Flower for the Day First Dahlia 8-4-25

I love my dahlias. Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous, perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. They are members of the Aster family. Its relatives include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. There are 49 species of dahlia, with flowers in almost every hue (except blue).

Dahlias were known only to the Aztecs and other southern North American peoples until the Spanish conquest, after which the plants were brought to Europe.The tubers of some varieties are of medicinal and dietary value to humans because, in common with species of Inula and many other flowering plants, they use inulin, a polymer of the fruit sugar fructose, instead of starch as a storage polysaccharide. 

This year we have purchased some new dahlias from Oregon. Here is our first dahlia.

Because of the voracious appetite of our deer I am trying some deer netting.

We shall see what happens. Looks pretty awful doesn't it?

      Dahlia Haiku

   Florid blossom

Covered with netting

  Whose Idea?