One morning in June, when I was out walking I came upon a house that was selling perennial flowers.  A small table was left at the bottom of their lawn with a sign. ” Plants $1.00 each”.  On the table were these ugly tubers.   I came back with my purse and bought five clumps of dahlia tubers.   I have never grown them before.   They looked tricky.  The  dahlia is actually an annual plant.  You must dig up the tuber roots every autumn and store them away during the cold winter months.  Then in the spring you replant them. 

Anyway,  I am pleased that those five tubers have grown up into lovely green plants.  I have them in my front garden.  Today I noticed my first bloom.   How cool is that?