Sounds like you have a great handle on dahlia growing, Dick.

The 'biggies' tend to not start blooming until September, and take a long while to develop... look for buds, not blooms.

We have had similar weather in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Quite frankly, I've heard lots of the same complaints at an Ohio dahlia show this last weekend. The tables were very sparse, and the organizers were begging growers to bring in 'fillers' for the table so it didn't look so empty. My beds have been a bit slow to kick off this year, even with starting early inside. I have about half of my 4-5 hundred plants blooming, when normally 75% should be showing color.

Hang in there. I bet mid-Sept will blow your socks off!

cicivacation- You have 4-5 hundred dahlias? OMG. Pics please. How long does it take you to bring in your dahlias for the winter?

I should say then I just got lucky with dahlia blooms this year! I live in northern Virginia too and have planted them where they get full sun till 1-2 pm. Both my tuber grown and seed grown dahlias have been blooming very nicely. They have fighting with zinnias in fact :). Did you get any damage because of the Japanese beetles? I did see them on my dahlias. I have been watering them every other day.

Your dahlia fence is incredible. Stunning! I am in awe of your dahlias and the work that goes into growing them.

How frequently do you divide your dahlias? How many year(s) in between dividing? Thanks.

I divide every year, without fail. One tuber, one plant yields the best results for me. The exception to that rule is pot roots...small twisted tubers that are best left in a clump.

The fence row shown above is 80 feet long, and holds about 60-70 varieties in two rows within a four foot bed. I have three other 50-foot double-rows, and a couple other smaller beds. I think I'm finally done adding beds, as time is an expensive commodity. Three hundred varieties is my limit, too.

Wow Cici that's just amazing! It is so beautiful. I can just imagine how much work you must be putting in to take care of that many plants. I don't even have 1% of what you have but I started with a mix of dahlias,zinnias,balsam and celosia in my front yard. I have different varieties of jasmines though :)

What a great colorful pathway! I'd probably end up walking around the steps, using the grass, to avoid bothering any bees. I bet it is thrumming with activity.

Thank you Cici! It is definitely a hive of activity :) Bees are everyday visitors. I have seen monarchs, swallowtail and fritillary butterflies occasionally and sometimes one or two hummingbirds. American Goldfinch are visiting now for the zinnia seeds. I will really miss the activity once the frost will hit us.

I wish you would identify some of the cultivars in the pictures of the fence row.

Is there a particular one you like? I can try to recall the name. Some are difficult, as there are tons of tall yellow or red large cactus varieties, and I've tried a caboodle of them. You are welcome to go on my Facebook page (open to public), as I have well over five hundred varieties labeled that I've grown in the past or presently. Search for CiCi Vacation.

Beware, though, as all dahlia are not created equal, and I've tried lots of very difficult-to-overwinter or fickle-growing show varieties that I would not recommend to the casual grower. I try not to share those on this forum for that reason.

I'd like to know the name of the dark red dahlia in the middle of the fence. I'll check out your Facebook page, too. Gorgeous.

hmm... That looks like Kenora Wildfire, a great old variety that tends to be rather short (3.5ft), with wonderful show form. It's classified as an 'A,' that is supposed to be 8-10 inches when groomed properly. My hedge-like growth only allows about 6-7 inches on the blooms, which does not deter me from growing it at all. Actually, the top red cactus on the mailbox might just be K. Wildfire, now that I think of it. Hard to tell, as I think I grew around four large dark red cactus that year.

The tall deep red cactus on the second image is AC Joe, which I've had problems with overwintering the last two years. Might just be me... seems like all growers have a favorite that they just can't keep going regardless the ministrations.

Cici just checked out your fb page and I am in complete awe!!! Beautiful and so gorgeous dahlias. Wish I was near you to just pop over and see those amazing plants and learn so much from you.

I'm glad you enjoyed a virtual tour, Jasmine. I hope to get a chance to take images of the rest of this season's varieties before first frost... may or may not happen.

I feel the same way when I wander through gardens of master growers. So much more dedication then I have. Here's a shot I took at the garden that produces the Windhaven varieties... (sorry for the lousy images) Each one of those blooms could be cut with two sets of leaves, and are optimized for the maximum petal count. He waters a bit every day, with a liquid fertilizer siphoned into the water supply. The umbrellas provide protection from sun fading and water spots on the blooms. This gentleman knows his stuff, and is one of the masters I am constantly pestering with questions.

Oh My Goodness! That is incredible. Love all the pictures and insight from everyone! You are my inspiration CiCi:-)