Growing dahlias 'a way to recalibrate your happiness meter'

People swoon when they visit what was once a bare block of land in Hawke's Bay, according to Natalie Tolchard, who launched full tilt into growing dahlias without any experience but plenty of passion. Country Life takes you back to the autumn when her commercial dahlia crop was a riot of colour and hears how good research and plenty of determination has opened up a new direction in horticulture.