Meet My Flower Friend, Chrystal
LOCATION
Fanny Bay, BC
GROWING ZONE
Technically 7b, but with our micro-climate it feels more like an 8a.
YEARS GROWING
Forever growing.
Didn’t start growing Dahlias until maybe 2017?
DAHLIA COUNT
Unknown.
I don’t dare count!
I just keep building beds.
MY TOP 5 DAHLIAS
DAHLIAS I’M HUNTING
Rock Run Ashley
Castle Drive
Crichton Honey
Ferncliff Dolly
Caroline Wagemans
There’s honorable mentions to:
Camano Zoe
Creamy
Valley Tawny
Rye Croft Jan
Silver Years.
I don’t necessarily have to find certain ones but there have been a few that have evaded me.
One of them being Sunny Side Up.
I saw this in a garden last summer. I don’t know if they brought it over from Europe or what, but this elderly couple showed it to me. It was incredible. Like Platinum Blonde, two times the size, with the most incredible fluffy center. I would love to find it.
How did dahlias find their way into your garden and heart?
In 2017, my babies became toddlers and I had more time to garden.
My neighbor, behind me, was gifting me all kinds of plants and one of those gifts included a 10lb tuber clump. It was literally 10lbs! I had no idea but planted it. After that I was hooked!
I went from 1 clump, to the next year having a full bed and I’ve just kept going.
What are some of your future garden goals?
I will continue to expand and grow. Both growing my garden and myself! It’s been a real journey.
Gardener’s are some of the most generous people, with both their plants, and their knowledge. I would like to inspire others with my garden and spread joy!
Having my garden continue to grow into a beautiful habitat for local creatures, big & small. Birds, insects and amphibians, all having their place.
What has been the hardest challenge growing dahlias?
I think the learning curve of storage. I have a good system in place now and haven’t experienced any losses in the past few years. I use an old fridge and it’s in the basement where I can check it frequently.
There’s nothing more disappointing then pulling your tubers and they are no more!
What has been the most rewarding part of growing dahlias?
Spreading joy with flowers. Dahlias are the gift that keeps giving.
You plant this little tuber and it takes on such beauty all season. The season here is long and we get that beauty well into October/November. Then we split the tubers and have more!
Do you have any tips to share that you’ve learned along the way?
Take the time to label properly. It’s really time consuming but your future self will thank you. I label and then confirm varieties throughout the season. It really helps!
I label my tubers with sharpies or garden markers, as well. A lot of the time it’s still visible after the tubers are dug up.
Flower friends are the best. Sharing tubers and seeds with friends is such a gift.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for inviting me to participate. I look so forward to meeting other flower friends.
Chrystal
To learn more about Chrystal’s flower journey, you can visit : Website | Facebook | Instagram
