By July, the transformation was complete. The garden was no longer a patch of dirt; it was a theater. The Neon Flair Dahlia from Breck's sizzled with magenta-pink petals and electric red halos against dark, moody foliage. In the corner, the Japanese Bishop stood like a sentinel, its rare red collarette blooms catching the morning dew.
: A giant variety known for its massive 10-inch, deep yellow, fully double flowers.
Elias stood in the center of his garden, clutching a weathered wooden crate that felt heavier than its contents. Inside lay the "Temple of Beauty," a collection of gnarled, humble-looking tubers that looked more like forgotten potatoes than the promise of a summer masterpiece.
As he worked, his neighbor, Clara, watched from over the fence. "More 'potatoes' this year, Elias?" she joked.
"You were right," she finally whispered. "It’s not a garden. It’s a riot."