Studiology

Dahlia Time

I've discovered a good spot in my garden for dahlias. My new spot became that when the derecho wind storm took out two trees. What used to be a shady garden is kind of half and half now and it's a new bed where I've tried a few different plants but decided to try (yet again) dahlias. I researched heat tolerant varieties and went with a proven winner, Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' and somebody new, Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight'. I've known the Bishop for many years and sold it at Windy Hill, so it was a "no brainer", he would be one of my test dahlias. Having had miserable results in the past, this was my hopeful experiment with only 4 plants (3 Bishop and 1 'Kelvin Floodlight'). 

Well, the results have been beyond my wildest expectations. So much so, that I ordered 8 more heat tolerant varieties for next year. Apparently the siting is really critical, good heat tolerant varieties helps, and lots of black compost is a plus. The flowers on 'Kelvin Floodlight' are 7" across, so big and heavy that you have to stake each stalk, which is typical of the large flowering types.

The Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' fits into my black theme with black foliage and stunning red, daisy flowers. If there is a drawback, the stems are too short for any kind of tall vase, but it certainly makes a great garden plant (and I have plenty of short vases).

Dahlias are often referred to as the "Queen of the Autumn Garden", mostly because they like the cool temperatures and look so fresh when much of the garden is well past peak. Hailing from South and Central America, they are the National Flower of Mexico, which does lead one to believe that the heat wouldn't affect them, but they are high altitude plants. The root is a tuber and they are easily divided, like a potato, remember that each root piece must have an eye. In our climate, it's best if you dig them in fall, usually after a few frosts and before a big freeze. That gives you time to enjoy all of the cool season flowers. I store them in a cool place, but above freezing and use the sulfur/vermiculite method to coat and protect them.

In the last few years, dahlias have been coming back when left in the ground if the site is a micro-climate, protected from super cold temperature fluctuations. If you are uncertain about the site, dig up half of your tubers and leave the rest. 

There are a few websites that list heat tolerant varieties, but I found this one to be the best.

http://www.dahliasocietyofgeorgia.com

Look for the PDF file, or "Dahlias That Grow Well in the South" (left side of website). I spent a lot of time with this list and started my search for a black flowering, heat tolerant dahlia. Apparently there's no such thing. I settled for dark reds and few I couldn't resist.  

 

Temperennials

I spend a lot of time counseling people on what to plant and how to lay things out, especially on weekends when I'm working at Merrifield Gardens. I have to be receptive to what they have emotional attachments to. Quite often it's peony plants passed down from grandma, or a rose from a dear aunt. It's a work around and I have no problem with it because I have my own emotional attachments, enough to fill 5 acres - I'm sure. Fortunately I can live vicariously through other peoples gardens, not actually owning all of those tree peonies (as 1 example), but tending to them. 

So recently I was thinking about my own plant baggage, like what must I have in my summer garden? It struck me that so much of what I like fits into the category of temperennials. The term is not new and I assume its from a mix of tender perennial or temporary perennial. Long and short it stands for plants that are either border line in their hardiness or just flat out tropical, perennials in their own tropical climate versus true annuals, which die after producing seed. Now we live in a pretty moderate climate, getting warmer as each year passes. We do have freezing temperatures in winter, but it's nothing like it used to be. I remember when crape myrtles would freeze to the ground in Loudoun County, sometimes even in Fairfax county.

Many of these temperennials flower from spring to fall and come back in spring. A pretty good deal when you think of hardy perennials that flower for a matter of weeks (6 is average). In the last few years I have seen dahlias return with a certain degree of regularity. I hear the same with cannas and I can definately say that my Salvia 'Black and Blue' has come back for 3 years and is now 7 feet across. Agastache rupestris is the only variety of agastache that's returned and it's done so for 4 years. All of these flower the entire summer. I'm beginning to think that its time to try various verbenas and go back to growing Salvia farinacea selections and snapdragons, all of which fit in the category of temperennials.

Salvia 'Black and Blue' 

Agastache rupestris

I will note that fall planting is not ideal, the winter survivers are planted in spring when they can develop a good root system before winter hits. It's also good to have a protective spot, say a eastern or south eastern exposure. Given that, incredible things can happen. During our super mild winter I had a cordyline return, and dichondra has been in the garden for 3 years, sprouting here and there from starts left from the year before. 

So if your ready for a little experimentation, I think a few temperennials may turn out to be perennials that bloom all summer, and that's a win-win for gardeners.

Small Milestones

Today is Duke's 5th birthday. I managed to get this crown on him, just long enough to take a picture. My last dog was a black lab and dressing up was what he lived for, my teenage children took full advantage of it too. Duke is just okay with it, but typical lab, a little snack in the hand helps a lot. 

Another recent milestone is a new tractor. I mean brand new, from the dealer tractor. The tires still have their little nubbins on them. Rick spent some time bonding with it. 

So its been an excellent week! Life is good.