Presently, more than 300 bulbs that Dawn Batchelor cares for are in their assigned tubs for winter storage. A fall job is to first dig them all up. They are then all categorized by their names and placed in separate bags filled with peat moss for storage.

They are stored in tubs to keep them safe for the winter. One can’t have them too cold as they will freeze or too warm as they will then mould, which will rot the tuber.

Right now, Dawn is deciding which varieties she will keep. She considers all the different colours and forms — cactus looking, balls, collarette, water lily. Plus, she knows that she will always order a few new ones this year.

She is perusing dahlia sites at the moment. There can be “wars” to get a certain tuber. One needs to be there early to click on the button by........

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