Dahlias still rein supreme in my cutting garden but a few new flowers have made an appearance last week. They're not as splashy as the dahlias but they do a good job accenting them.
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| The new flowers used as accents here are 3 demure sunflowers, barely visible on the upper left in this photograph. I sowed sunflower seeds in a 2-gallon pot and they developed into spindly seedlings. I was surprised to find they'd produced blooms barely 2-inches in diameter. |
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| Back view, not one of my better efforts |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', Helianthus annuus 'Garnet Star', and Tanacetum parthenium |
The
Cosmos I picked up in small pots three weeks ago burst into bloom last week. I initially thought I'd use them as the focus for my second vase but attention-grabbing
Dahlia 'Enchantress' crept into the mix.
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| 'Enchantress' isn't the largest dahlia bloom but she doesn't abide playing second fiddle |
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| Back view, dominated by Abelia 'Edward Goucher' and Pandorea jasminoides |
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| Top view, showing off the Cosmos |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Enchantress', Abelia grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Cosmos bininnatus 'Double Cranberry', C. 'Prom Dress', and Pandorea jasminoides |
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find more "In a Vase on Monday" posts.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Love it all - especially your modest little sunflowers!! Good for them, to persevere and triumph into bloom! Hooray. Amanda
ReplyDeletehttps://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/08/an-airy-vase-on-monday.html
And here I'd been contemplating pulling those sad sunflower seedlings so I could use the soil in another container...I was glad I'd held off on that plan.
DeleteI think you deserve a IAVOM award for keeping such a beautiful tradition going while in the midst of a huge, disruptive, remodel.
ReplyDeleteI admit that the remodel is wearing me down a bit even though we haven't reached the halfway point, Loree. However, it helps to try to maintain a little normalcy in my life and, even before IAVOM, making up arrangements for the house was part of my regular routine.
DeleteDoes popping into the garden in the midst of refurbishments keep you sane? It because I can go out and just 'loose' myself in its intricacies, that I can get on with yet another bout of painting! Lovely vases again.
ReplyDeleteIt's the noise that usually gets to me, Noelle, and I'm afraid I can only get so far away from that in my garden. I've been trying to get out to lunch with friends or simply to run errands a few times a week just to get clear of it.
DeleteSunflowers must be deep feeders because I've had seedlings emerge from pots (mice hiding seeds I think) and they are mini-bloomers, too. After seeing sunflower 'trees' in my garden this year, I think I'll stick to shorter cultivars. Staking is impossible and inevitably, most tumble after a heavy thunderstorm that happen this time of year. It still is quite amazing to see 12-14' sunflowers!
ReplyDeleteBoth arrangements are lovely, the stars being the dahlias (of course!), the double cosmos and the peachy zinnia is marvelous. I get many good ideas for next years cut flowers from IAVOM. :)
Helianthus 'Garnet Star' is supposed to get 5-6 feet tall and produce 4-6 inch blooms so it clearly didn't like growing in a pot. They possibly wanted more fertilizer and water than they got too but even the varieties I have growing in my raised planters seem shorter than they should be. It's odd because I had no particular difficulty growing normal sized plants the year before last.
DeleteThe sunflower may be small, but is very pretty and goes well with the peach zinnia. Love the pink Dahlia too. :)
ReplyDeleteOnce I saw the small sunflowers I thought they deserved an "A" for effort and some attention, Cathy. I'm not sure why I've had trouble growing sunflowers the past two years.
DeleteLove the colors, I can't tell you how many zillions of Abelia I have seen- yours are the best and those Dahlias, swoon.
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be a LOT of Abelia varieties available now, Amelia. I inherited 'Edward Goucher' but added 'Kaleidoscope', 'Radiance' and 'Hopley's Variegated'. The latter is the most robust and perhaps my favorite.
DeleteKris, your dahlias make beautiful arrangements. I am smitten too with Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose'--wowser.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing I like the 'Salmon Rose' too, Susie, as so far that variety accounts for the majority of my Zinnias. I planted 2 mixes in additional to 2 Benary's varieties but the those in the mixes have yet to make an appearance.
DeleteSo much color! Loving all of it especially the dahlias.
ReplyDeleteDahlias offer a great reward for relatively little effort, at least in my climate, Lisa. They've made summers here far more colorful.
DeleteOh my goodness! It's always such a treat to visit your blog, and your arrangements are so beautiful and professional. Love the Dahlias!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth!
Deleteso Swoonable! I love dahlias....they always look so good in a vase!
ReplyDeleteDahlias are wonderful, Cath.
DeleteWhat beauties!
ReplyDeleteI think so too, Sandra!
DeleteIsn't it great to have a ready supply of dahlias at hand, Kris? I considered sunflowers this week too, but couldn't reach without a ladder (due more my size, rather than theirs'!)Enchantress does look a pretty thing, and the abelia mirrors her shade nicely - good choice!
ReplyDeleteAll my sunflowers are conspicuously dinky this year, Cathy. I'm hoping those in my raised bed may gain some height and girth before they bloom but it's not looking good. Next year I really do have to start them much earlier.
DeleteAs always a visit to your blog is a delight for the senses, Kris. Fabulous dahlias, especially Labyrinth has intriguing colours. Hope you're having a good summer. Best wishes, Annette
ReplyDeleteI'm having a hard time picking a favorite among my dahlias this year, Annette, but 'Labyrinth' is a beauty.
DeleteI feel like I always say this, but you make the best bouquets, Kris! I always find it astonishing how plants can adapt to the situation they're in. I have some clematis I grew from tiny seedlings, in one-gallon pots. They flowered, but with 2" flowers - perfect miniature representations of their adult selves. Nature is so fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSo true! I've got lots of Gazanias, which self-seed freely. I've noticed that some of those seeding themselves in the most inhospitable, unirrigated spots still bloom, producing teeny-tiny images of themselves less than half an inch in diameter. I'm currently trialing another Clematis now and can only hope that it blooms in some form - I'll gladly accept a miniature version.
DeleteEnvious of the dahlias - mine are still SO short! I suppose I should be thankful that 2 of the 6 I planted are blooming, but they are partially hidden behind the taller zinnias so can only be fully appreciate them when standing behind the garden bed.
ReplyDeleteSome dahlia varieties stay shorter than others. 'Terracotta' is especially tall. 'Hollyhill Karen Lee' and 'Diva' seem to be following suit but I'd characterize most of the rest as mid-sized plants. As mine are all in raised planters or pots, they just look tall!
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