Here’s my timeline and results.

• April 16 – Potted the tubers that were stored overwinter under the stairwell wrapped in newspapers.  Overall they were in healthy conditions with a few sprouts emerging. 
• April 25-27 – All sprouts emerged after potting even one that was a bit sickly.
• Early May – Pinched off about 1/3 of the plant growth when about 12” tall to promote more stalks.
• May 18 – Planted in raised bed all except for one newly purchased tuber that went into the ground.  Soil temperature was 60°.   We had very warm weather last spring.
• May 26 – Newly purchased tubers sprouted that had been directly sown in raised bed
• May 26-29 – Very cool weather, covered all with a row cover to protect from cold air.  There was a freeze warning on 5/27, our temp was a low of 36.
• May 30- Tuber planted in ground (not raised bed) sprouted

 
Now waiting to see if these different methods yield flowers at different times.  That, after all was the whole point of this experiment.

• June 28 - Buds on 2 of 4 tubers started in April.
• June 29 – First blooms (three of them!) cut for the vase.
• July 20 – All 4 of the plants started in April are producing blooms.  No buds yet on the rest that were directly planted in either the raised beds or ground.
• July 25 – Buds on 4 planted in raised bed.
• July 30 – All plants except one are producing blooms.   That one never did bloom and I did not overwinter it for 2022 planting. 

Conclusion:  Yes, the Dahlias that were started in April inside produced blooms almost a full month before those directly planted later.  They continued to produce blooms until frost ended their season.   I conclude it is worth the effort to start these inside ahead of the season. 

This PDF file outlines the Dahlias that I grow along with growing notes.
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A wonderful resource for growing Dahlias:  Discovering Dahlias by Erin Benzakein

​There are times I am a green-eyed gardener, jealous of others picture-perfect gardens.  I know from my own photography that it is easy to move the perspective of the lens to avoid the messiness.  I define my garden as natural, with weeds, untrimmed shrubs, and plants helter-skelter.  I am comfortable with that style of gardening.  It is also true that I am in awe of perfect layouts.  Just as a model in a fashion magazine looks more like an average person without make-up and good lighting; I know the flawlessness shown in the garden magazines may not be so real either.  Anyway, here goes with my garden envy list. 

1. Containers for every season – magazines and social media show containers year-round.  I have concluded that most of the off-season containers are for those who live in less harsh climates that northern Wisconsin.  I’ve tried to have a winter container with fresh conifer greens and dogwood stems but get tired of brushing off the snow and shoveling around it.  The fall containers with plants rarely make sense with such a short fall season before they get frozen and spring is too close to the actual growing season to invest in those container plants.
   
   
2. Outdoor Living Rooms – where do they put all that stuff when it rains, and the wind blows?  Really – pillows, fireplaces, ceiling fans, glass lanterns?  Wouldn’t the bats, squirrels, raccoons, and fox love to burrow into all of that?  But it sure looks inviting.
   
   
3. Weed-free garden paths – Every path is perfect with no weeds, edges are sharp, and the surface material is even.  I’m lucky to keep the moss somewhat at bay.  The bricks are uneven, and the gravel washes out when we have more than an inch of rain on our decline to the lake.  At least it is easy to overlook since the lake view is fantastic.
   
   
4. Mature plants with no overlap – my plants like mingling!  I have no grand scheme so I pay no attention to the width they may attain with age.  Dividing is also a maintenance activity that I am experimenting with how long I can avoid doing in my garden.  After about five years I think the limit might have been reached.
   
   
5. Veggies all in a row – although it looks beautiful it seems such a waste of space and the hoeing involved, oh my!  I grow my veggies in raised beds four feet across and in groups.  Weeds are discouraged by keeping all the space for the vegetables.  And if a rabbit or raccoon (or heaven forbid a bear) happens to get past my double fencing then it really doesn’t matter how the plants are spaced. 
   
   

I could go on and on but will not.  I’m comfortable in my own garden.  It produces the edibles we like, flowers for bouquets, and photo opportunities.  I have come to realize that I prefer to enjoy my garden by sitting in it rather than working in it.  Living in a rural forested area affords me the luxury of less manicured garden spaces that an urban area would frown upon.  Maybe I’m not jealous of all those prefect gardens after all. 

Do you enjoy gardening or want to start gardening?  Have you watched the TV show Escape to the Chateau? If you have, then you would recognize the term “potager garden”.  Join us on how to Create a Potager Garden presented by Sue Reinardy, UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, virtually on Zoom on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 10 am to Noon as part of a celebration of National Library Week at the Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library.  Attendees will have a chance to win a special Library T-shirt!
 
Potager is a French term for a kitchen garden.  These gardens can include not only vegetables but herbs, fruit, berries and cutting flowers.  During the presentation you will learn where to site your potager, what plants to include and how to maintain it through the growing season.
 
For the first 15 people who sign up, we will offer them a Take ‘N Make Kit of a Potager Starter Garden.  The kit consists of a container, donated by Marketplace Foods, and seeds and a planting medium donated by Sue Reinardy.
 
 You can register for the event by going to the following link – https://bit.ly/3rtyZq9  or by calling the library to register and to receive the link for the Zoom event. We suggest that if you don’t have the free Zoom app, download it before the program begins and go to the presentation at least 5 minutes before it starts. If you have any questions, please call the library at 715-634-2161 or email hlibrary@hayward.wislib.org

Gardeners are getting their seed starting supplies put together and in early to mid-April will begin the process.  I don't have the room or patience to start seeds indoors so I have embraced an outdoor seed starting method.  
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​I originally became aware of this method reading about the Winter Sown method.  But even that proved to be too much for me since I can never get around to putting my containers together until right about now, early March.  Since those seeds sit around doing nothing until the temperature is about right - no need to rush into this method.  
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How does it work?  

• Use plastic containers with enough room for 3-4” of potting mix and room above for plant growth
• Need a removable lid for when it gets warm in mid to late spring
• Needs drain holes on bottom and slits for air/water on top
• Label containers with seed type (use permanent marker so it doesn’t fade)
• Seeds that are cool weather or perennials do well
• Can set outside in winter/early spring and the seeds will germinate when appropriate
• Need to pull top on warm days and water when needed
• After several leaves (true leaves) have emerged and growth is robust – transplant into the garden

Websites to learn how:
http://wintersown.org/
http://getbusygardening.com/winter-sowing-seeds/
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/

Here is the line-up: 

• February 11, 10:00 am - Intensive Gardening    This course highlights a variety of methods, some old and some new, to produce a large harvest in the smallest space possible.  Some of the techniques covered include: vertical landscaping, using trellises, raised beds and walls for both ornamental plants and vegetables.  Lasagna, straw bale and square foot gardening are explained along with some that are not as well known.  You will get in-depth information on both time-tested methods and new techniques in this class.  
  
  
• March 4, 10:00 am - Gardening – Mixing It Up  This class will describe how to mix up borders with a variety of plant materials.  No longer are gardeners restricted to only one type per plant bed or keeping the beds tiered with small in front and tall in back.  Mixed borders combine annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and hardscape.   Learn a few tricks on sizing, designing, and planning four seasons for your garden. A full list of plants and how to grow them will be included. 
• March 25, 10:00 am - Gardening with Ornamental Edibles  Learn how to have a good looking landscape that you can eat.  Many plants have berries, foliage, or flowers that are good looking and tasty.  This course will identify the many ornamental edible plants for our area and how you can grow them in containers or add to a perennial garden.  We’ll even identify some weeds that are edible providing you with even more motivation for weeding. 

Class # is 24553  Registration for this online course is through WITC. Register online at courses.witc.edu; Search for and choose your course; add it to your cart. Should you need assistance with registration, call the number provided on the WITC web page for the campus closest to you and leave a message. Your call will be returned.  This class is online using the free BlueJeans software. Sign up, receive your log-in information, and attend from the comfort of your space. You will need reliable internet service, a camera and microphone on your device. To learn how easy it is to use our BlueJeans software to take classes from your home or work computer, view the free video tutorial at http://learningcommons.witc.edu/bluejeans

Note:  On May 29, Noon to 2:00 pm will be another gardening program online through WITC.  You can register for both at the same time.  
​Class # 24464 Create a Potager Garden - 
Potager is a French term for a kitchen garden.  These gardens can include not only vegetables but herbs, fruit, berries and cutting flowers.  The program will cover where to site your potager, plants to include and how to maintain it through the growing season.  These gardens can be an attractive addition to your yard and provide your family with food and flowers throughout the growing season. 

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Going Native –
On April 23 – 10:30 am to Noon, the Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library-Hayward in partnership with the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program is providing an online gardening program via Zoom, as part of National Library Week, "Find your Library at your place". 
This program will cover what, when and where to cultivate native plants that provide food for butterflies, song birds, hummingbirds and beneficial insects.  Also learn about phenology: the study of the development of plants and animals as affected by our climate and weather.  By using your observations you can know the best time for planting, the blooming cycles of plants, and the emergence of insect pests.  All will help you become a more natural gardener.  The presenter will be Sue Reinardy- UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. 
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Register in advance for this meeting: https://uwextension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcO-hrTouG9YSWNKCXExwjkDrGV5XA-q4  in order to receive handout materials, the Zoom link and password.