Dahlias. Designing with and longevity

That voluptuous burst of Summer flowers is all but gone.  In their stead, grasses are flowering, the coasts are swathed in cloaks of heather and dahlias are giving our gardens a last hurrah of vibrant colour.

Here are three intriguing facts that shed light on the beauty and significance of dahlias.

Discovered: Dahlias were first discovered by European explorers in the 16th century in the highlands of Mexico. Their journey from the Americas to gardens worldwide is a tale of exploration and botanical fascination.

Blossoming Diversity: With over 42 species and thousands of cultivars, dahlias showcase an astonishing array of shapes, sizes, and colours. From compact pompons to dramatic dinnerplate blooms, there's a dahlia to make everyone smile.

Language of Flowers: In the Victorian era, flowers were often used to convey emotions. Dahlias were associated with sentiments like gratitude, elegance, and dignity – a language that continues to speak through these blooms today.

If you’re interested in maxing their shelf life and beauty here are five fast facts to enable you to enjoy them for longer.

Clean vase. If you can’t drink out of the vase then neither can your dahlias!

Trim the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp and clean scissors. (We have great carbon bladed ones in store) This creates a larger surface area for water absorption.

If you’re cutting from your garden, remove any foliage that would be submerged in water. This prevents bacteria buildup and decay.

Like us, flowers bloom best with lots of fresh water so every two days, replace the water. A bore perhaps, but your flowers will thankyou and recut the stems at an angle before placing them back in the vase.

KEEP YOUR FLOWERS AWAY FROM WINDOWS, direct heat sources and direct sunlight. They can wilt dramatically in just a few hours being placed in the wrong position.

DRYING

This is a wonderful way to extend their lifespan and enjoy them the colder monthsIf you’re into drying, the darker the dahlia the better they seem to dry. Joe Friere, our local grower, has fabulous “chocolate” ones which dry a treat. Email us if you’d like to order some to try £9.50 a bunch. We do need a few days notice to get them from the farm for you

Here is a little HOW TO:

Choose the right time: This is key. Too early and they will droop, too late and the rain will destroy them. So select blooms that are fully matured but haven't started to wilt. Cut when the flowers are at their peak and on a dry evening. ( In the morning they may still be damp with dew)

Cut the stems: Using sharp snips,  cut the stems to your desired length, at a 45-degree angle to allow for better water absorption during drying.

Remove excess foliage: You need to prevent mould and decay during the drying process so strip off the leaf.

Group them in 3/5s: so they have lots of air circulations and hang upside down in a DRY well ventilated space

PATIENCE is the key: The process can take a few weeks and you will always lose a few but they will gradually dry and change in colour, often taking on muted, antique hues. Test them for dryness.They should feel papery and have retained their shape. If they are still pliable or have any moisture, allow them to dry for a bit longer.

HAPPY DAHLIA TIME and don’t forget if you’d like to join us for our Designing with Dahlia workshop head over to THIS LINK!

X CLARA