Not too late at all for dahlias - as soon as I get off the computer I'm going to go plant another few hundred. They are first-class cut flowers, especially the ones with medium to small flowers. Some types, like singles and collarettes, aren't as good for cutting. Vase life varies between cultivars, but usually runs about 4-7 days.
We've seeded lots of zinnias, too, and at this stage of the game don't expect most varieties to be doing too much. They sprout, but don't start growing strongly until the weather is consistently warm.
Chris

Chris, what part of Canada is in zone 8? Just wondered.

I haven't even seeded my zinnias or cosmos yet...I've learned to wait until its consistently warm...as stated above!

Wendy

My guilty conscience knew I had to be planting more dahlias instead of sitting in front of the computer, so I read "dahlias" instead of "daylilies." Oops! Blueheron, we live in the beatiful Fraser Valley, just about on the edge of the Greater Vancouver area. The city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is even a bit warmer than we are. The ocean and the usual cloud cover in winter keep us relatively warm, but our springs are long and cool.
Chris

Daylilies don't make a good cut flower, they don't last, and they probably won't bloom for you if you plant them now-- but they'll bloom next year! they're worth growing even if they don't make good cuts (they have no vase life). Glads, you can probably plant now and get flowers in late summer, no problem.

Kristen (who just finished glad-planting a week ago)

So what did DapperDahlia actually plant -- daylilies or dahlias? Inquiring minds want to know.........

I can't speak for Dapper, but I'd wager the dahlias are in, and he/she was wondering about daylilies and glads at this point.

I have used daylilies as a cut; with a big stems full of buds and I warned the recipient that only one will open at a time, then needs to be plucked off. It keeps them involved with the flowers and I've never had a complaint ( to my face.) I had hundreds of one type of yellow dahlia with bronze tips, the only thing I had open to go with it were deep rust daylilies and it turned out to be a striking combination.

Hehe yeah i (which is a she) planted dahlias weeks and weeks ago. I need to till and hoe later this afternoon red root is killing me. I ordered glads and i think that the company (Michigan Bulb) wont send them until fall or spring so thats a bust for this year but oh well. Thanks guys!

What is coming is 50 gladiolas....aka glads, and i was wondering if i can still plant them and if i dont plant them is they will last till next year?