Ball dahlias are well balanced and symmetrical like a kaleidoscope in three dimensions. Jowey Winnie Dahlia fits the description to the letter T.

Who bred this ever so popular dahlia, I have often wondered and finally set out to find out who stood behind this dahlia. It was Jozef Weyts in Europe and he is still, to this day, working with dahlias. Not only did he introduce Jowey Winnie to the world but we can thank him for a host of other dahlias as well.

The “Jowey” before each dahlia name is the first two letters of his first name “Jo” combined with the first three letters of his last name “Wey.” He even hybridized his name. Clever man indeed.

A few of the ball dahlias he has given us:

• Jowey Mirella
• Jowey Linda
• Jowey Marilyn
• Jowey Frambo
• Jowey Nicky
• Jowey Winnie
• Jowey Martina
• Jowey Joshua
• Jowey Gelba
• Jowey Cheryl
• Jowey Rose
• Jowey Anouschky

My current favorite, Jowey Winnie reaches a height of four feet and is a prolific bloomer. A sure winner for the cut flower grower. It’s color is a combination of peaches, raspberries and cream, deliciously blended. This dahlia alone could make anyone yearn to add dahlias to their list of favorite flowers/plants.

While other Fall blooming flowers tend to be burnished with gold and orange, this dahlia keeps it’s high-Summer-peachy color through October. The only time it changes is when stern Mr. Frost comes and puts it to bed to recharge for the next seasonal show.

For a beautiful, textural and color blend put Jowey Winnie, Totally Tangerine and Cafe au Lait together. A globe shaped ball, an anemone with a pom on top and an large decorative together, make a pleasing bouquet combination.

The Jowey Winnie Dahlias here are budded up and showing color. It’s like waiting for the fireworks on the Fourth of July when I was a kid. It’s just all too-slow-going, but then when the show starts, the long wait is totally forgotten in the excitement.

A word of wisdom on ordering Jowey Winnie tubers—order early. Place your order as soon as they are available, to avoid disappointment, which can often mean six to seven months in advance of when you would normally plant dahlia tubers. By the time the Spring thaw comes around they will have been scooped up.

Until tomorrow…Waiting, weeding and seed sowing.