:: dahlia ::

 Big, bold and beautiful - this is a 'mega-dahlia' - the Bristol Stripe dinner plate dahlia.  I don't think I've anticipated the opening of a flower as much as this in recent times.  Would it really be 20+cm across??? REALLY??? YES, the answer is YES!

Tuning into a flower a day has been interesting to me so far in that 3 of the first 5 flowers are all of the Asteraceae family and 2 of them originated in South America - the dahlia is both of these, originating in Mexico. I wonder how many more south american beauties are lurking out there?