Saturday, August 13, 2011

Delightful Dahlias

'Excentric' Dahlia
A hot wind blows across the north 40. (Which, in reality, is the east one half. But, north 40 sounds way cooler, don't you think?)

I flip on a sprinkler, for the 3rd day in a row, all the while admitting it's a day late, buck short. There's no hope for the pasture grass, have not irrigated all summer long.

'Betty Ann' Dahlia (Heirloom: 1928)
But, it keeps my weather-weary horses occupied. Like 1,500 pound kids, they love running through that sprinkler. Cooling down their big bodies, keeping those pesky flies at bay.

Made a half-hearted effort to pull some weeds, trim one tree, then abandoned my chores for the comfort of an air-conditioned house.

'Junkyard Dog' Dahlia (isn't that a terrible name for such a pretty flower??)
I am eternally grateful that I have AC ~ I think it's one of the premiere achievements of modern man. Partly because I'm a Minnesotan and never learned how to cope with hot weather.

And, also because I grew up in what I call a hot family. (Which had nothin' to do with being good-lookin.) My Mom and Brother never saw a need for air conditioning, sitting comfortably in an 85 degree house with nary a complaint. While I was melting like that proverbial wicked witch.

'Bahama Mama' Dahlia
That's probably why I ended up living so high in the mountains ~ where I devote an entire post to bitching about the heat ~ when it's only 80 degrees out there.    [B.A.B.Y.]

August (as you have probably guessed) is my least favorite month of the year. When I've run out of energy to do most anything. Other than to dream of a seaside vacation...

Which is not gonna happen this year, but it did last year. The delightful Dahlia pictures in this post are from the Swan Island Dahlia Festival I attended in Canby, Oregon last August.

'Emory Paul' Dahlia
I probably should have mentioned that at the top of the post but I wanted you to be all impressed, thinking these beauties are growing in my garden. :)))

'Double Trouble' Dahlia
* PS: Email theft and craziness. Apparently, while I was on vacation someone got ahold of my email address and sent some of you odd comments. My apologies, 'twas not me.

** If you scroll down to the next post, you'll see the one lonely Dahlia that is truly growing in my garden. I'm plotting to plant a lot more of them next summer.

20 comments:

Lona said...

Well you got me because I was thinking what pretty dahlias you have.LOL! They are gorgeous. I bet it is fun to watch the horses run through the spray. I think you need another assignment in Venice or nearby. I am chocolate hungry. LOL!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Lona ~ I am on the case! Just this week my Italian friend asked me to build her a website, promising to pay me in chocolate Tortinas. With any luck a delightful box of heavenly goodies will arrive very soon!!!

Alison said...

Those are all very pretty! I checked out your other post with your own Dahlia, and it is very pretty too! Sorry if you're too hot, it is nice and cool here in the PNW.

KC said...

Love the dahlia photos Kate. Brings back fond memories:)

Yael said...

Kate,

All of your dahlias are beautiful. But the last one with the white circle in the center just took my breath away. Could you please share the name of this beauty, if you know it.

Yael

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

I need to pay you a visit Alison!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Oh, yes, KC -- lots of fond memories from that Oregon trip!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Yael;
I added names to the pics. The one you like (which is also my fave :) is called Double Trouble.

D said...

The dahlias are beautiful, Kate. I have one similar to 'Double Trouble' that I got in Canby years ago; most of mine perished several years ago during a long freeze.. guess I won't replace them. PS: I'm with you on the heat.. can't take it.

Yael said...

Kate,
Thanks for adding names to the dahlias. I will be looking for Double Trouble when I get the dahlia catalogues. Not much more room for dahlias, but there can be exceptions.

Yael

Rilly said...

I live in the PNW and it's the first summer in years I haven't complained about the heat or had to run the AC, even when the sun shines. Even my flowers and tomatoes are loving it.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Lucky you, Di, living so close to Swan Island. That was such a spectacular tour... Stay cool. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Send pics, Yael!

I like looking at Dahlias a lot more than I like growing them. They're so needy... but quite fetching.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Rilly;
You live in a lovely spot. It rained here last night, cooling things down but blocking my planned viewing of the Perseid meteor shower. That unexpected shower caught me off guard and everything, even the shoes I left on the deck, are soaked. :))

eileeninmd said...

Wow, these are just all awesome photos! The flowers are gorgeous. I have to remember to plant dahlias next year, they are so pretty.

sweetbay said...

wow those dahlias are beautiful.

I think AC is one of the peak achievements of modern man too.

Grace said...

Absolutely delightful flowers

Wally said...

Gorgeous photos, absolutely spectacular. Your dahlia in the previous post is magnificent too.

Janie said...

The dahlias are beautiful no matter where they grow. Our horses love to graze in the spray of the wheelline. It's cool and fly free.

Anonymous said...

WOW! Swan Island should hire you to shoot their next catalog,
as, with the exception of Bahama Mama and Junk YD, your photos
look much better than those in print. Esp. 'Excentric' and 'Double Trouble'!