Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1923-09-14
"Say It With
Flo.Ueys''

happy anywhere. That's what makei
them love to live here where they
1aA see the beautiful, mountain
which surround this sunny valley.
But that same sunshine and air
are loved by plant citizens as we'll
With the fertile soil which makes
uD the floor of the San Luis to .
great extent and the water which
comes freely down from our noun
tain streams and great locked-up
reservoir supplies they make 1t pos
sible to grow wonderful plants here.
OF course everybody thinks immed-
lately of the grain. alfalfa and po-
tatoes grown so abundantly here.
However. there is another plant
which this valley produces in as
royal way as a potato crop. Its
bulb looks very much like a sweet
potato tuber and its care is much
like the care given a potato plant
ITS yield though is not only more
bulbs but beautiful blossoms as we'll
It's name is DAHLIA and most have
seen II perhaps but not in more
wonderful quantity and quality than
s. to be found at the Matzen home
in the east part of Monte Vista.
Monte Vista is located In one Of
lhe best producing districts OF the
San Luis valley and this garden
Of dahlias certainly proves II.
Have you ever gone down Lovers
Lane! Whether you have or not
Just follow 1t some day to-not the
end-but a mass OF flowers sur
rounding q vine covered cottage. The
cottage is almost hidden amongst
oceans OF dahlias. Their colors
range from the purest white to as
nearly black as one ever finds in the
flower families aside from pansies.
nc believe.
? The pink ones themselves cover
all shades from variegated pink and
white to \ deep blushing hue. The
flaming red ones are like balls OF
fire and exceptionally large. There
are many other shades OF red. too
and q bright lemon colored one
which looks beautiful amongst the
many shades OF red dahlias. A shade
of purple comes next In darkness to
the so-calied black ones. These
black ones must be seen ~ well ~
the others to be appreciated.
Mrs. Matlen says they have twelve
lifferent kinds OF dahlias. Two OF
these are the cactus dahlia. 1t dN-
lsrs from the others in its petals a.
we'll as height. Instead Of fiat. or
turned back strap petals as In the
other varieties, the cactus petals arc
sort OF twisted. This gives an odd
and pleasing appearance to the
blossom. The two cactus varieties
are pink-petaled tipped with white
and a variegatea shade OF cream
yellow. The other ten kinds are
many colored and divided into t~o
types as to form. The one form 10
large and faring with wide strap
petals and the other has more Of 4
ball shape. This is caused from the
turned back edges Of the petals and
the large number which causes the
outer ones to turn back instead OF
upward as in most blossoms.
Some Of the varieties which the
Matxens grow are the Lady Dales.
large pink ones OF the flaring type:
Syivias. variegated pink ones. ana
Snowballs which are white and ball
shaped. Mrs. Matzcn says that they
greatly resemble the real SNOWFALL
of which they have one In iho,r
yard. The Colorettes are a red
dahlia and the Black Prince Is that
kind which has such a deep. ve'ye'y
shade as to look nearly blnck. The
king OF them all \ swever. leaving
Lady Dale for the queen. Is the beau
siful General DcIahn. II has the
Flaming red shade and Is larger than
any other variety In the Mntxen eel.
lection. II has been measured and
found TO be nine inches In diameter.
lacking only n fraction OF an inch.
A. the one measured was taken At
random and not chosen for its sisc
Mrs. Matxen feels sure that there
are some among theirs which would
sasiiy cover the nine inch mark.
She gives easily followed rules
for caring for thess beautiful piants.
A. stated before the bulbs look very
much like sweet potatoes. Their
care she tells us 10 very much like
that given 10 potatoes. In the fall
tAsy take up each plant after they
are frosen down. Previously. each
oas 10 marked With . label - 70
its kiad. Each parent psso has
ysliating from Il Q great aumbes