Haley Jane was a blockbuster: robust plant with tons of blooms. It ended up with 3 stakes by the time the season ended. Well over 6 ft tall, more like 8ft at the tip of the tallest blooms.

Hillcrest Royal was a freebie tuber from a supplier. They couldn't have given me a better gift: lots of flowers in a rich fuschia in my garden, although I think it is classified as purple. Great stems added to its appeal.

Camano Denali was even brighter this year: a unique pink, (mauve?) and yellow. Not a huge number of blooms, but each one was welcomed.

Camano Denali from the side, with a little napping visitor!

"Most consistent bloom in my 06 garden" award goes to Cameo. I had two plants and each of them had flush after flush of unblemished pale yellow waterlilies through October. I am putting them back in the exact spots next year, they did so well!

Closer up Cameo

Cornel: look at those little tubes of red petals! And you know that the pointy center ones are all genetically programmed to go on and open up the same way. I just marvel at these flowers- all forms, all sizes.

I wish this photo were clearer. Fascination II a collarette in various hues of pink. Looks like an artist took a brush to paint each petal.

"Most changed color through the season" award goes to Fidalgo Bounce- early on a blended pinky yellow

And by late October a very pale version of peach. Really need to clean the roof and external gutters!

Fidalgo Butterball was a very bright yellow miniball that had tons of flowers all season. Cheerful!

Fidalgo Julie took a long time to bloom but I love the distinct colors of front and reverse petals.

One of my favorite reds: Hank's Big Red- a lush, lovely red ID with great stems. It was shaded much of the time by neighboring tall Haley Jane, but still performed well.

Another one with interesting colors: Hy Lustre Orange in front, reddish on the reverse. Taller plant over 5 ft.

A new orchid: Juul's Allstar. Mine was a pretty fuschia/purple with bright yellow center. Many flowers and a big attractant to bees all year.

Last one for tonight:
Kari Dancer. Smaller pink and yellow cactus on a 3 ft plant. It is so dainty and cheerful. A little late to bloom, but not the last by far.

Maureen

Great dahlias, yummy colors.

A new dahlia convert is a good thing, Jannabean. I only wish I'd have discovered these plants about 20 years ago. They are simply the best! So many colors, shapes, and sizes and long bloom time. You do have to be patient and take a little care with them, but basically they are the best bang for the effort in my garden, by far.

Calpat, sometimes I use the macro feature, most times not. I can't see well enough to make a difference: the camera does the work. Sad but true. good thing there are cameras that can see better than me!

Cameragirl, (I bet YOU can see!) These are just a teeny percentile, a smidgeon, of what dahlias are out there waiting to be grown. I cannot tell you the best supplier, there are too many good ones around. I would read around the web; the "Garden Watchdog" is a great resource for gardeners as a guideline for others' experience with various vendors, but certainly not complete.

There was word put out 'to watch out for dahlia sellers in the Northwest (USA)' this year because of the recent flooding of November which took out plenty of acres of dahlia tubers. I just want to emphasize that this affected a FEW growers located in very close proximity to river flood plains, not all NW Growers by any means.

If in doubt, ask before you order. Any honest grower will be happy to tell a prospective customer the truth.