Welcome to Cowlitz River Dahlias. We are a very small grower, located iin Castle Rock, Washington, midway between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, on the banks of the Cowlitz River. The climate here in the Pacific Northwest is perfect for growing this beautiful flower
My love of dahlias started with my Mother. As long as I can remember, Mom grew dahlias. In 1996 we bought property from her and my step-dad located in back of them. After getting the house in place, work started on the garden. Mom gave me one dahlia of each one she had, which was about 60, and we visited a local commercial grower (Kordonowy Farms — hybridizers of Apple Blossom) and ordered tubers.
Then I took Mom to visit Swan Island Dahlias, where we ordered more tubers and then joined the Portland Dahlia Society at an information table they had there.. At our first meeting, we were very excited to meet other growers to learn from.
Well — after a season of buying and trading Mom said “You’ve gone completely overboard”. I put up a little stand to sell cut flowers and then had people start asking me for tubers. I never intended to become a commercial grower, but with all the new varieties I was buying, I had to start selling to support my growing “habit”
I’m a member of the Portland Dahlia Society, Puget Sound Dahlia Society, American Dahlia Society, Pacific NW Dahlia Conference and the Federation of NW Dahlia Growers.