Leo, It would be good if I proofread before I posted on occasion. I might even be coherent then.

What I meant to say/ask was....did your grandmother dig up the cold hardy tulips to make room for the non-cold hardy dahlias? Otherwise, I don't understand why she would dig up the tulips in late spring to replant in fall.   Although we are not supposed to be able to overwinter dahlias here, with a bit of mulch they generally are fine left in the ground year round in my little corner of the southern part of heaven. I understand they are not cold hardy in your neck of the woods, but the tulips would be.