It may have been 6 below this morning, but February puts us one step closer to spring time, so naturally this has us thinking of flowers. In the upper Midwest, that could mean march, or that could be May. Lately, it seems like a majority of our snow starts to arrive in February through march, where previous years we would expect this to be when the melt starts. Whatever it has in store for us, our Dahlia’s always seem to know when it is time.

I always think of the line from Malcom in Jurassic Park, “nature always finds a way.” The Dahlia is no exception. If you are unfamiliar with the flower, I will explain it as best as I can. First, this a tuberous perennial, so it will regrow each year. The amazing thing about them is that if you are ambitious enough to dig them up, the tuber underground multiplies from 1 tuber to sometimes 5 or 6 usable tubers. You can split and store them for winter with 5 new plants from your 1 starter. The next year, the same thing happens. The tuber is the only way to guarantee you what dahlia you are getting. If you grow them from seed, it will be a surprise what sprouts until you harvest the tuber will you know the exact flower variety. Again, nature always finds a way.

When it is spring time, your stored tubers will begin to use itself as food and grow a stem. As long as the last frost is done, these can now go in the ground and start your flower garden. Dahlias will continue to bloom until frost hits in the fall, so keep cutting and keep enjoy them all season.

Long story short, I just wanted to share some photos of our flower garden last year.