Dahlias: My earliest blooms ever, 1 by psudan

psudan wrote:
Mary, this is a photo of my Earl from two years ago, which didn't completely open until the first part of November. Last year it didn't open at all. This Spring, I sent it packing. I loved the form and size (over 10") but I couldn't see wasting a good sunny area on a flower with so short a blooming time. We have hit a temporary (I hope) lull in new blooms. One day last week we had a high of 100 degrees. Three days later the high was 61 with a low in the forties. I'm guessing the plants are as confused as we are. Last week I had a Wyn's Sinsation that was almost open. Friday morning two deer were bedded down beside the flower bed just before daylight. When I went out later I found they had walked between the plants and broken off a stem. Of course, it was the stem with the bloom. Grrrrrrr!!! I hate those critters and plan to take out my spite in three weeks when archery season opens.