Our daughter Jessica gave me some of her dahlia tubers last spring, and I planted them by the porch, outside the kitchen window. Such a unique, and beautiful star shaped bloom! I think this variety is called Verrone's Obsidian.
For a week or so during the late summer, a hummingbird would hover around them, drinking in their sweet nectar. I was never quick enough with the camera to get a photo, but I sure enjoyed watching.
We've had a few hard frosts by now, so a couple days ago, I decided to dig up the tubers. I was surprised that I didn't have to get out the shovel or spade. I was able to pull out the whole clump by hand.
But that wasn't the only surprise. When I pulled them up, I noticed the slightest movement in the dirt.
At first, I thought it was a snake's tail.
But snakes slither away quickly, and this didn't make a move other than the slightest twitching of its tail. I was feeling brave and used a long screwdriver to flip away more dirt.
A yellow spotted salamander!
Bees, hummingbirds and even salamanders. Those dahlias sure did put out the welcome mat!
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