How I Created a Book About Dahlias
You can find my book "Dahlias: Notes from a Gardener" on Amazon, and here's how it happened.
Dahlias
Several years ago, after seeing a lot of dahlia posts on Instagram, I decided to try growing some for myself. I think Floret Flowers might have been one of my big inspirations. I randomly purchased some pink lemonade colored dahlias on Etsy to see how they would do in my garden. They did so well, they practically took over and became the centerpiece of the garden. They were super healthy and produced a huge amount of blooms nonstop for months. I was hooked and wanted more.
I kept growing more and more dahlias, learning from trial and error, then tackled a new "niche" every year. One year it was compact border dahlias, one year it was anemone and collarettes, then cactus, one year it was giant dinner plate dahlias, and it continued.
Of course, like many gardeners, I have a tendency to take way too many pictures and hate to delete them from my phone. After a couple years, I had quite a stash of dahlia photos as I kept trying new varieties, kept a few I liked, and tried an all new batch the next year.
At some point, I realized I was getting pretty good with these flowers in terms of success rates. I learned a LOT about them. And my garden was literally packed wall to wall with dahlias.
I had two friends who had written books in the past, and was regularly talking about self publishing with them. I got the idea of assembling a book about my personal experience with dahlias. After all, my college degree was a BA in Journalism and I had been a graphic designer my entire adult life. So I was able to write, photograph and design the book myself. Much the way I built the Floral Annual.
I decided I could create this book on the side with my regular job, and all I had to do was spend an hour or so a day working on the book. I would write articles, then place them into the book along with photos. At first I was attempting to use only my own photography. But I realized at some point that even though I had a lot of dahlia photos, I might not have a wide enough range of specific named varieties to get dahlia enthusiasts that excited. So I purchased stock photography of several dozen extra varieties in order to illustrate the book and show everyone a wider range of flowers.
I probably worked on the book steadily over 1.5 years, then decided I had nothing left to say. That's how you know the book is done. Or at least for me. Right around the same time, Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias released her second book about dahlias. I didn't know at the time she was even working on another book. I can't remember now if she published a week or two before me, or the other way around. But we both produced our own books and listed them for sale on Amazon. I think we even ended up having several chapters that were quite similar based on her Amazon listing. I finally got around to buying the audio version of her book and am now working my way through it in July 2023. There is a ridiculous amount of similar content, as I suppose two people raising the same types of flowers will often come to the same conclusion. Though she is certainly way more of a dahlia master than me. My book has much of the same content, but from my own perspective.
There may be other books in my future, but for now, I'm focusing most of my energy on the Floral Annual and my own garden.
BOOK OVERVIEW
Learn how to grow dahlias with this approachable book as I discuss my own experiences with this timeless, beautiful and versatile flower.
Dahlias have been an intoxicatingly beautiful garden favorite for generations and have been experiencing something of a resurgence lately. They are extremely diverse in everything from bloom style to size, and a wide array of colors ranging from dreamy muted pastels to shocking vibrant jewel tones. This book covers many of the garden basics for beginners and home gardeners to grow your own, along with other unique topics such as heirlooms, dahlia seeds, cut flowers, breeding dahlias, bee-friendly varieties, storing tubers, buying tubers or cuttings, and discussions about various types of dahlias.
I am hopeful you find this gardening resource insightful and inspirational. It’s a combination of dahlia growing basics, along with my own personal gardening notes over the years. I’ve also curated a selection of various dahlia photos I think you’ll enjoy as a reference to new varieties and older classics that have stood the test of time.
202 pages of dahlia photos, ideas, inspiration, and information for the home gardener on growing these beautiful flowers.
Table of Contents
Dahlia Size Classification 08
About this Book 10
Where It All Began for Me 12
Variety & Diversity 14
Water & Soil 18
Café au Lait 22
Wedding Day Dahlias 28
Dinner Plate Dahlias 34
Trying New Varieties 36
Deadheading 38
Bee Friendly Dahlias 42
Open-Centered Dahlias 48
Buying Online 50
Fertilizing 58
Mulching 60
Micro-Climates 62
Labeling 64
A Path to Success 66
Support for Your Dahlias 70
Metal Garden Beds 76
Ordering Cuttings 78
Buying Dahlia Seeds 82
Germinating Methods 86
Growing Seedlings in Pots 90
Growing as Annuals 94
Storing Tubers over Winter 98
Tubers, A Closer Look 102
Leaving Tubers in Ground 108
Heirloom Dahlias 112
Cut Flower Tips 116
Floating Dahlias in Water 120
Growing in Pots 122
Pinching or Topping 126
Sterilizing Tools 128
Dahlia Viruses 130
Big Box Center Tubers 134
Heat Packs 138
Orchette Dahlias 140
Cactus Dahlias 142
Dahlia Classes 146
Anemone Dahlias 148
Sports & Volunteers 152
Crown & Leaf Gall 154
Tolerating the Heat 158
Breeding Dahlias 164
Hand Pollinating 172
Bloom Positioning 174
Pest & Nuisance Guide 178
Caution & Care 186
Resources, Retailers 194
Members Discussion