Cooperative Living August 2016 - 26
GardenMuse | Story and Photos by Paula Steers Brown, Contributing Columnist
Dazzling Dahlias
T
he dahlia is a native of Mexico. Its
spectacular blooms unfurl in the
heat like the layers of boldly colored
swirling skirts on dancers at a bright fiesta.
Their stunning color combinations,
array of complex shapes, and lush foliage
make dahlias an impressive feature in the
mid- to late-summer garden.
So why doesn't everyone grow
dahlias? Casual gardeners may
shy away from plants reputed to
need protection from cold (such
as digging up tubers for the
winter) and from excess water
that can cause rot. We humble
home gardeners may think we
are not worthy when we hear
the horticultural elite who
grow dahlias for exhibition
debating the finer points of
disbudding in their straight rows
devoted exclusively to staked,
statuesque beauties.
But don't be intimidated.
shorter bedding varieties are
widely available that require
little, if any, support and can be
easily cared for in a mixed
border or in containers. Dahlias
are so relatively inexpensive, it is
not a big risk just to leave them
24 | Cooperative Living | August 2016
Cactus Dahlia,
Arudel
Their stunning color combinations,
array of complex shapes, and lush foliage
make dahlias an impressive feature
in the mid- to late-summer garden.
Black Dahlia
in the ground; even if the winter is not
mild, there are overwintering precautions
you can take. It's also fun and frugal to
take cuttings, so dahlias can end up being
one of the best bargains around.
There are 12 official group
classifications from single-flowering and
anemone types to " collarette " dahlias
with an inner ruffled ring, to varieties
that resemble peonies and even water
lilies. Pompon dahlias are small and
ball-shaped; cactus dahlias have tubular
petals that taper to a point, giving a
striking starburst effect; decorative
dahlias are the largest,
including the gargantuan
dinner-plate-type blooms that
can reach 12 inches across
atop plants that grow to 5
feet. Pompon dahlias are
considered the toughest, being
extremely resistant to cold and
rainy weather, two of the
elements that present the
biggest challenges to growers.
Mignon dahlias are the small
bedding dahlias often sold in
six-packs with annuals in the
spring. Their manageable size
makes them good choices for
pots and planters.
Recent hybridizing has
responded to the popularity of
shorter varieties, notably the
double-flowered dahlianovas,
only 8 to 15 inches tall. The
gallery series (12 to 14 inches)
has all the glamour of the
www.co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2016
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living August 2016
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 1
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 2
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 3
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 4
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 5
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 6
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 7
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 8
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 9
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 10
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 11
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 12
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 13
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 14
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 15
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 16
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 17
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 18
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 19
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 20
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 21
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 22
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 23
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 24
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 25
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 26
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 27
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 28
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 29
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 30
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 31
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 32
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 33
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 34
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 35
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 36
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 37
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 38
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 39
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 40
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 41
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 42
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 43
Cooperative Living August 2016 - 44
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperative-living-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CL-May2024/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/CooperativeLiving-June2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com