The Garden Lollipops Are Here

Our delightful dahlias have decided to show us their beautiful faces again, which is a miracle considering they've been in our little make-shift nursery these past four years and haven't really recieved the care that they should have during that time.

Usually we would have dug them up, separated the tubers, marked them, stored them and then in early spring, replanted them. But sadly, with the building of the house, they along with our other nursery plants and flowers...have been pretty much on their own with only the ablsolute bits of care needed being provided for them.


Some of them had even been taken over by the aforementioned jungle that our back yard has become...and still managed to pop through! Only a few haven't graced us with their presence yet...

but I imagine they will show their faces soon enough...and if not, we'll just dig them up this time around and give them the proper attention and care that they deserve.

All of our dahlias are at least 10 years old and are very special to us. The yellow one in the picture above was a gift from a friend who was visiting from Holland (isn't it glorious ?), and the rest...well they're even more special.

They were a gift from an elderly couple in the neighborhood who were known as Mr. and Mrs. Dahlia. They grew rows and rows of the most amazingly beautiful dahlias (hence the name) and since their garden was visible from the street (corner lot - chain link fence), the whole neighborhood was able to enjoy them every year.

Sadly, Mrs. Dahlia passed away, and Mr. Dahlia wanted to keep her legacy alive in the neighborhood, and since I had on many occasions stopped by their house on my dog walking excursions and had developed a relationship with them over the beauty of their gorgeous flowers, he gave quite a few to us, hoping to keep her memory firmly planted in the neighborhood...and in our hearts.

Mr. Dahlia is no longer living here either, he's still with us though last I heard...and we feel so grateful and blessed to be able to carry on the tradition that he and his lovely wife started so many years ago, to care for, share (we've given away so many tubers), and to just enjoy the prettiness of these floral lollipops that bring such happiness and smiles to those that get to see them.

(all images - 24corners)