I'd hoped to hang onto my dahlias for a few weeks more but they had other ideas. Blooms are opening rapidly and fading fast. As we're experiencing another bout with Santa Ana winds this week, accompanied by summer-like temperatures, I decided to let most of them go. After all, I need to clear space in my cutting garden soon anyway to make room for the seeds and bulbs I've stockpiled to get my cool-season garden going.
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| The bees weren't happy when I pilfered the best of the remaining blooms Dahlia 'Enchantress' had to offer |
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| I added one last bloom of Dahlia 'Hollyhill Karen Lee' and dark pink Zinnias to flesh out the arrangement |
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| Top view: I took all my photos again this week in our unfinished kitchen, currently covered in drop cloths as the remodel crew has been painting that half of the house |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Enchantress', Cuphea 'Starfire Pink', Zinnia elegans in dark pink tones (probably 'Benary's Giant Wine'), and Tanacetum parthenium (I neglected to take a close-up photo of Dahlia 'Hollyhill Karen Lee') |
After looking at the latest blooms on
Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill', I decided it was time for him to go too. The increasingly slender stems can't hold up
'Otto's' heavy head.
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| Dahlia 'Labyrinth' wanted to be part of this last hurrah as well |
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| I also used Zinnias to fill out this vase |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill', Coprosma 'Fireburst', C. 'Plum Hussey', Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', and more Zinnia elegans |
If it doesn't get too hot, I'll dig up the dahlia tubers this week. As Dahlia
'Punkin Spice' is still producing big beautiful blooms, she gets a temporary reprieve but the rest will either be prepped for storage or jettisoned into the compost bin.
'Enchantress' is definitely a keeper, as are
'Otto's Thrill' 'Terracotta', and
'Hollyhill Karen Lee' (as well as
'Punkin Spice' when she's ready to go).
'Labyrinth' and
'Diva' may get added if I can find the storage space.
'Labyrinth' isn't the color I expected and
'Diva', while gorgeous, had a very short season.
'Bluetiful' and
'Citron du Cap' are pretty but both were poor producers so I'll give the space they occupied to new tubers next year.
For other Monday vases, created from materials on hand as contributing gardeners transition from one season to another,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Enchantress's two-tone petals make it a very attractive dahlia, set off nicely against the foliage, whilst the second vase feels like a soft and refreshing scoop of ice cream on a hot day! How is the rebuild going, Kris? Do you hope it will all be cpmpleted by Christmas? Has it been better (or worse) than you anticipated?
ReplyDeleteMy husband believes that the remodel will be done by Thanksgiving (i.e. late November). I'm hopeful but still not ready to lay odds on it, Cathy. When we passed the 4-month mark last week, I'd say that my overall feeling was (and is) simply exhaustion. There's more damage to my garden than I'd expected but part of that is attributable to a corroded gas line that had to be replaced. It was discovered in the course of our project but the project itself was not the cause of it.
DeleteA bittersweet time, the end of dahlias. Mine are hanging on but they are not looking very good. I find them to be quite variable as far as colour goes and your Labyrinth is nothing like mine. It's much brighter and orangy yellow. Also they can vary from year to year so you never know what to expect. They all look wonderful in your vases, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that pink undertones showed up more prominently in 'Labyrinth' here under certain (generally cooler) weather conditions. The hot Santa Ana winds took a toll on all my dahlias a week ago and I figured that this week's second bout could only make things worse.
DeleteTwo more fabulous vases Kris. Does your garden ever get tired of producing such spectacular material for our Monday vases? It comes up trumps week in, week out! Sorry, might rephrase that. It surpasses itself, week after week. Amanda https://therunningwave.blogspot.com/2019/10/daisies-in-vase-on-monday.html
ReplyDeleteYes, "trumps" a word we avoid these days, Amanda! I hope I'll have Dahlia 'Punkin Spice' for a couple weeks yet but it and the Zinnias will have to go soon to make space for my cool season floral crop.
DeleteKris, I can see why the bees were sad. What beauties. Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill' is really gorgeous. We finally had a couple days of rain but the dahlias and zinnias still look really tired.
ReplyDeleteLong dry spells do leave the garden looking tired, Susie. Even though I'm used to those extended dry periods here, I always find myself thinking that the garden looks sad at this time of year.
DeleteExpertly done, as always, Kris! Zinnias and Dahlias: What could be better?
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. Dahlias and zinnias turned around my thinking about late summer/early fall here - it's no longer a floral wasteland.
DeleteThe Dahlias and Zinnias are so beautiful. Yours lasted longer than mine did. Hope your gas line is replaced and those guys are away from your plants.
ReplyDeleteAnother peak at your new kitchen, whoo-hoo! Looks good.
The plumbing crew did a lot of collateral damage to my garden, HB, but they got the gas line fixed - without digging up the driveway. I'm SO ready for this project to be done.
DeletePretty flowers Kris and pretty kitchen from what I can see in the background. Are you getting close to being done? Seems like you've been in remodeling mode for a very long time now. I'm sure you're anxious to see the end of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat will you be growing in your cool garden? There is no such thing here in Ohio. There is only spring, summer, fall, and dead.
We passed the 4 month mark on the remodel last week, Cindy, so yes, it's been a long haul. We expect to be done by Thanksgiving, assuming no more unexpected complications.
DeleteMy cool season garden usually has larkspur, foxgloves, ranunculus, and sweet peas among other things. I'm going to plant some anemones in the cutting garden this year too.
Your dahlia haul looks fantastic. Can't wait to see what you grow for your cool season. It must be nice to be able to garden all year round. I am afraid I am used to that 5 month vacation from major garden activity. I will vicariously garden through your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteFive months! I'd actually love a break of a month or maybe 6 weeks, Lisa, but I'd be chomping at the bit if it was longer than that.
DeleteFabulous dahlias and they go so well with the zinnias. I love Labyrinth, I do hope you will keep it.
ReplyDeleteRight now, as a byproduct of our remodel, I'm so surrounded by clutter - everywhere, including the garden - I have to fight the instinct to toss everything, Chloris. I've enjoyed Labyrinth but also find myself tempted to save myself the immediate bother of storing the tubers in a garage already loaded with stuff, even at the cost of buying new tubers next year.
DeleteDrop cloths make a great backdrop for your beautiful pink flowers.
ReplyDeleteI briefly considered moving those drop clothes for the photos but, when it came down to it, it was just too much trouble, Loree.
DeleteI love the pinks and magentas, and covet your Dahlias still. I may just water mine til they rot and see if that helps! My husband is a retired Architect, so i have been the overseer of one too many renovations while he was at work. It will be over soon and you will love it!!
ReplyDeleteDahlias do love water once they've sprouted and are producing buds, Amelia. I'm sure I'll be happy about the remodel when it's done but, at the moment, I'm tempted to take the cat and find myself a nice, pet-friendly hotel for a few weeks.
DeleteKris, although you’re living in chaos you’ve managed amazingly to create beauty and a light heartedness in your midst with your arrangements. Absolutely lovely. Robin
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin!
Delete'Enchantress' is certainly well-named. What a looker. Both are beautiful bouquets, Kris - love the rich pinks!
ReplyDeleteI see the cupboards have handles on them now. Looking good. Coming down to the finish line!
The cabinets have handles AND the backsplash has been installed. The interior painting is underway and installation of the wood flooring and cladding for the fireplace are pending, then the kitchen equipment comes in and the lighting goes up!
DeleteOh, those zinnias are making me miss mine! I'll be digging up my dahlias in a week or so - they have just now died back. I'll be leaving everything else as-is for the winter so that the critters can forage and enjoy (plus they make for a much more interesting snow covered landscape!)
ReplyDeleteI dug up all my dahlias except 'Punkin Spice' this week. I'm not sure how much longer I'll hang on to the zinnias - they still look fine but I need the space!
Delete