Although my visit to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge may well be the highlight of my summer, I probably spend more time at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park. On my recent visit I discovered that although the Rose Garden is still the main attraction
and almost all the roses are in bloom at the moment, my personal favorite, the Dahlias, have finally started to blossom, at least the early ones have.
Most of the pom-pom varieties are just starting, but my favorite varieties like this,
and this,
and particularly this
are on display. I’m not positive, but this seems like the earliest I have seen them in bloom. And, to be sure, many of them haven’t even formed buds yet. Still, for those of us who love dahlias, it’s time to think about visiting the park.