Gonna start planting today...

It was only 37º this morning, but the sun has been shining (windy tho) and I don't think I can wait any longer to plant!

I've been busy putting the steel fence posts in the ground for the dahlia support.  I shortened the distance between the rows to 41"  (hope it wasn't a mistake on my part to do that).  My grandaughter Ella helped me on Sat. and Sun. to get the rows lined up correctly and all sections of the garden determined.  It looks nice and orderly.

Essentially this is how it will look when it's all planted.  The only change I've made is in "how" I label each variety.  This year I laminated all the labels and hole-punched them to put on a heavy wire stem.  Last year I had such a problem with the rain and sun destroying the printed label, I decided I just couldn't go through that again.  Hopefully this new method will work better.  Guess we'll see...

GARDEN OPEN Thurs., April 25, Fri., April 26, & Sat., April 27, 2013

Tomorrow the garden will open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for customers to pick up their dahlia orders or for those who wish to purchase dahlia tubers.  Please give me a call if you have any questions: 360-452-8287.  Thanks!!

The Encyclopedia of Dahlias by Author Bill McClaren is mine!!

My daughter, Debbie, had Bill McClaren sign for me.  Bill McClaren, is a well-known hybridizer and creater of Alpen Dahlias.  He now instructs in Kalispell MT.

How lucky am I???
:-)

I LOVE my Customers!!

When I get up in the morning and check my email, it's always makes me happy and puts such a boost to my self-esteem when a customer writes:

"Jan, thanks for the wonderful tubers !  I buy a variety every year because I am not good at keeping them over winter.  This is usually spread over about a dozen vendors to get the varieties I want.  I have to tell you that your tubers and one other company are at the top of my list for future purchases. Good size tubers, always with a visible eye, etc.   Have a good growing season and I look forward to many years of doing business together. 

Sincerely,

Steve"

Thank you Steve!!

Garden OPENs tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!!

For those local customers who want to pot their tubers up ahead of planting time, please come by and get the tubers.  Many of the orders placed over the internet have been mailed Priority Mail.  There are still two bins of orders... some to go next week and some to go the last week of April.
I do want to say though for local customers in the Port Angeles/Sequim and on the Olympic Peninsula, it is not necessary to pick your tubers up right now. They are happy in the potting shed until May when they should be planted. The 'rule of thumb' is to plant them when lilacs begin to bloom. It is too cold and too wet to plant just yet.

I've been so busy with filling orders and planting veggie seeds, planting cannas and gladiolas and other beautiful plants that it's time for me to take a week off -- next week.  So while the rains continue to come down... we will have beautiful dahlia blooms to look forward to in July!!

Not only in July, but ALL SUMMER LONG!  Won't that be Grand!!

I'll be adding new "new" dahlia photos, but first, I wanted to share...

Comments from John K who just received his huge dahlia order:

"Hi Jan,

Received my order yesterday and all look really good. I was disappointed that Mas Pride was replaced as that was the one I really wanted, but understand how that goes with dahlias. I hope you will have it again next year. The quality of your tubers is just excellent.
Thanks, John"

I am alway thrilled to have Happy customers!  Thank you so much John!!