Dahlia the Drug

Please stick with this - I need to get it off my chest.

My name is Ian Craddock and I am a dahlia grower.

I am not going to tell you why either. The flower speaks for itself. It's mid October in the UK and the dahlia is still going strong even after flowering all summer.

Dahlias in my garden 10/10/2010

 
I will not bore you with how to grow them - they are really easy but addictive. Once you grow one you need to grow many, many, many more.

After the first frosts they die back and the tubers are dug up (the foliage is 99% water), dried and stored for next year when the fascinating cycle starts again. Every grower learns the best way for their garden.

There you have it -  dahlias are so under-rated, it's ridiculous.

Gwyneth

.....and it appears that dahlias have another use as design inspiration - from lighting:

............to umbrellas;

......and unique folding seating.....