Most all dahlia colors can be useful in a display. However, some colors are used less than others. No sense fighting all this color stuff and just grow the ubiquitous light blend dahlias. Nature has already matched the colors for you. When you breed dahlias, blends are much more common than solid flowers. If a really nice seedling appears and has dazzling form but is light blend in color, it has an uphill fight in the show arena as there are already so many light blend flowers in the book. Light blend flowers are generally not requested by florists as they think mostly in solid colors. However, if you have the flowers in a bucket and show them the flowers, they will buy them. Will they buy many school bus yellow flowers? You never know.
OK, CHECKED it again in full sun and it might be school bus yellow in the front but petals get more orange toward the back. I think it is that shift from sunny yellow to a warm orange that I like especially and makes it look really hot. . It has such nice long wirey stems also so its going to be a nice cut flower I beleive.
DillyDahlia Jul 23, 2018 12:04 PM PDT
Name: Tina NY Zone 5b/6a Flower Power!
abecedarian wrote:So I unwrapped a couple long enough to take pictures. Considering I've never grown dahlias before I was wondering if they're progressing as they should.
Hollyhill Bill M
This is supposed to be Ferncliff Copper. I thought the color was a tad off but maybe I just need to wait?
i have a Ferncliff Copper blooming...peachy orange with rich pink “highlightsâ€:
Yes, that is how I remember it...now if the one in my garden will just bloom true to that....I've found one that wasn't and one labeled Ferncliff Copper that I hope will be.
Here is Einstein looking like it is going to have a great season this year! It actually got planted where nothing is shading it out....Glorious purple!
vikingcraftsman Jul 24, 2018 11:35 AM PDT
GAY PRINCESS (BBID) Introduced in 1972. 5" pink blossoms with a light cream in the center. A very good keeper. This one will do better if center pinched out for more laterals. It has a very slight fimbriation on tips of petals. Bush height 4 1/2'. Early bloomer. Recommended as a cut flower. Should do well in exhibition.
teddahlia Jul 24, 2018 11:53 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Gay Princess was named when "gay" meant happy. It is a nice flower in cooler weather and gets a nice color of pink. It used to be one of the most popular dahlias. At a show here in Portland, a flower was entered that was grown on the Oregon coast. The judges disqualified it it saying that it could not be Gay princess as it was was too pink and did not have the splits on the petals.
abecedarian Jul 24, 2018 11:57 AM PDT
Name: Pati KS
Thank you TJ for showing what Ferncliff Copper should look like. I've decided not to contact the seller because it's the same one that sent me 2 tubers with no eyes for which I've already been reimbursed.( I only ordered 4 from them.) The fourth is supposed to be Tartan and the only thing I know at the moment is that the plant is huge compared to the others. Don't think I'll be ordering from there again.
teddahlia Jul 24, 2018 2:02 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Tartan has been very hard to acquire for many years now. It would be one of the most popular dahlias of all if it were a good tuber maker/keeper.
We grew Ferncliff Copper in 1992 or so. We visited Ferncliff in Canada about that time. Very impressive but I hear it has been downsized by housing sub divisions.
I have grown Tartan and really loved it. I think I might have loved and lost it....
teddahlia Jul 24, 2018 4:09 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Should we release a beautiful flower that has horrible tubers? Dick Parshall will not sell them but gives some stock of them to his friends. He has a good strategy. He does share the flower and some people will see it. Since he does not sell it, he is spared the aggravation of too many orders and too few tubers and then the replacement of tubers that rotted. Another negative is that since so many tubers rot, you have to grow extra plants and that is doubly difficult because your private planting stock rots too. And so you take lots of cuttings and we all know that cuttings produce few salable tubers. And who has enough room in the pot tuber department to grow lots of extra pot tubers? Yes, Dick Parshall you are right, just give them away and life will be easier.
vikingcraftsman Jul 25, 2018 4:28 PM PDT
Tahoma Vivian - FD-Fl-R/y
4-1/2'.
Early blooms. Good form.
teddahlia Jul 25, 2018 5:10 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Tahoma Vivian better be nice as it is named for his wife!
vikingcraftsman Jul 26, 2018 4:23 PM PDT
Karmel Korn - Gorgeous golden caramel fuzz ball! Popping with character! Great addition to any yard or garden. 6" bloom - 4' tall.
teddahlia Jul 27, 2018 9:18 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
This picture was taken in July 2001 using one of the first good digital cameras, a Canon G1. This is the original picture and nothing has been done to enhance it. I could not afford this $600- camera and borrowed it from my father in law. Flower was named and grown for many years but never released and we lost it a few years ago.
blown_dry Jul 27, 2018 2:08 PM PDT
Name: Amanda CA Redwood Coast - Zone 9b DahliaAddict.com
RIP Lovely flower.
vikingcraftsman Jul 27, 2018 8:02 PM PDT
BITSY (WL) Introduced in 2000. This new variety is an excellent 18" border plant with nice compact growing habits. A sport of the highly popular China Doll the 4" blooms are profuse and cover the plant all summer long. Produces enough stem to cut and lasts well as a cutflower in small arrangements. A must have if you like the shorter varieties and if garden space is limited. Early bloomer. Should do well in exhibition. Dwarf.
honnat Jul 27, 2018 8:41 PM PDT
St. Paul, MN
teddahlia wrote:Tahoma Vivian better be nice as it is named for his wife!
It's the best. First to bloom every year, super productive, long stems, vertical growth habits....one of my top 5 favorites.
drewtheflorist Jul 28, 2018 5:27 AM PDT
Name: Drew the Florist 14 miles S E of Pittsburgh
vikingcraftsman wrote: BITSY (WL) Introduced in 2000. This new Should do well in exhibition. Dwarf.
Who ever writes Swan Islands descriptions more often than not adds the "should do well in exhibition" tag. I guess they've never read the judges' guide....
. It has such nice long wirey stems also so its going to be a nice cut flower I beleive.
Here is Einstein looking like it is going to have a great season this year! It actually got planted where nothing is shading it out....Glorious purple!
GAY PRINCESS (BBID) Introduced in 1972. 5" pink blossoms with a light cream in the center. A very good keeper. This one will do better if center pinched out for more laterals. It has a very slight fimbriation on tips of petals. Bush height 4 1/2'. Early bloomer. Recommended as a cut flower. Should do well in exhibition.
Tahoma Vivian - FD-Fl-R/y
Karmel Korn - Gorgeous golden caramel fuzz ball! Popping with character! Great addition to any yard or garden. 6" bloom - 4' tall. 
BITSY (WL) Introduced in 2000. This new variety is an excellent 18" border plant with nice compact growing habits. A sport of the highly popular China Doll the 4" blooms are profuse and cover the plant all summer long. Produces enough stem to cut and lasts well as a cutflower in small arrangements. A must have if you like the shorter varieties and if garden space is limited. Early bloomer. Should do well in exhibition. Dwarf.
Rouge Star Burst