D is for Dahlia
Dahlias are great flowers that give such pleasure with their different colors and constant blooms. 
They are tubers that bloom in the summer and grow well in full sun. They are hardy in zones 7 – 11. If you live where it gets very cold, you have to dig them
up after the first killing frost and store them in a cool dry place.
The only complaint I have about them are that slugs love them as much as I do and they tend to feast on them regularly. Watch out for those little devils. 
If you pick your dahlias, pick them early in the day and place them in water that has sat overnight to get rid of the chlorine. This should make them last about 5 or 6 days so you can enjoy them indoors as well as out in your garden.
~ “February, when the days of winter seem endless and no amount of wistful recollecting can bring back
any air of summer.”
- Shirley Jackson
February 10th, 2010 at: 1:31 am
I love Dahlias! In Oregon they have a wonderful Dahlia festival and the flowers are just fantastic. You have some gorgeous shots and such glorious colors! Great for the D day!
Sylvia
February 10th, 2010 at: 6:35 am
I love dahlias too, the only trouble is that I often find earwigs hiding in them for some reason!
February 10th, 2010 at: 9:21 am
they are very pretty. I’ve never tried to grow any. What a treat to see them in the winter.
Mama Bear
February 10th, 2010 at: 9:52 am
I love your dahlias, they are gorgeous!
February 10th, 2010 at: 11:25 am
As you proved by your beautiful photos, dahlias are a very pretty flower. I love them and look forward to seeing them here in the spring.
February 10th, 2010 at: 12:15 pm
Such stunning photographs. I love flowers, and these Dahlias are amazing. Oh, they make me want the warmer weather to be here, sitting waiting for our snow storm to begin in New England.
Karen
February 10th, 2010 at: 1:04 pm
I love seeing your pretty Dahlia pictures! Yes, those slugs sure do love them, especially as they are first trying to sprout. Thanks for sharing such cheery pictures!
February 10th, 2010 at: 1:24 pm
Fabulous dahlias! I love the third shot, it shows such exquisite detail.
~ Tracy
February 10th, 2010 at: 2:21 pm
I’ve never grown dahlias, apart from a few summer bedders that get yanked out when the frosts come. I’ve certainly never seen one like the one in the second picture! Beautiful!
But I LOVE that black and white shot!
February 10th, 2010 at: 4:50 pm
I almost cried when I saw your post today with those beautiful flowers. Spring seems so far away. We are under several feet of snow and are expecting more this weekend. Thanks for the “cheer up”. Wonderful post.
February 10th, 2010 at: 6:26 pm
Your dahlia photos are gorgeous especially the first one. I haven’t had much luck growing them but these photos are making me want to give it another try in 2010!
February 10th, 2010 at: 10:09 pm
delightful dahlias
On behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you,-Ramblin’ with Roger
February 10th, 2010 at: 10:23 pm
I love your dahlias. I hope to try them this year. I’ve always been hesitant b/c I’m not quite sure how to dig and store, but this speaker I heard was like, hey, they’re cheap. Don’t want to dig them, just grow them for the season. Never really thought about it that way. My friend’s dahlias are wonderful for that great color in the late summer, and seem so easy and prolific.
February 11th, 2010 at: 2:43 am
hi, wendy at greenishthumb just told me that your post on dahlia is wonderful and i think she is right. The dahlias i posted on my blog are not as exotic as yours. mine are classis oldies type but yours are so exotic i would surely get a latest mixture next year. The first one is terrific. thanks for sharing these beauties.
February 11th, 2010 at: 10:57 am
Beautiful reminders of warmer days ahead. Great photos of these Delightful flowers! Thanks.
February 11th, 2010 at: 3:07 pm
Beautiful post. I’m a fan of dahlias and have some success growing them. I’m going to make a note of your good advice for cutting them. Thanks!
February 11th, 2010 at: 6:29 pm
Thank you for a breath of fresh air, too much snow out my window… Joan @Americana By Candlelight
February 11th, 2010 at: 7:34 pm
Oh, how I love dahlias! I miss my dahlias!
: )
Julie M.
February 12th, 2010 at: 7:10 pm
These are so tantalizing. Beautiful photos!