sunday in my garden and dahlias on steroids

by Sharon Santoni
[blank]”Oh my goodness!  Are these dahlias on steroids?!!”  …[blank]
…. those were the first words pronounced by my girlfriend as she got out of her car here on Thursday.  Haven’t see the dear girl for two years and instead of falling into my open arms and asking how I am, she stood speechless – well almost – in front of my bed of dahlias![blank]
[blank] This my friends is what happens when you plant dahlias, without checking their predicted height or size – you find yourself living in a dahlia jungle!!
And that is why this blog and my instagram  and my facebook are all dahlia-rich at the moment.[blank]

[blank] We have dahlias all over the house, no friend leaves here without a big bouquet in their arms and it looks like it will be this way until the first frosts …[blank]

[blank]… and during the winter they will be lifted from the ground, carefully labelled and stored in the wine cellar until next spring, when I’ll plant them in the garden again ….  but maybe choose their position a little more carefully! [blank]
[blank]Hope you are enjoying a colourful weekend, thank you for reading me.[blank]

32 comments

La Table De Nana September 29, 2013 - 3:12 pm

I am so envious..I have tried year after year and my earwig population turn them into such unsightly things..
They are to me even more phtogenic than roses if possible..
Lucky you!
They are gorgeous.

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Susan123 February 9, 2014 - 9:21 pm

Hi, my dad used to grow dahlias when I was a child.. Tip for you, by the dahlias, fill a small plant pot full of straw and turn it upside down and place on a stick. The earwigs will go into the plant pot after the straw and not in your dahlias 🙂

Hope it helps
Susan

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Lynda Bergman Decorative Artisan September 29, 2013 - 3:33 pm

So beautiful and the colors are amazing!! I don't see dahlias in the flower beds here. Lynda

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La Vie Quotidienne September 29, 2013 - 4:11 pm

These are staggeringly beautiful. Dahlias are fast becoming one of my favorite flowers, I love the casual way you have planted yours, next year I wouldn't do a thing differently. I can't tell, did you stake them?

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Joanne C September 29, 2013 - 4:31 pm

Bonjour, I had Dahlias for years, the pink ones, cactus., and last year I lost them. Hopefully, my sister-in-law will give me back some next Spring. I'm the one who gave them to her ! Beautiful flowers ! Thank you for showing them.

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La Dolfina September 29, 2013 - 4:54 pm

Wowza, they love you!!!!!

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Wild Oak Designs September 29, 2013 - 5:05 pm

They are stunning! I would be like your friends, and stand and stare. Years ago, there was a lady here in town who had the most amazing collection of dahlias and even sold the blooms. Her beds were raised and they were meticulously taken care of. Your flower beds must be amazing themselves and bug free! Would love to see your storage techniques!!
Nancy

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Hjem & Glede September 29, 2013 - 5:16 pm

Just lovely!!!

Hug Camilla:)

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Roxane September 29, 2013 - 5:41 pm

Divine! Oh to be so lucky surrounded by such dazzling flowers!

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Ms Lemon of Make Mine Lemon September 29, 2013 - 6:20 pm

How wonderful! They look like ballerinas is their tutus dancing in your garden.

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Caterina B September 29, 2013 - 6:20 pm

Wow! They are gorgeous! I have a long ways to go to having beds like yours. I had not thought of dahlias
even though my granny always grew them and I loved them way back then. Thanks for the idea!

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Emm September 29, 2013 - 6:44 pm

I do believe that you have turned me into a dahlia-liker. Those are spectacular.
Just looked at your Facebook feed, and oh those wonderful pictures. Will have to go Like it, under my FB name, bien sur.

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Miriam September 29, 2013 - 7:05 pm

Oh, i love dahlias. Unfortunately we have no cellar. So i have to buy every year new ones.
The colours are amazing, I love them.
Your blog and your home is adorable.
Miriam

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White Ironstone Cottage September 29, 2013 - 7:16 pm

Stunningly gorgeous
xo
Pam

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Mihaela Dămăceanu September 29, 2013 - 7:45 pm

I never realized these popular flowers could look so amazing. Gorgeous bucket and colors!

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cocoquilts September 29, 2013 - 8:47 pm

So amazingly gorgeous! Also very inspiring! I can't believe the variety of shape and colors you are growing!! I had planted them for the first time this year and am in love!! I am thinking of new places to plant for next year!! I absolutely love the large creamy peach dahlia in the front of your bouquet!! Do you remember the name? I am obsessed with my english roses but the dahlias are so easy to grow and bloom so abundantly! Perfect flower to extend my bouquet love before winter! Thank you for sharing!!
Cheers, Colette

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Anna-Mari September 29, 2013 - 10:04 pm

Oh oh oh, my dahlia fever rises again!

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manuela carvalho September 29, 2013 - 11:59 pm

They are gorgeous! Amazing post, beautiful pictures… Love your blog! manuela

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Sharon September 30, 2013 - 12:06 am

They are just my favorite flower they are stunning

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Cindy September 30, 2013 - 1:48 am

Good Lord Almighty those are gorgeous! Why in the world don't i have dahlias in my garden!? I think i may die over the blush colored one…

Cindy

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Magnolia Verandah September 30, 2013 - 2:22 am

They are spectacular – I would love to have such a problem.

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Purple Flowers September 30, 2013 - 4:17 am

I also have beautiful and somewhat out of control dahlias. They are so unique and beautiful to look at. I'm not sure when I should dig them out of the ground, wash and dry them, put them in a brown bag and store them in our cellar? Is it the first frost?

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Anonymous September 30, 2013 - 6:11 am

Hi Sharon I looked at your blog earlier this morning…you got me I picked up the garden catalogue and ordered 2 new release french dahlias introduced this spring wish me luck….Thank you for sharing beauty. Regards Esther from Sydney.

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Jenny Short September 30, 2013 - 8:48 am

Exquisite. I remember seeing them in Monet's garden in September and wanting to plant some. Enno and I are going to give them a try next spring. Thanks for inspiring us again. xo Jenny

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Des guirlandes September 30, 2013 - 10:36 am

I LOVE dahlia's! Especially the colours you have. Can you tell me the names? I want them too
Realy beautiful pictures as well! Love your blog.
Kind regards,
Barry of Des Guirlandes

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onnery September 30, 2013 - 1:06 pm

Hi Sharon,I have been following your posts for quite a while but this is my first comment. First thank you for beautiful photos and always lovely posts. When I saw the dahlias I just had to comment. This season was the first time I planted dahlias and I also was amazed at these show stoppers! My friend has been singing their praises for years and now I know why. It seems that dahlias have been in lots of conversations this season and I predict that they may just be the new hydrangea in terms of popularity! Then again, no one has dubbed me trendsetter!!! Thank you again Sharon for sharing .

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daisydonut September 30, 2013 - 3:01 pm

They are so beautiful, I'm not surprised your friend was speechless at the sight of them.

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La Contessa September 30, 2013 - 4:32 pm

STUNNING!No matter how they are planted!

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Helen Connolly September 30, 2013 - 5:53 pm

Thank you for sharing your beautiful bouquets! It's ALMOST like receiving a fresh flower delivery.

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Anonymous September 30, 2013 - 11:21 pm

You had me planning rows and rows of dahlias next summer until you mentioned digging them up in the winter, storing them in the cellar and replanting in the spring! Phewww…..I think I'll just save your posts and look at them when I need a floral "fix"! Just beautiful, Sharon! Angela Muller

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Anonymous October 1, 2013 - 4:01 am

Love your sweet blog and loooove the dahlias…have not grown any for years, must look for a spot in the garden:-)
Carol P.

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Lily October 1, 2013 - 4:58 pm

Oh my gosh those are stunning, and the color variety growing together – wow, just wow.

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