're in full force I'll cut and photograph them.
Say a prayer for the delicate ones.
Caryl Hodgdon
The flowers are stellar but I have to admit your enthusiasm about growing them and sharing their beauty is infectious and as lovely as your Dahlia babies!!
Leeuna
So, so very beautiful. I love them all.
SH
I don't care that the color is a bit off here and there; they are all spectacular!! And I do take it personally that you paused partway thru the post to fill up your dahlia senses to complete the post for us with renewed fervor. Thanks!
Karen
LOL. Excellent. You took it as intended. ;) ~ karen!
Mary
These are so beautiful!
Marie
Bravo!
Babs
God's handiwork and yours too.
TexasKat
They are SO beautiful! Everything on my front porch has either died or is dying because of the 100-plus degree heat. I envy you!
Karen
Thanks TexasKat! I was about to say it'll cool down soon, but then that made me sad because it also means it'll be the end of summer soon. ~ karen!
Nan
Thanks for adding to my addiction! Now I have to add more varieties! I live in northern Wisconsin so I have to dig and store.
Karen
I grew far fewer this year because of the digging and storing! ~ karen
Kim
Gorgeous. Love the variety.
Mary W
Can't grow dahlias in Florida nor camellias or lily of the valley but can grow Roselle and Beautyberry and kumquats. Life is not fair! but is beautiful if thinking positively and are subscribed!
Jody
Who knew dahlias could all be so different? Well, I guess you did. They're all beautiful.
Bonnie
You've convinced me. Dahlias for sure next year. They're just breathtaking, Karen.
Deb from Maryland
Absolutely gorgeous!
tuffy
Wow!
I love your paint one, as well as the daisy looking one w the white petals and yellow puffy centers 💕
marcia
Now I understand your dahlia obsession, Karen! Who knew that one flower could have so many varieties and types. Simply beautiful ❤️💮
Karen
I know! It's what makes them so addictive. There are SO many varieties and so many colours. ~ karen!
Mama Toto
I enjoy my dahlias for cut flowers because they seem to last quite a while whereas the roses only last a day or two.
The "dinner plate" varieties are the most fascinating. We're lucky in that we don't have to lift them for the winter (zone 8a), just for dividing when needed.
Karen
That is lucky! And you're right dahlias last well in a vase. And even if they start to look ragged, I just pull the older back petals off. ~ karen!
Gretchen
A few of my earliest dahlias got fried during some extended heat we had- the dahlias growing in part shade look beautiful. I’m lucky to live near the leading and largest dahlia growing farm in the US - Swan Island Dahlias. The family has been in business for 95 years and it’s open to the public to visit and see the 40 acres of different varieties of dahlias. It’s so amazing to see.
Karen
Oh wow! Do they sell tubers? Or do you just get teased with the beautiful varieties and then you spend the rest of your days trying to find the tubers? ~ karen!
Lois Baron
Glorious dahlias!
But I cannot get the fruit fly killer method to work! The fruit flies are completely ignoring the apple cider vinegar both in the mason jar with the paper cone and the open jar of vinegar. Why oh why? Could it be my vinegar is too old???
Jo
Mine too! I've tried numerous variations of the cider vinegar death trap & have only gotten the odd clumsy one who has fallen or been pushed in. But a few did throw themselves into my smoothie before I could shield it.
Karen
Ha! 😆 karen
Karen
Hi Lois! I don't think it's too old, but maybe try a different vinegar. Or drop a piece of bread into it. They also love bread (sourdough in particular because of the fermented smell). ~ karen!
Leslie
I love all dahlias, even though I'm a pretty so-so gardener. But my lighter ones, especially a yellow, seem to attract more bugs.
Karen
Yup. Me too. ~ karen!
Patty
These flowers are so beautiful!
Karen
They really are - I've given away as many as I've kept this year and I still have a house full of flowers. ~ karen!