I'm on the board of a public garden that has a dahlia test garden run by a volunteer group. Looks fine when the dahlias are blooming, but the rest of the year it's an eyesore. We get a lot of visitors even in midwinter, so I'd like some ideas for what to grow the rest of the year. The club digs out their dahlias after frost, which doesn't leave much time for something to get going and be respectable in winter and spring. I had thought of doing a "rice-straw revolution" sowing of something early in fall, but I'm sure the digging of the tubers would destroy most seedlings. They come in again in mid-May, rototill and plant the new dahlias. Our usual pbs suggestions of companion planting for bulbs is for bulbs that will remain in the garden, so perennials and small shrubs can be grown. That won't work with dahlias, though. Any suggestions will be appreciated. -- Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil