News that Starbucks was bringing back its pumpkin spice latte made the national news in the US late last month. Ridiculous as I find that, I'm pleased that my own
'Punkin Spice' Dahlia is finally flowering strongly enough to greet the public "In a Vase on Monday," the popular meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. I planted 2 of these tubers but put one in a large pot placed in a shady area where it doesn't get the regular attention (translation: water) it needs and it hasn't flowered well. The second tuber, planted in a plastic pot as a temporary measure, was late in finding space to spread its roots in one of my cutting garden's raised beds but the plant is healthy and happy and finally flowering.
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| With our remodel finally speeding up a bit, I finally got back a real wall in my home office, opening up space for me to photograph my vases there. It's still awkward but at least it's better than the temporary kitchen space I've been using. |
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| I think I actually like the back of this vase better than that I designated as its front |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Punkin Spice', Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' with Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', red Zinnia (perhaps 'Benary's Giant Wine'), and Duranta repens 'Gold Mound' |
I cut
Dahlia 'Terracotta' to accompany
'Punkin Spice' in the vase but, realizing its inclusion would stuff the vase too tight,
'Terracotta' was given its own vase.
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| Dahlia 'Terracotta' looks pinker here and in most photos than in does to the naked eye |
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| Dahlia 'Citron du Cap' was preparing to bend its tall stem and keel over so it got tucked into the back of this vase |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Citron du Cap', Leucadendron 'Jester', L. 'Summer Red', Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth', Tanacetum parthenium, Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Orange' and, in the middle, Dahlia 'Terracotta' |
After more than a week in a vase,
Dahlia 'Diva' still looks good. All of my other dahlias are singing their swan songs after 4 days in a vase so this performance has proven
'Diva's' worth in my eyes. She's been bumped to the card table we're currently using as our dining table but I'm going to hang onto her for awhile yet to see how long it takes for her to fall apart.
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| All the contents of last week's vase held up well but, given how quickly most dahlias fall apart, I'm most impressed by 'Diva', who's flaws can only be seen in close examination |
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| This week's fresh vases assumed places on the bedroom bureau and mantle respectively |
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
You are so clever with choosing colours to complement or contrast...but today I cannot pass but mention how wonderful Pumpkin Spice is, with the petals different on either side.
ReplyDelete'Punkin Spice' goes through a rather dramatic color shift as it ages, Noelle, starting out that fiery reddish-orange and gradually mutating into a soft reddish-pink with cream undertones. It's a fantastic dahlia.
DeleteSo many colours, and so many different petal shapes coming together in such lovely forms! Your garden must be the most special of places! Lovely - as always! Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/09/vases-on-monday-with-purple-haze.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda! The garden remains a work in progress but then that's true of most gardens, isn't it?
DeleteDahlias just go on giving, don't they Kris?
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed, Cathy! I can't imagine how I got through summers without them.
DeleteI've always had the impression that Dahlias hold up well in a vase, part of what made them popular as cut flowers. Though, honestly, their huge range of color, size, and form, plus late season bloom, would be enough. It could be that ones grown in cooler locations last longer, so it's well worth finding out some varieties that stand up to your broiling Septembers.
ReplyDeleteI may be a bit hasty about tossing out declining blooms, Nell.
DeleteI tolerate a certain amount of withered petals but I'm quick to thrown out blooms that shatter. The large-flowered multi-petaled varieties seem to average 4-5 days in good shape in a vase here but then our hot, dry weather may be a factor in that equation as you noted. 'Diva' is definitely more resilient than most. Smaller-flowered 'Enchantress' also lasts a bit longer than some of the others.
The vase with 'Diva' is a great reminder that anyone who grows flowers for cutting should be planting that dark little Gomphrena whose name I keep forgetting.
ReplyDeleteNow how can you forget a flower named 'Itsy Bitsy', Nell?! ;)
DeleteLOL, thanks! Clearly I'm blocking it out...
DeleteWhat beautiful deep colors!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy!
DeleteI love the peachy-orange tones in your arrangements, Kris, very autumnal. Every year, I am astounded at the beauty of dahlias, they are so perfect in form and color. A friend give me a selection from her garden (I never planted any this year) and I've been enjoying them immensely.
ReplyDeleteThe bulbine's splash of yellow really looks good in the first vase. Wonderful combinations in both!
The Bulbine never seems to photograph all that well in the garden so I'm glad of a chance to show it off in a vase, Eliza.
DeleteThat's lovely natural light in the newly reclaimed space where you shot the arrangements, even if it's not the most convenient spot. I know any forward progress must be encouraging; hang in there!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing wrong with that spot for photographing vases is that I have to crawl around a bit on the flower and my bad right knee protests! My orthopedist probably would not approve.
DeleteYou have such a great collection of dahlias, Kris. 'Punkin Spice' is a beauty and I love the 'Citron du Cap' too. Your Leucadendrons are just the right colors to support the flowers you chose--so lovely.
ReplyDeleteLeucadendrons of all kinds make a wonderful addition to vases. I'm lucky they grow so well here.
DeleteLove your peachy tones this week. I think the Starbucks thing was a bit much!
ReplyDeleteI guess the 24-hour, 7-day a week news cycle needs to be fed but sometimes I do think what gets coverage is silly, Amelia. My husband derisively refers to all the morning news shows as "drivel."
DeleteYour version of punkin spice is much better than the Starbucks version.
ReplyDeleteI do too, Loree!
DeleteI don't like Starbucks. I love your arrangements. Well done.
ReplyDeleteYour dahlias are stunning - I love the Punkin Spice one! Schools started back here last week and right on cue the gingerbread appeared in the shops! LOL! I am always impressed with how your arrangements look good from all angles. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. 'Punkin Spice' is a star!
DeleteEvery year the crisp weather of fall takes a few days longer to arrive, while the commercial push focused on "fall" (Halloween and Thanksgiving) starts earlier and earlier. Just one of the milder unpleasant contradictions created by climate change and late capitalism.
ReplyDeleteToo true! The commercial press on holidays seems to have lessened rather than enhanced the specialness of the holidays themselves. One of my favorite garden centers opened its Halloween boutique in August and I recently got notice that their Christmas boutique will open in early October.
DeleteDahlias and zinnias, two of my favourites! Unfortunately, it looks to be a dahlia flop year for me here. While I have had some blooms, they have been few and far between. Hopefully I can keep the tubers alive over the winter and try again next year.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the dahlias need to be started earlier still in your climate, Margaret? They do take their time moving from dormancy to bloom even here where the natural hothouse effect of our climate gives them a booster shot.
Delete