In Asheville we were attacked with a severe drought after I had blooms in July and August. I was semi sucessful at keeping the mites away. I then had a family emergency that took me to VA for 3 weeks and as hard as my dear husband tried, the mites and drought won.
Now we have had roughly 16" inches of rain in 10 days. I have a couple of blooms but nothing like it was. I am calling the season. It was my first. Although 3 of my babies were miserable being in one container and another suffered a break in a mid-summer storm, I got at least one bloom off each plant. I feel successful! Now to decided if I will store or just buy new next year.

I'm trying to decide the same thing. It was my first season. Some of the smaller dahlias are doing ok, but the 5 ft dahlia has taken a beating.