“Floret Farm’s Discovering Dahlias: A Guide to Growing and Arranging Magnificent Blooms” by Erin Benzakein, Julie Chai and Jill Jorgensen with photographs by Chris Benzakein ($24.95, Chronicle Books): I became aware of the dazzling diversity of dahlias while reading flower farmer Erin Benzakein’s guide and studying Chris Benzakein’s beautiful photographs.
The Benzakeins and their children live on their fabled Floret Farm, a heirloom flower and seed company, in Mount Vernon, Washington.
After flipping through the 224-page hardcover book, I settled in to read the informative chapter on “Understanding Dahlias,” which focuses on the variety of sizes, forms and colors of this cutting garden favorite.
The fact-filled sections on growing and caring for dahlias guide gardeners of all skill levels through planting, harvesting, digging, dividing and storing. It may sound complicated, but Erin Benzakein’s prose is clear and thorough.
She also wrote the 2020 New York Times-bestselling book, “Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers.” Her first book, “Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden,” released in 2017, won the American Horticultural Society Book Award.
A chapter in advanced techniques takes propagating, growing and hybridizing to the next level of complexity for those comfortable doing so.
Erin Benzakein’s well-known expertise in floral designs shines here. She offers a bounty of ideas for creating long-lasting bouquets and arrangements, with an understanding of form and color to enhance the flowers’ beauty and interest.
The final chapter, “Variety Finder,” is a stellar list of 350 varieties, organized by color and accompanied by a description and photo to help readers identify their personal preferences.
— Sally Peterson