Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias: A Guide to Growing and Arranging Magnificent Blooms

by Erin Benzakein, Julie Chai (With), Jill Jorgensen (With), Chris Benzakein (Photographer)

Overview

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 first book, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, won the American Horticultural Society Book Award. The follow-up Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers is a New York Times bestseller.

LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS: Overflowing with hundreds of lush photographs and invaluable advice, Discovering Dahlias is an essential resource for gardeners and a must-have for flower lovers, avid and novice gardeners, floral designers, florists, small farmers, stylists, and designers.

BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK: A beautiful present for Mother's Day and a thoughtful gift for nature lovers, flower enthusiasts, and gardeners, this colorful, flower-forward package pairs perfectly with a bouquet of flowers, seeds, or a vase.

Perfect for:

• Fans of gardening, flower arranging, and decorating
• Birthday, Mother's Day, housewarming, or hostess gift
• Pair with other beautiful items from the Floret Farm collection, including Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden and Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers books, as well as Floret Farm's Garden Journal, 100 Postcards, Garden Dahlia Notes, and Sweet Pea Notes stationery and gifts
• Readers of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers, The Flower School, Square Foot Gardening, and Flower Color Guide

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452181752
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	03/09/2021
Series:	Floret Farms x Chronicle Books Series
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	69,762
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Chris Benzakein is the photographer behind the vibrant floral images for Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias and Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers. In addition to managing the day-to-day at Floret, Chris is constantly documenting the brilliant beauty of the farm's flowers through his camera lens. Chris lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, where he farms alongside his family—including his wife Erin and their two children.

Erin Benzakein is a world-renowned flower farmer known for her lush, vibrant floral designs. She is the author of Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers, a New York Times bestseller, and Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, winner of the American Horticultural Society Book Award. Her work has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset Magazine, the New York Times, Magnolia Journal, and Country Living. She lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, with her husband, Chris, and their two children.

Jill Jorgensen is the Creative Director at Floret, where she oversees all new product and content creation while helping bring fresh ideas to life. She has a rich background in writing, floral design, and event planning.

Julie Chai is a gardening writer and editor. She has been featured by Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, the San Francisco Chronicle, Gardenista, HGTV, and Sunset Magazine, where she was the senior garden editor.

Table of Contents

Falling for Dahlias 9

Understanding Dahlias 13

Sizes 16

Forms 18

Color 26

Growing and Care 29

How to Grow 32

Harvesting 42

Digging, Dividing, and Storing 49

Cold-Weather Care 52

Anatomy of a Tuber 58

Storage 66

Advanced Techniques 73

Propagation Methods 76

Hybridizing 89

Designing with Dahlias 105

All Hail the Queen 108

Fields of Gold 112

Peppermint Swirl 116

Autumn Harvest 120

Shooting Stars 124

Champagne Toast 128

Peach Sorbet 132

Variety Finder 137

White 142

Yellow 148

Blush/Champagne 156

Peach 164

Orange 170

Coral 178

Raspberry 184

Pink 192

Purple 198

Red 206

Maroon/Black 212

Resources 219

Acknowledgments 220

Index 222

Editorial Reviews

03/15/2021

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. Agent: Leslie Stoker, Stoker Literary. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

“It’s beautiful and has left me wanting to have a full-bloomed dahlia farm by the end of summer. Such an inspiring and beautiful read if you love flowers as much as I do.”– Tieghan Gerard, Half Baked Harvest

“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. 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.”– Publishers Weekly

“Her visual guides are true standouts. Multipage presentations of dahlias, arranged by size, form, and color, offer a framework to grapple with the wide range of blooms and will be useful to everyone—from those trying to select a few tubers, to those investing in acres of blossoms.”– Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/05/2021

Flower gardener Erin Benzakein returns with her third book, introducing readers to the bright, often flamboyant world of dahlias. In keeping with her now-established method and style, this highly illustrated work guides gardeners from planting to harvest. The instruction will aid readers just beginning to get their hands in the dirt, while pros will particularly value the sections on propagation methods, hybridizing, and harvesting seeds. A collection of floral designs will set readers dreaming of bouquets. While much of Benzakein's information can be found elsewhere, her visual guides are true standouts. Multipage presentations of dahlias, arranged by size, form, and color, offer a framework to grapple with the wide range of blooms and will be useful to everyone—from those trying to select a few tubers, to those investing in acres of blossoms. The book's final third is a lavish variety finder, listing 360 favorites culled from the 800-plus varieties in Floret Farm's fields. VERDICT Benzakein is a celebrity and best-selling author in the flower farming world, with an upcoming show on Magnolia TV. Her first book, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, is an essential title, and her large fan base will clamor for her newest as well.—Neal Wyatt, Library Journal

Library Journal