Saint Martin, Blue Wish and Pink Bubblegum Cactus Dahlia Blooms - July 2026

Yesterday, I posted a couple of photos of my first (real) flush of dahlia blooms that I cut off the plants in the various spots around our garden.  Those included some "known" varieties including Wizard of Oz, Creme de Cognac, Burlesca and Blue Wish.  I said "known" because there was also a semi-cactus dark maroon dahlia that came labeled as Rip City, but is clearly NOT Rip City.

Today, I'm posting some photos of some additional dahlia blooms that I cut the following day.  These, too, include mostly "known" dahlias.  And...one unknown.

First...the "known".  

The biggest of the bunch is Blue Wish.  And, I'll say that I might have a new favorite dahlia?  This looks like it is painted with a watercolor set.  Pale purples and whites.  Perfectly shaped.

Next up is a Saint Martin Dahlia.  This one came in a combo pack from Longfield Gardens via Costco (photo of the bag below).  And, was a new-to-me variety, but the 30" height (other photo below) sold me on it.  "Add to cart".  

This one is lovely with a purple and white set of petals.  It is growing on a stem that is a bit different than most of my other dahlias.  It has little tiny leaves along a long stem.  But...the stem...it sure is LONG.  I cut it deeply (which always hurts a little bit) in hopes they will get even longer.

Here, below, are the bag photos of Saint Martin.

 

Longfield Gardens doesn't have a product listing for Saint Martin dahlias, but Breck's does.  Here's what they have to say about them:

Every bloom is a one-off with this striking variety, whose 4" flowers are splashed with rose on crisp white petals for a look that’s never quite the same twice. Bred for the cut flower trade, it delivers armloads of long-lasting stems that hold beautifully in a vase. Upright and floriferous, it’s just as suited to borders as bouquets.

Upright, indeed.  Here, below, is a look at that upright habit and what I described as a 'different' kind of stem with tiny leaves on it.  This is the 'sacrificial bud' that I cut off with the lower flower bloom:

Saint Martin Decorative Dahlia

Here, below, is another shot of this first Saint Martin Decorative Dahlia:

Saint Martin Decorative Dahlia

Now...on to the 'unknown' dahlia variety.  It is (I think??) a cactus dahlia.  And, it is bubble gum pink.  Longfield doesn't list a true bubble gum pink cactus dahlia, so I'm not sure what variety it is exactly.  Might be Park Princess.  Might be Mother's Day.  I emailed the help desk at Longfield to let them know.  We'll see what they say/do about it.  I was so looking forward to growing Kelsey Annie Joy - a new (to me) collarette dahlia.  

This is certainly NOT Kelsey Annie Joy Collarette Dahlia.  

Here, below, is this cactus dahlia along with a Saint Martin.  They look nice together.  I guess that's *something*, right?  

I've now made my first cut flower arrangement of the year.  I'll post that separately.

2026 to-do list dahlia items.  On our way.