Current Obsession: Dahlias

This time of year florists around North America are swooning on a regular basis due to dahlia overdoses. I'm serious, these flowers are something we look forward to every summer, and mourn the loss of every fall. 


There are many varieties, all of which have their champions.  The amazing thing about dahlias is how the shape of the petals moves the light around the flower, shifting the colours and glowing from the inside.  They make arrangements instantly look full and romantic, and are certainly a wedding favourite for August through September. 

Dahlias aren't the easiest to grow, which maybe is what makes them so special.  The tubers have to be dug up in the fall and stored in a cool dry place over winter, then replanted the next year. They like a nice hot summer but have suffered in Ontario this year with our drought, as they also like to be well watered, so this years supply has been difficult. The dahlias you see in the photos above came from a flower farm just north of Toronto. That pale cream one just above, that is the much coveted cafe au lait variety, which had me in a dead faint when I saw it nestled in the bucket- a sweet treat from the grower that I gazed at in wonder for a while before making the vase up as a gift to celebrate a friend. Because if there is one thing dahlias are good for, its for giving to people you love.


P.S.
U.S. flower farmer and florist extraordinaire, Erin of Floret Flower has to be the undisputed queen of dahlias and has been breaking the internet this year with her gorgeous photos from her farm, which you can take a look at here.

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