Tucked away in a bed behind my large vegetable greenhouse, this year's dahlias continue to bloom with gorgeous colors and forms.
Dahlia is a genus of tuberous plants that are members of the Asteraceae family and are related to the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. They grow from small tubers planted in the spring. And from late June through October, these flowers give off a stunning show with blooms ranging from small to giant dinner-plate size. Many of my dahlias are from Swan Island Dahlias in Oregon, from Floret in the State of Washington, and from The Flower Hat, a flower farm based in Bozeman, Montana.
Enjoy these photos.
I’ve been growing this all-dahlia garden for several years. When we first planted it, it was in a bed outside my main greenhouse. We moved it to this location behind my vegetable greenhouse a couple of years ago. This location gets great sun. Dahlias grow more blooms when they get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. And because this spot is behind this large structure, it is also protected from strong winds.
Big dahlias need a support structure to keep the heavy blooms from bending to the ground. The uprights at the row ends of this garden are antique granite posts from China – originally used as grape supports in a valley that was going to be dammed and flooded to create a reservoir. We secure twine from one end to the other with bamboo stakes every few feet in between.
There are about 42 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Pompon dahlias are almost round in shape with tightly quilled petals. This one is a pretty pink and white color.
The genus Dahlia is native to the high plains of Mexico. Some species can be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica as well as parts of South America where it was introduced.
Dahlias were first recorded by Westerners in 1615, and were then called by their original Mexican name, acoctli. The first garden dahlias reached the United States in the early 1830s. Today, dahlias are grown all over the world.
On this day, my gardener, Brian O’Kelly, gives the dahlias a little extra TLC – checking the supportive stakes and making sure the plants are well-watered. Dahlias grow best when they receive a consistent supply of water – we water these deeply once or twice per week during the season.
This is a single dahlia with just one row of petals surrounding the center disc. They range from a charming single, daisy-like flower to the popular double varieties which can range from the two-inch-pompons to 12-inch dinner plate size.
Flowers come one head per stem. They are divided into a number of groups including single, anemone, collarette, waterlily, decorative, fall, pompon, cactus, semi-cactus, and miscellaneous.
Dahlias can also vary in height, leaf color, form, and shape. This is because dahlias are octoploids, meaning they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two.
Dahlias are believed to have been named in honor of Andreas Dahl, a Swedish scientist, environmentalist, and student of well-known Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus.
This is a cactus dahlia with its beautiful tightly rolled ‘spiny’ petals.
And here is another cactus dahlia in bright salmon pink and yellow.
Dahlias produce an abundance of wonderful flowers throughout early summer and again in late summer until the first frost.
Here’s Moises staking some of the shorter dahlias and removing pesky weeds surrounding the plants – maintenance in the garden is so important. We also use organic mulch, made here at the farm, around the plants to prevent weeds and conserve moisture.
From the side, many dahlia petals grow all around the flower head giving it a very full appearance.
This single dahlia is bright red with a bold yellow center.
Dahlias come in white, shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, shades of purple, and various combinations of these colors – every color but true blue.
The majority of dahlia species do not produce scented flowers or cultivars, but they are brightly colored to attract pollinating insects.
This large bloom is a beautiful creamy white with a hint of yellow in the center. Experiment with the blooms – dahlias look great arranged in different colors or as a bunch of the same variety. Harvesting flowers is good for the plants and encourages them to continue flowering month after month.
When cutting, to prevent wilting, cut only in the early morning or late afternoon. And only cut them after they open to mature size – dahlias will not open after cutting.
And look, there are still more buds just waiting to open.
I hope you have dahlias growing in your garden. Let me know in the comments section. With good sunlight, proper watering, and a little bit of luck, we’ll have gorgeous, colorful dahlias growing all the way until Halloween.
My Silkie chickens, a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy, satin-like plumage, are growing fast and loving their new coop and outdoor enclosure here at the farm.
Earlier this summer, I incubated and hatched a large group of Silkie eggs from Stonebrook Silkies in Massachusetts. They are first kept in my stable feed room where they can be closely monitored. Once the chicks are big enough, they're moved to another coop nearby where they can have access to the outdoors. And then finally, they're transferred to a large pen where they can run, forage and graze. This breed is very calm and friendly - everyone at the farm loves to stop by and visit with them.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
In June, I purchased more than two dozen eggs from Stonebrook Silkies in Massachusetts. Chicken can ship through the US postal service under certain guidelines. All our eggs arrived safely and quickly.
Once they arrive, Helen “candles” each one, meaning she holds each egg against a light, turning it slowly, to observe the embryo inside. Fertilized, growing embryos can be identified by a visible network of blood vessels within the first week after being laid.
The eggs are placed into holders that fit in the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.
My incubating and hatching equipment is from GQF Manufacturing, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia – a company that specializes in game bird and poultry supplies. There are several crucial conditions needed for proper embryo development in all birds. These factors include: proper temperature, controlled humidity, and sufficient air circulation.
By the end of July, the Silkie chicks are hatched, alert, and healthy.
Chicks remain in my stable for a few weeks until they are big enough to go to the “nursery” coop.
This “nursery” coop just outside the stable is larger and has access to an outdoor space. It was made from a coop I acquired, refurbished, and repurposed from a commercial shoot.
And now the birds are in a more permanent yard where they join some older Silkies. Silkies were originally bred in China. They are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel silk- or satin-like to the touch. Underneath all that feathering, they also have black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four on each foot.
There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white.
Silkies also have black eyes, dark beaks, combs, and wattles.
This breed grows a bit slower than other chicken breeds. The combs of Silkie chickens are very dark maroon red. Both male and female chickens have combs, but they’re larger in males. Baby chicks hatch with tiny combs that get larger as they mature.
Silkies are also adaptable and playful. And, they are naturally more calm than most other breeds.
Here at the farm, there is always plenty of food and lots of fresh water for all my birds – everything is replenished or changed whenever needed.
They also have different types of feeders, where they can easily access their food indoors and out. As with all my birds, they also feast on fresh greens and other scraps from my kitchen.
Because the Silkie’s feathers lack functioning barbicels, similar to down on other birds, they are unable to fly, but they can stretch and flap their wings.
This also means that the feathering is not waterproofed, so they should never get too wet. If they do, they must be dried or they will likely get ill.
Here are some of the youngest Silkies at the waterer. Whenever we move babies, we always re-introduce them to the food and water container, so they always know where to find them.
Here, one can see this Silkie’s grayish-blue beak, which is short and quite broad at the base.
Some characteristics between males and females – female Silkies will keep their bodies more horizontally positioned, while males will stand more upright, keeping their chests forward and their necks elongated. Males will also hold their tail more upright, where females will keep it horizontal or slightly dipped toward the ground.
Their bodies should be broad and stout, the back is short, and the breast is full.
The head on a Silkie should be crested, looking somewhat like a pompom. The head on this white Silkie is a good example.
Silkies weigh anywhere from 1.1 pounds for a female Bantam variety, up to four pounds for a large breed Silkie.
In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls to communicate with each other, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.” While these birds are a bit quieter than others, they still peep and communicate within their flock.
It is believed that the Silkie was first mentioned by Marco Polo around 1290 to 1300 during his journey across Europe and the Far East. Although he did not see the bird, it was reported to him by a fellow traveler, and he wrote about it in his journal, describing it as “a furry chicken.” The Silkie chicken made its way westward either by the Silk Road or by the maritime routes, most likely both. Experts accepted the Silkie into the British Poultry Standard of Perfection in 1865 and the American Poultry Association standard in 1874. These beautiful birds make a great addition to my animal family here at Cantitoe Corners.
At my farm, I dedicated the first floor of my guest house as a studio space where I can do various remote appearances, shoots, Zoom meetings, podcasts, and other work related projects. In the living room, we decorated the mantel and fireplace with many of my new Halloween and Harvest pieces from QVC.
To match the owls, here is my 24-inch Lit Gilded Fall Pumpkin Wreath. It has black and champagne-colored fall foliage dusted in glitter, mini metallic rubbed pumpkins, and 30 LED lights.
Both the wreath and this five-foot Lit Gilded Fall Pumpkin Garland can be used indoors or out and has a six-hour on/18 hour off built-in timer.
Many viewers love my new Crystal Wire Web Lights. Place it in an entryway or by the fireplace to add a special and spooky effect. And, do you know the difference between a spider web and a cobweb? A “spider web” refers to a web that is still in use by a spider. A “cobweb” refers to one that has been abandoned.
For the web, you’ll definitely want my Wire Spider with LED Lights. This creepy crawler will shine bright wherever you put it. It measures 12-inches by 11-inches by 4.5 inches.
My Ceramic Pumpkin with Glitter Owl look so festive on these pedestals. The come in creamy white or bright orange with the silhouette of an owl sitting on a branch with its wings outstretched.
And these are fun – my 22.5″ Indoor/Outdoor Halloween Candles. These elegant flameless candles with candelabras flicker safely and can be used indoors or out.
This gold toned metal wheat swag is rust and weather resistant, so hang it up above the mantel or outside on the porch.
I love this gold pumpkin and turkey. The Resin Gilded Pumpkin comes in a set of two. The large measures 10-inches by six-inches and the small is 7.5 inches by five-inches. The Resin Gilded Turkey Figure stands a foot tall. Both are great to use as holiday table centerpieces or to decorate a shelf for the entire autumn season.
And this is my elegant seven-inch Metal Wheat Votive Holder. It fits best with a flameless four by three inch pillar candle.
For the window, or a door, don’t forget a seasonal wreath such as my Metal Moon Star and Bats Wreath. This wreath is sturdy and weighs about 1.5 pounds.
Everyone likes festive string lights. These ghost string lights illuminate with a ghoulish glow. Hang them from a mantel or arrange them on your tabletop for a spooky centerpiece.
Here’s a closer look – each one is illuminated with an LED light – 10 ghosts in all.
On the window, we hung this fun 18″ Glittered Metal Bat Wreath – just right to welcome all your guests on All Hallows’ Eve.
Don’t you love these Melted Top Wax Dripped Pillar Candles? Each lifelike candle looks just as if the wax is dripping all down the sides. These come in white, gray and black.
Place one of my flameless candles under this 20″ Metal Wire Pumpkin. This comes stacked in two or three pumpkins high in this black or orange.
You can see all these offerings on QVC.com. And, be sure to check out all my other Collections – you’ll want to order every piece! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram to see when I’ll be on QVC next!
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