Dahlias (A to Z Challenge)

These are my favorite flowers in a garden or bouquet and the prettiest Dahlias in my opinion are the purple ones.  The purple flowers are tied to royalty, pride, success, accomplishment and admiration.

When given as a gift, the dahlia flower expresses sentiments of dignity and elegance. It is also the symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever. The dahlia flower is still used today in gardens and flower arrangements to celebrate love and marriage.  It is a symbol of inner strength, creativity and standing strong in your values.  These flower symbols are so similar to me 😛

For all the history buffs out there, the dahlia was named after Anders Dahl, born March 17, 1751 who was from Sweden.

In cold climates of North America, dahlias are known as tuberous-rooted tender perennials, grown from small brown biennial tubers planted in the spring.  This is why they do so well here in Canada.

These colorful spiky flowers generally bloom from midsummer to first frost, when many other plants are past their best. They range in color and even size, from the giant 10-inch “dinner plate” blooms to the 2-inch lollipop-style pompons. Most varieties grow 4 to 5 feet tall.  They are so awesome.

• Don’t be in a hurry to plant; dahlias will struggle in cold soil. Ground temperature should reach 60°F. Wait until all danger of spring frost is past before planting. (We plant them a little after the tomato plants go in.)
• Select a planting site with full sun. Dahlias grow more blooms with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. They love the morning sunlight best. Choose a location with a bit of protection from the wind.
• Dahlias thrive in rich, well-drained soil. PH level of your soil should be 6.5-7.0, slightly acidic. If you have a heavier soil, add in sand or peat moss to lighten and loosen the soil texture for better drainage.

Canada isn’t snow, Eskimos and igloos all the time 😉  We do have spring and summer where it gets warm up to 40 C and that’s when it’s a great time to visit some of the best Botanical Gardens in the country.  Here are a few that are definitely worth seeing; Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver, British Columbia, Montreal Botanical Gardens, Montreal, Quebec, Niagara Falls Garden Trail, Niagara Falls, Ontario.  There are many more so you will have to come and visit me here and see for yourself 🙂

 

Photo of Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  Courtesy of Google.

Spring is in the air, time to start planting beautiful Dahlias!

 

Much Love ❤

Jen
xo