Category: Dahlias

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Indian Summer – a time to enjoy many blooming flowers

Indian Summer in New England by Werner Kunz

I love Indian Summer. I wondered about the history of the term. I found this explanation for it.   Whatever the reason for it, I love the warmth before freezing weather and every year I wish Indian Summer would last a long time. I love it because so many flowers take this time to bloom. Not just chrysanthemums and asters that are in bloom and can take some frost; but many fall flowers have their last “hurrah” by sending forth flowers before winter sets in.

I know that the kiss of the frost makes for a great apple taste. But I hate when that first frost strikes because it cuts short the buds of many flowers that would otherwise open.

It is amazing the number and kinds of flowers in bloom in my garden right now.

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Some Things to do in the Garden in October

october garden 33678 by flora.cyclam

I am getting ready for winter and thinking of next spring. Are my readers also doing the same?

I did my first major raking. Living with so many trees, this raking will be ongoing until the last leaf has fallen. But I never throw any leaves away. They are always saved. I don’t leave any leaves on my street. I greedily collect those, too, for composting. I hope you have compost bins for your leaves.

I just planted over 60 tulip bulbs for next spring. Now I have to hope that no varmint eats the bulbs. Unlike daffodil bulbs, tulip bulbs are not poisonous so animals may want to dig them to eat. But the vision of tulips in bloom, is worth the risk. Last year I only lost a few tulips. I have been talking to nursery people to ask what they do to safeguard bulbs and have been told that they put in red hot pepper flakes in the holes with the bulbs. They buy the cheapest giant economy size of pepper flakes for this purpose. I used up my old bottles of pepper flakes and also put in some moth balls into each hole with the bulb food. Then I sprinkled Tabasco sauce or hot chili oil plus stale ground black pepper on the ground after I covered the bulbs with soil. Hope that will detract those cheeky chipmunks.

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Do Hydrangeas, Lilies and Dahlias Love Sun?

Face to the sun by Quiltsalad

TheGardenLady received this question from Kareena.

I had someone plant flowers in my garden. I told them the types of flowers I like (dahlias, lilies, tulips). There are already 3 azalea bushes there. They planted 3 hydrangeas, 4 lilies, 4 dahlias. There is sun all day because I am at an end-unit. My question is: Will the flowers have a problem growing/staying alive with this combination and the all-day sunlight?

All the flowers that you mention, except for perhaps the azalea bushes, love sun. Usually azaleas like afternoon shade. Some Azaleas like Encore Azaleas do like all day sun.  Since I do not know the type of azaleas that you have and because I cannot predict the intensity of this summer, one cannot say for sure if your azaleas will have a problem where they are planted. But since the 3 azaleas are already growing in the garden, I imagine that they have established good root systems and are happy where they are so they will continue thriving for you. Let us hope. Be sure to water the azaleas regularly and should there be a drought, be sure that you give the azalea bushes ample water.