| Garden Tour Max Ollieu's Garden |
Max grows his
dahlias on his small
acreage near
Battleground,
Washington. One of
the most
impressive items in
his back
yard(besides his
magnificent dahlias)
is the gigantic big
leaf maple tree. The
following are some
pictures taken by
Max and some of
his own words:
dahlias on his small
acreage near
Battleground,
Washington. One of
the most
impressive items in
his back
yard(besides his
magnificent dahlias)
is the gigantic big
leaf maple tree. The
following are some
pictures taken by
Max and some of
his own words:
My garden was first
introduced to dahlias
in 1993 with the
neighbor giving my
wife several tubers of
what I believe to be
the variety Vet’s Love.
Each year, the dahlias
displaced more
vegetables until there
were no vegetables
left in the roughly 50
by 100 foot rectangle
piece of ground
dedicated to my finer
pursuits. The first 10
years, I let the dahlias
grow as they wished
and enjoyed
thousands of beautiful
blooms on up to 200
varieties.
introduced to dahlias
in 1993 with the
neighbor giving my
wife several tubers of
what I believe to be
the variety Vet’s Love.
Each year, the dahlias
displaced more
vegetables until there
were no vegetables
left in the roughly 50
by 100 foot rectangle
piece of ground
dedicated to my finer
pursuits. The first 10
years, I let the dahlias
grow as they wished
and enjoyed
thousands of beautiful
blooms on up to 200
varieties.
By 2003, my good
friend, Ron Wilkes,
from Goulburn, NSW,
Australia encouraged
me to enter blooms in
the local club show.
That necessitated
employing different
cultural practices as
well as emphasizing
show quality
varieties. Showing
dahlias has helped
increase my
understanding of
dahlia culture as well
as provided an
opportunity to make
many wonderful new
friends
friend, Ron Wilkes,
from Goulburn, NSW,
Australia encouraged
me to enter blooms in
the local club show.
That necessitated
employing different
cultural practices as
well as emphasizing
show quality
varieties. Showing
dahlias has helped
increase my
understanding of
dahlia culture as well
as provided an
opportunity to make
many wonderful new
friends
Now, I grow
approximately 100
show quality dahlia
varieties originating
not only in the United
States, but Australia,
Canada, Holland, New
Zealand, South Africa
and the United
Kingdom. The oldest
dahlia variety I grow is
Rhonda, a pompon
type dahlia originated
in Australia in 1941 by
Rumble.
approximately 100
show quality dahlia
varieties originating
not only in the United
States, but Australia,
Canada, Holland, New
Zealand, South Africa
and the United
Kingdom. The oldest
dahlia variety I grow is
Rhonda, a pompon
type dahlia originated
in Australia in 1941 by
Rumble.
My newest varieties
are being released
for the first time in
2007 and include
Camkui Sea Miss, a
dark pink cactus-type
dahlia, Canoz Anne, a
pink water lily-type
dahlia, Clearview Erin,
a purple stellar-type
dahlia, Colorado
Swallow, a light blend
semicactus-type
dahlia, and Hollyhill
Chloe, a pink
semi-cactus-type
dahlia.
are being released
for the first time in
2007 and include
Camkui Sea Miss, a
dark pink cactus-type
dahlia, Canoz Anne, a
pink water lily-type
dahlia, Clearview Erin,
a purple stellar-type
dahlia, Colorado
Swallow, a light blend
semicactus-type
dahlia, and Hollyhill
Chloe, a pink
semi-cactus-type
dahlia.
The garden consists of
ten roughly four foot
wide raised rows and
walkways of similar
width. Organic matter
in the form of used
animal bedding and
maple leaves covers
the garden essentially
year around. Water is
provided via two
soaker hoses per row
covered with the
organic mulch
mentioned above. In
addition, I form wells
around each plant to
allow for watering by
hand occasionally
which lessens the risk
of particular plants not
getting sufficient
moisture.
ten roughly four foot
wide raised rows and
walkways of similar
width. Organic matter
in the form of used
animal bedding and
maple leaves covers
the garden essentially
year around. Water is
provided via two
soaker hoses per row
covered with the
organic mulch
mentioned above. In
addition, I form wells
around each plant to
allow for watering by
hand occasionally
which lessens the risk
of particular plants not
getting sufficient
moisture.
Three years ago, I
started the
construction of a
structure to
support shade cloth
for each row.
Shade cloth helps
the dahlia blooms
retain color as well
as helps deter
flying insect pests.
In addition to the
main garden, I
utilize planters for
some of the smaller
varieties such as
mignon single and
peony-type dahlias.
started the
construction of a
structure to
support shade cloth
for each row.
Shade cloth helps
the dahlia blooms
retain color as well
as helps deter
flying insect pests.
In addition to the
main garden, I
utilize planters for
some of the smaller
varieties such as
mignon single and
peony-type dahlias.
For the last three years, I have invited the
grandsons and their friends to pick bouquets
of their choice after the show season is
complete. Everyone seems to enjoy the
experience and I am able to get some great
photos.
grandsons and their friends to pick bouquets
of their choice after the show season is
complete. Everyone seems to enjoy the
experience and I am able to get some great
photos.
This picture taken
by Max was an
award winner in
the ADS Picture
Contest
by Max was an
award winner in
the ADS Picture
Contest
Max Ollieu
Marla Ollieu