11 Comments
User's avatar
Dana's avatar

Just gorgeous Anne. I hope you pick a few new varieties to grow next year. xoxo

Expand full comment
Lea's avatar

I love the photos of your garden. Dahlias remind me of my mom, she has so many in her garden.

Expand full comment
Anne Butera's avatar

Thank you, Lea! I love how plants and flowers give us connections not only to the natural world, but to other people and memories. There's a beautiful web of interconnectedness.

Expand full comment
Karen Houlding's avatar

Your dahlias are gorgeous! I haven't tried growing them, maybe I'll try next summer. Our local botanical garden (that I'm a volunteer at and now a new board member!) has a gorgeous row of a variety of dahlias in the summer. I took a shine to one called Ketchup & Mustard, a large yellow flower head with red accent streaks. I painted it into my sketchbook to remember it. The variety of dahlia size, color, shape and pattern is so fascinating and you capture them so beautifully in your art, Anne! Thanks for sharing the last bits of this year's garden!

Expand full comment
Anne Butera's avatar

Oh, Karen, you MUST grow some dahlias next year! :) I've found that even the cheaper tubers you can buy at big box stores in the spring generally grow well and are beautiful. If I hadn't run out of room in my garden this year I definitely would have bought some!

Ketchup and Mustard makes me laugh! I'm glad you sketched the dahlia. Did you know there's a Ketchup and Mustard rose, too? I'm always intrigued by the names of plants.

Oh, and congratulations for becoming a member of your local botanical garden's board. How wonderful!

Expand full comment
Karen Houlding's avatar

I will be sure to try a dahlia, and how fun about the ketchup & mustard rose! I'm excited about getting involved at our botanical garden!

Expand full comment
Ginny T's avatar

Oh, Anne, what a delicious post this is!!! I definitely think you should try out at least 1 new variety for next year. Your tubers are simply ginormous! Lots to share (maybe you should have a raffle next spring, or a giveaway!)

Proven Winners has some new shorter dahlias out next year, which Laura/Garden Answer trialled this year. I might try one. With the exception of one unknown apricot variety that I adore, I'm not digging mine this year. Going to see what survives my zone 7a winter.

I think all your dahlia paintings are some of your best work. And, yes, I DO have my 2025 calendar, it's lovely. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Anne Butera's avatar

Thank you, Ginny! So glad you enjoyed it!

I do hope I have plenty of dahlias to share in the spring. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, though. I'm curious to know if your dahlias survive.

And thank you for purchasing my calendar! I hope it brings you joy throughout the new year!

Expand full comment
Purple Ladybird Art's avatar

Beautiful colours and flower arrangements - I love dahlias and my favourite is Cafe au Lait. You are very dedicated lifting them and storing them every year. Due to our climate I don’t bother but I do bring in the potted dahlias. We had our first snow here 2 days ago which is rare! The last of the bees and birds were shocked which really saddens me. Lovely post Anne. 🙏

Expand full comment
Anne Butera's avatar

Cafe au Lait is on my someday-to-grow list! So many beauties to choose from!

I am a little envious of people who don't have to dig their dahlias, but there's also something joyful about the process. Some years it doesn't happen, though. (I am not a very good bad-weather gardener!). And some years my tubers don't make it through the winter.

I am surprised you had snow, but I bet it was a lovely and beautiful surprise!

Expand full comment
Kathleen's avatar

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Expand full comment