Today, I ordered Dahlias for the 2023 garden. I had about given up on these old-fashioned beauties; not native or usual in our typically drought-tolerant Memorial Garden – but they had always been a special blooming gem in the early years of the garden. Between increasing temperatures and the blazing sun of our Sacramento Valley, the army of snails that quickly gobble up tasty first cotyledon leaves, and failed attempts to overwinter the tubers in our climate, I was sure it was time to throw in the trowel. Then I came across a series of articles about starting Dahlias in pots.
In our region, Dahlias ship in late February. By mid-March last year, I had 20 potted in my backyard where I could keep a close watch out for snails, moisture and drainage needs. By the first week of April, all had sprouted. I began succession planting in mid-April after they grew mature leaves less appealing to the voracious snails. Their new home is in the filtered shade of a tree where they receive full sun from sunrise until midday but are well protected from the blazing afternoon sky. I fed them monthly with 10/10/10 organic fertilizer and they get admitted special treatment with an extra drink when the weather turns too hot. The result: they bloomed all summer and into November except for ungodly heat waves in August and September.
A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.
May Sarton
This week, we celebrated the move of our last three Parvo litter puppies to foster. It is the next-to-last step on their journey to forever homes.
It’s the kind of victory that will sustain us for a long time. Hopefully, we will see them all again in a year for a happy reunion.
While we cared for them, we also welcomed a litter of five Golden pups from a Midwest puppy mill supposedly going out of business. Thankfully, they were all relatively healthy and able to be adopted within a couple of weeks. Another triumph.
Sadly, efforts to secure the breeding pair failed. A great loss. With the economy suffering, we are seeing puppy mills and backyard breeders shedding their puppies at rates not seen since the 2008 recession. Unfortunately, these operations are too easily restarted when the breeding dogs are held.
A few triumphs…set against a series of losses thanks to a network of fellow rescuers who persevere.
Stop the purchase of puppies from puppy mills, the retail stores they sell to, and disreputable breeders, and we can put them all out of business for good. It’s as simple as that. Spread the word.
Gardens For Goldens 
💯 adopt don’t shop is our motto! Thank you for loving on the ones who need help! We can only take on 1 dog at a time but homeward bound is always our place to pick out the perfect “olden Goldie”
Our first 7 year old HB alum was 15 when he passed and now the 7 year old lady we adopted is 13 and doing pretty good in her old age!
Good message and such happy volunteers and families. I’m glad you had success with your dahlias. I have a group of red ones that were gifted to me, and if they get plenty of sun, they bloom. I bought some beauties in a variety of colors and lost them all. Gardening is always a learning process. 🙂
The parvo litter pups have grown so much since your last post. So glad that turned out (mostly) well.
I cringe when I see the ads in our local newspaper–the outrageous prices for pups, when our shelters are bursting at the seams with dogs waiting for a loving home. Adopt, people!
Amen. Spread the word. Thanks for this great post. Hugs to all at HBGRR for an outstanding job.