Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias
A Guide to Growing and Arranging Magnificent Blooms
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- $18.99
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
A stunning guide to growing, harvesting, and arranging gorgeous dahlia blooms from celebrated farmer-florist and New York Times bestselling author Erin Benzakein, founder of Floret Flower Farm.
World-renowned flower farmer and floral designer Erin Benzakein reveals all the secrets to growing, cultivating, and arranging gorgeous dahlias. These coveted floral treasures come in a dazzling range of colors, sizes, and forms, with enough variety for virtually every garden space and personal preference, making them one of the most beloved flowers for arrangements.
In these pages, readers will discover:
• Expert advice for planting, harvesting, and arranging garden-fresh dahlias
• A simple-to-follow overview of the dahlia classification system
• An A–Z guide with photos and descriptions of more than 350 varieties
• Step-by-step how-to's for designing show-stopping dahlia bouquets that elevate any occasion
Expert Author: Erin Benzakein's gorgeous flowers are celebrated throughout the world. Her book Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers was a New York Times bestseller and her first book, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, won the American Horticultural Society Book Award.
Filled with Wisdom: Overflowing with hundreds of lush photographs and invaluable advice, DISCOVERING DAHLIAS is an essential resource for gardeners and a must-have for anyone who loves flowers, including flower lovers, avid and novice gardeners, floral designers, florists, small farmers, stylists, and designers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Benzakein (Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers), founder of the Floret flower seed company and farm, delivers a comprehensive and enthusiastic guide to planting, growing, harvesting, and displaying dahlias. She begins with a detailed overview of the flowers and provides a size-based classification system that ranges from the "cutest variety" of pompons at two inches in diameter, to the giants measuring more than 10 inches. She also breaks down the plants' varying shapes (peony, ball, and orchette) and colors (pink, orange, white, and red). Among growing and care advice, Benzakein offers tips on sunlight (direct sun six hours a day is a must), space (three feet on either side), and soil maintenance (soil tests are well worth the trouble, she advises). As for harvesting, the flowers should be cut when they're almost fully open, and gardeners interested in selling their plants should cut long stems, which are better for arranging. Experienced gardeners will appreciate Benzakein's rundown of such advanced techniques as propagation and hybridizing. Anyone in search of a guide to dahlias need look no further.
