If you buy your dahlias at Costco for example they are only about $1 each - they usually come in stock in early March so you can start them indoors. Treat them as annuals and let them rot in place. You don't need that many to make a nice impact. I have decided that nothing beats dahlias for the end of the garden year. The white flower I posted above is also a non-hardy bulb but you've never smelled anything so fragrant - Acidanthera. I can hardly believe it but I grew Dianthus barbatus from seed last year and they started blooming the 2nd week in May and are still blooming. Its July 25 and my first Lilium Black Beauty opened today along with the first Casa Blanca. The species lilies and martagon are weeks away. Other perennials for August Lobelia Cardinalis - red Platycodon Rudbeckia and Heliopsis Aster Honeysong Pink and Alma Potschke - you won't convince me this isn't enough color - they are gigantic and totally eye catching. Boltonia Hardy mums Clara Curtis and Mary Stoker - daisy type Aconitum, Chelone Hot Lips and Tricyrtis Dahlias If you cut your Becky and Alaska Shasta daisies back hard and re-fertilize when they are finished in July, you may get a nice re-flush of blooms late - ditto for Monarda, Phlox Anemone Robustissima - pale pink Astilbe pumila Chinensis Heuchera Firefly and some of the other plain green foliage with red flowers Shrub Hypericum Albury Purple - still blooming today and totally covered in red berries with purple tipped foliage Salvias and Penstemons Lavender - with protection or replace Variegated sages and coleus - foliage color and purple flowers September Hybrid mums till hard frost Dahlias - till hard frost Japanese Anemone Pamina, Honorine Jobert, Andrea Atkinson Impatiens and bedding begonias till the bitter end Hosta Honeybells and Plantaginea - the 2 fragrant whites

Wanting this Sooooooooo bad! Anyone? I have many bulbs to share or alot is now ready from my trade list. I have species tulips,camassia,hardy glads,etc. please shoot me an email! Thank you! I've now returned from vacation and will be sending and contacting my cherry tree and iris traders. Sandy

Can colchicums grow and bloom successfully in zone 9? If not do I refigerate them like tulips? How many hours? Do they need to be cold when they bloom like tulips? Would it be easier to force them in fall and let them grow in winter when the temps are usually in the 20's to 30's at night? I have the same questions about old world mandrakes (Mandragora officinarum) because they look like primrose, but there is so little info about them its shocking. I did get enough info to tell me they are picky though... bummer. -Jason

I actually don't mind the leaves, I find daffodil leaves FAR more offensive than colchicums. But yes, it's best (imo) to buy from a specialist and remember that they do multiply at a pretty good pace, so you don't have to buy a hundred if you want a hundred, three years from now, your fifteen will probably be a hundred, if you treat them well. Some varieties multiply faster than others, of course. I'd recommend (heartily) Odyssey Bulb (which just opened for this years orders...I think last week)...they have the largest compliment of colchs that I'm aware of. Don't wait too long, they'll be gone (I speak from experience)..and it's best to plant them before tulips and crocus are available locally. Then you get blooms this year for sure.