I have been enjoying a bouquet from my sister's garden this week...
...and admire Maria's dahlias every time I pass by. I have only tried to grow them once, and they never survived their first winter...but maybe it's time to try again.
Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. In 1872 they were sent as roots to the Netherlands...and from that one variety the European nurserymen have bred the many stunning dahlias that we have today. They range in height from twelve inches to eight feet...and the flowers can be as large as a dinner plate. Stunning!
But here's my question...how do you pronounce dahlia? Some say doll-ya...others say dell-ya...and I grew up hearing day-li-a.
Dahlias remind me of my grandma's garden...all the more reason to have them in mine.
Dal-ya is how I say it, but however you say it, it's one gorgeous flower. That first shot is just gorgeous with the bouquet on your front porch table and the mountains behind.
ReplyDeleteI grew them one summer, but they definitely didn't overlast. I should just get them anyway and think of them as annuals since they are so lovely.
Beautiful dahlias, Judy. I love Autumn colors. I pronounce it day-li-a, the others sound good too!
ReplyDeleteYour day lee ahs.. . .are gorgeous. . I'm like you, haven't had success with them. . .but I'm not fond of the smell. . .however, it does make me feel very nostalgic when I smell them . . .my mom grew them all over her yard. . .
ReplyDeleteYou say Day-lee-ah I say Dal-ya, either way what a lovely bouquet adorns your porch. I've grown them as annuals. No way would they survive the harsh Vermont winter. My brother-in-law in Northern Virginia grows just gorgeous dahlias. I should ask him his secret. ~Kathy
ReplyDeleteI say dal-ya (like the name Al, but with a d in front). And, I love them. This was our first year planting them, and they did so-so. I'm not giving up yet though.
ReplyDeleteThey look so pretty on your porch.
Your Dahlias are gorgeous Judy, as are all your other flowers. Vern tells me the Dahlia root is like a small potatoe with finger roots growing from it and must be dug up every fall, then replanted in Spring. They generally cannot survive the winter outdoors. (as soon as frost hits them they rot.) Hope this helps you.
ReplyDeleteMartha
I should clarify...my bulbs that never survived the winter were dug up and stored in a box (packed in sawdust) in the barn for the winter. About the same time all the pipes in the barn froze...so did my dahlia 'roots'. Now I have a basement I could store them in...so I'm game to try this again!
ReplyDeletei would pronounce it day-lee-ahs as well, they are lovely aren't they!
ReplyDeleteI dont have day-lee-as in my garden! They are gorgeous, but do attract slugs. I love seeing them in other peoples gardens, especially now, when the colour of everything else is fading.
ReplyDeleteI love your "dial yas" they are beautiful. Mine did survive over the winter last year. It was a wonderful surprise to see them this summer.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Linda
I say dall-yas. But who am I? They are so beautiful. What a great house your sister has. What a neat porch! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI say Dollya, and I deep mulch them in the fall to help them survive the winter...when I say deep...4 inches of mulch...cypress mulch does well...good luck with them, and make sure your bed is alkaline and well fertilized! Mama called them "heavy feeders".
ReplyDeleteSandi
"Doll-ya".
ReplyDeleteVery lovely post and interesting history about the dahlia! The Netherlands certainly is the epicenter for flowers, it seems!
Dah-li-a...? Don't know...don't think I ever even said the word outloud...I am NOT a landscaper or gardener although I like to 'muck about in the dirt....but I wouldn't quite call it gardening. Well Judy, you are always such a wealth of information....I love coming by.
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