So much for the month of June. There is never a typical month in Scotland with every year bringing its own unique set of circumstances although it is becoming increasingly common for frost to occur as late as mid June. 

13th - Time to start putting in the canes ot support the dahlias. This is the method that I use, it enables a large number of dahlia plants to be tied in relatively quickly. Two sets of strings are used.
Here is a clearer view of how the dahlias are tied up. At the start the string is tied to the first cane and then looped around all the middle canes till the end of the row where it is zig zagged back up the outer canes to the start.
Diagram 2   Diagram 3
Still confused? Well, here is another view.  
15th - Dahlias are well established now and growing well. Rocolene protection has warded off the frost which occurred on the 12th. View 1   View 2   View 3
Here are a few more views of the canopy structure which measures 54 feet long by 27 feet wide and covers five beds of 50 dahlia plants. Photos taken on a typical Scottish dull and overcast day. View 1 View 2 View 3
17th - First dahlia flower of 1998.   Bees are busy
19th - This is the date that I stop the dahlia plants by removing the growing tip.  Side shoots are visible now 
22nd - Three weeks after planting and the dahlias are starting to fill their alloted space.
26th - Thunder, hail stones and heavy rain, ideal dahlia weather!. Oh well it beats ground frost.
29th - Almost one month in the ground now.  The dahlias are looking very good despite the weather.  Image 1,  2,  3 and 4.  Here is a pot tuber blooming already.

Dahlias grown for show

Miniature flowered dahlias
Wootton Cupid, Candy Cupid, Peach Cupid, Karenglen, Abridge Taffy, Barbarry Bluebird and Hamari Rosé.

Medium flowered dahlias
Barbara Pastelle, Pink Pastelle, Grenidor Pastelle, Eileen Denny, Ruskin Charlotte, Charlie Two.

Small Decorative dahlias
Ruskin Diane, Primrose Diane, Gateshead Festival and Pink Suffusion.

Small Cactus/semi cactus dahlias
Paul Chester, Linda's Chester, Jamie, Cherwell Goldcrest, Hillcrest Desire and Sylvia's Desire.

Last year was the first year I managed to save some seed from the dahlia plot. Twenty of them germinated and they are in bud with two of them showing colour. More details will follow...

Dahlias in May            Dahlias in July