Growing dahlias

We visited a peaceful city park in nearby Palos Heights last weekend, Lake Katherine.

We were in awe of the many ways community groups and volunteers participate in maintaining this public space. From the Heritage Garden brimming with vegetables that is maintained by the University of Illinois Extension Services, to a children’s garden whose entrance is the reclaimed pillars of razed schoolhouse, Lake Katherine is truly a gift from the community to all of its citizens and beyond.

The entrance to the children’s garden.

 

The sign above caught my eye. The nearer I came to the display, the more I thought that I should try growing dahlias next year.

Do you grow dahlias? Do you have any tips or advice on their care?

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On a late summer’s morn

I’m just a tad busy today, off to several meetings, but, I thought you might enjoy a few dahlias we met on the Open Days walk we took this weekend for the Garden Conservancy.

The setting was a turn-of-the-century Victorian, a purple “painted lady”.  All around were the most amazing gardens, with dahlias six feet tall and as wide as dinner plates. I had been by this house in La Grange many times and never imagined what splendor resided just beyond the hedges.

This was such a peaceful, calm garden; the perfect antidote to the busyness of life and the sadness of the weekend as our country marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Flowers do this to me. They bring about a brightness and a fascination and a beauty to behold in this often turbulent world.

I’ll show you the ponds and lotus and even the house soon.

For now, just breathe deep and imagine the splendor of dahlias on a warm, sunny late summer’s morn.

Thank you for visiting the Cutoff yesterday and for your comments.

Penny

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