Last week was very warm, dry, and windy and the dahlias still left in my cutting garden looked the worse for it by Sunday morning. I'm calling this the end of the season for the dahlias (with the exception of 'Rancho' which has yet to open its first buds). I also pulled the remaining zinnias, which like the dahlias were too badly mildewed to bear any longer. I'm sorry to see them go as a flower-filled cutting garden simplified the weekly process of creating arrangements for "In a Vase on Monday," even if the arrangements themselves became a bit repetitive.
So here's the last of Dahlia 'Labyrinth', offered once again in a starring role.
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| Cuphea 'Honeybells' was a last-minute addition after I trimmed it back |
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The last Dahlia 'Belle of Barmera' was tucked in the back of the vase to fill it out
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Honeybells', Dahlia 'Belle of Barmera', Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Blush', and Z. 'Senora'
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Although Dahlia 'Gitts Crazy' had an all-too-brief moment in the spotlight, I'm calling an end to its run as well. It's possible it could produce a few more blooms before the weather gets cold here (if that ever happens!) but its once pristine foliage is too ugly to tolerate.
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I lost a couple 'Gitts Crazy' blooms to last week's weather conditions too and I sacrificed two ready-to-pop buds when I cut these stems
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I threw two bright red zinnias into the mix to dress up the back view of the arrangement
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Gitts Crazy', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Tagetes lemmonii, and noID Zinnia elegans
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The vases containing the dahlias found places where they could be admired for as long as they last.
I couldn't leave the kitchen island empty so I cut a few bush violet stems again this week for a small vase.
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This vase is a re-run of the prior vases featuring Barleria obtusa (bush violet) with Caladium 'Debutante' as the only new element
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For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Your dahlias have been wonderful this year. Such beautiful arrangements. I like seeing your red zinnias.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd gotten the dahlias started 6 weeks earlier as I did during the prior year. That'll certainly be my plan next year!
DeleteAs my own Dahlias turned to crisp last week, I am happier than ever to see your magnificent blooms. Happy Pre Election Day.
ReplyDeleteCold isn't the culprit here - it's the mildew that becomes (if you'll excuse the term) pandemic this time of year that calls our season to a halt.
DeleteI do love your first vase Kris, not just the flowers which are gorgeous, but also the lovely 'bubble rainbow colour' effect of your vase. I always think that when I see it! It's great fun and sets off almost any colour scheme you might choose to use! And that crazy leaf in your blue arrangement - it's wonderful! My vase is on Instagram again this week. Thinking of you and all your fellow truth-seeking compatriots over the coming day or so, and praying for the right outcome in your election. Amanda x
ReplyDeleteI haven't made it to Instagram yet today, Amanda, but I'll be checking it out soon. I'm sorry you're still having problems in blogdom.
DeleteDahlias put on such a great end of summer show, it is hard to let them go. Is it the marine layer that causes the mildew? I think of your area as hot and dry, but it must be moist enough to let mold proliferate. Well, I certainly enjoyed your dahlias while they lasted!
ReplyDeleteYes, the marine layer combined with the still very warm daytime temperatures allows mildew to run amok here, Eliza. I read that spraying Neem can help forestall its spread but I didn't keep that up.
DeleteYour Labyrinth has been such a 'good do-er' this year, and the Zinnias complement it so well in your first vase, as they and the tagetes do with Gitt's Crazy. And your final vase, the blue one, is such a classic style of yours - that Caladium leaf is gorgeous!
ReplyDelete'Labyrinth' is definitely a dahlia I want to make a habit of growing, Cathy. That Caladium leaf gets pink as it matures but I like its sharp white and green look best.
DeleteLovely Labyrinth is very much your sort of colour Kris. Mine has just about stopped flowering but as she has been performing since June I can't blame her. Gitt's Crazy is new to me and very nice.
ReplyDelete'Labyrinth' was among the first to bloom here (despite my delayed planting of the tuber) and it's the last to stop. I'm not counting 'Rancho' as the seller shipped that tuber very late and it is only now preparing to bloom. At best, I expect two blooms before I dig it up.
DeleteYou make me want to plant some dahlias next year. Maybe I will. Love all your bouquets. Happy IAVOM.
ReplyDeleteI think you should give it a whirl, Lisa!
DeleteI was just getting ready to do a post about digging mine up. I only have a few and I store them for the winter since it gets so wet here. Yours are beautiful. Those colors!
ReplyDeleteI dig and store my dahlia tubers too, Phillip, as I replant my cutting garden with cool season annuals and the water necessary to support those plants would rot the the tubers if they were left in place. Last year, diverted by our home remodel, I let the tubers wither but I'm more on top of things this year.
DeleteI love the way the form and shape of the petals on your Dahlia are as one with the 'pleated' vase. Labyrinth has done you proud.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I matched the vase to the petals of 'Gitts Crazy' purposely, Noelle, but I was pleased when I noticed the effect. 'Labyrinth' is definitely a keeper.
DeleteYesterday, I had a wonderful time assisting with the removal of plants in the Central Garden of Sherman L&G. Although I was reluctant to take any plants because I’m behind in getting plants and bulbs in my own garden, I remembered how well your Lisianthus performs. I was encouraged by one in the horticulture staff to take some of the dark purple Lisianthus and so I have four. I was told that in our milder climate, they can be used as perennials and after fall blooming, you can cut them down to the crown to return in spring. I looked at all four and they have several buds. I will put mine in one of my empty half wine barrels. I know that your last arrangement is one of your simplest, but if I could even approach producing a similar vase arrangement with the Lisianthus, I would be thrilled! Caladium ‘Debutante’ is outstanding in the vase. To me, all the different Dahlias, Zinnias, Cuphea, and other fillers all look well together, even if they were in the same vase! I wish you a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you took those Lisianthus, Kay. Yes, the plants are perennial in our climate, albeit short-lived ones. I've had plants that lasted years but many go much more quickly. They tend to develop a sickly pallor, at which point, I often get fed up and pull them, but if you're willing to wait them out, many recover and produce new foliage from the base. Burpee sells plug plants but these aren't currently available and probably won't be until March if my past experience is predictive; however, that's still usually earlier than local garden centers have the plants. They're notoriously difficult to grow from seeds, although I haven't yet tried the pelleted seeds, which are supposed to be easier to deal with.
DeleteOh I love the coloration on 'Gitts Crazy' and the addition of the caladium leaves to the blue vase is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThe Caladiums deserved for attention than they got this year (which was none until now).
DeleteI have gotten so far behind reading email and blogs that I'm tempted to delete without reading but can't quite bring myself to do that - yet anyway. I voted today and find myself quite distraught with fear of how it will go so your beautiful vases have helped calm me a little. The Xanex no doubt helped too. Thanks for sharing the bounty of your garden even though it is coming to a close for some of the players.
ReplyDeleteWell, the gardening season here is year-round so you can always stop by when in need of distraction, Barbara. I voted by mail a few weeks ago as that didn't pose a significant challenge in California (especially as I was able to electronically track delivery of my ballot). I applaud you for voting in person on Election Day, which I'm sure felt like a more emotionally fraught process. I'm ignoring the returns for now and, as this is almost surely going to be a drawn-out process, I recommend distracting yourself by whatever means possible without subjecting your nerves to the ups and downs that are likely as ballots go through a slower-than-normal counting. I read a useful essay yesterday, the basic point of which is that the election process is beset with hype and hysteria and, as individuals, we decide the country's future by the actions we take each day, not one action every 4 years.
DeleteYes, all good advice, Kris, and I've been following a lot of it. I live out in the country with a small population for our polling location so it was not stressful to vote. I'm deep in the heart of Republican Alabama so that's not fun at any time of the year. I am focusing today on catching up in home and garden chores which will both keep me fully occupied!
DeleteI'm glad you're feeling batter about things today, Barbara. When everything, including public health issues, has become politicized I expect living in an area that leans heavily in one direction is very uncomfortable, although even here in liberal-leaning California, there are still plenty of confrontations. If the political parties learn nothing else from the last 4 years, I hope they'll realize the destructiveness of petty, immature, disrespectful monologues before the younger generations give up on government altogether.
DeleteEverything still looks fresh and lovely to me Kris. Beautiful as always. I just pulled my zinnias out last weekend myself, but they finally bit the dust after a 25 degree night. It's always hard to say good-bye to our favorites, but at least you don't have to say good-bye to nice weather. It's supposed to be 70 degrees by the weekend and I'll take that as one last warm hurray. I can't stop winter and it won't be so bad this year since I get to work from home. I never mind the snow when I can watch it come down and not have to drive in it. Of course there is still shoveling. And I just finished cleaning out the garage tonight so I can get the car in it. No more frost on the windows either. Can you tell I'm looking for the bright spots, even if they are small?
ReplyDeleteWe all need to look for the bright spots, Cindy! Here, we've got another slight chance of rain this coming weekend. The last chance yielded just 2/100ths of an inch but every little bit counts! I'm putting my garden back together after the tree removal/trimming upheaval of last week too, one small step at a time - each action I take helps boost my mood.
DeleteYour dahlias have been marvellous Kris. I really love those green vases you used. The foliage and Cuphea in the first vase make it come alive... they seem to be waving at me. ;-) Love the Caladium leaves too. They go so well with the pretty shades of blue.
ReplyDeleteThat particular Cuphea does have more movement than most, Cathy. It was a great find and I wish I had more of it. Time to see if I can propagate it I guess.
DeleteWell what a glorious end of the road for 'Labyrinth' Kris. The caladium leaf in your last vase is just stunning.
ReplyDelete'Labyrinth' is a must-grow for 2021, Anna!
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