This post marks what is probably the final farewell to the dahlias in my garden for this year. I've already pulled some and I've cut back others in preparation for storing the tubers for use next year. The dahlias I used as focal points last week have been trotted out again this week as they had presentable flowers. I changed up the accent flowers but that's about it.
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| Dahlia 'Iceberg' conceivably could produce additional blooms but the plant, currently growing in a half-barrel in my front garden, is poorly supported for its size and is listing to one side as if it'd been hit by the Titanic. Skippy, a cat belonging to neighbors 5 doors down and possibly the biggest domestic feline I've ever seen, visits the catmint growing in the same barrel on a regular basis, which hasn't helped matters. So I expect I'll go ahead and pull the tuber this week. |
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| Back view |
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| Top view: I played off the subtle touches of lavender in the the dahlia's petals in selecting its companions this week |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Angelonia 'Archangel White', Dahlia 'Iceberg', Ocimum 'African Blue Basil', Pelargonium peltatum (aka ivy geranium), Polygala myrtifolia (aka sweet pea bush), and Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata' |
Dahlia 'Gitt's Crazy' still has some buds and, if they open later this week, I may cut them to give away but I expect I'll dig up the tuber before the week is out one way or another. It's time to move on and embrace the new season.
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| 'Gitt's Crazy' is hands down the most prolific bloomer in my crowd of dahlias this year |
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| I threw in the last Dahlia 'Akita', drooping but still beautiful, and a single Dahlia 'Mystic Illusion' to dress up the back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia 'Akita, D. 'Gitt's Crazy', D. 'Mystic Illusion', Nandina domestica berries; and Senna bicapsularis |
Dahlia 'Enchantress' produced her last blooms this week as well. I originally thought I'd toss them into the vase with 'Iceberg' but I wasn't excited about the combination, which means they went into the small vase of leftovers on the kitchen island.
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| In addition to the last 2 blooms of Dahlia 'Enchantress', the vase contains a noID double-petaled Pelargonium peltatum, Salvia 'White Flame' and, not shown in closeup, Angelonia 'Archangel White' and Prostanthera ovalifolia |
I've planted bulbs and sown sweet pea seeds in two of the three raised planters in my cutting garden and have yet to clear the third raised bed or the barrels for replanting. At the moment, the only things left suitable for cutting there are zinnias in the 'Profusion' series, which for some odd reason haven't developed the mildew that led me to pull the larger zinnias weeks ago. Floral material may be in short supply for awhile.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. The following observance of IAVOM on November 8th will mark the eighth anniversary of her popular meme. Cathy plans to mark the event with a challenge so check her site for details if you're interested in participating.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Beautiful presentations. I'm sorry to see your dahlias go but I'm sure you have many more plans for vases ahead. Dahlia 'Iceberg' is really gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe only bad thing with 'Iceberg' is its delay in blooming. According to Swan Island, it generally takes 120 days to reach bloom stage. All the more reason to make sure I start it really early next year. Giving it a full sun location would probably help too.
DeleteMy dahlias have been rather porrly supported tis year too, and have suffered a number of stem breakages because of it...my own fault! I like the supporting foliage in your first vase, and wonder if a single dahlia would have stood out just as well, with these as an accompaniment? And your third kitchen island leftover vase is so sweet - lovely colours
ReplyDeleteAs 'Iceberg' produces really large blooms, I expect it could carry an arrangement with a single stem but, as I knew I'd soon be pulling all my dahlias out, I felt I might as well throw everything in.
DeleteSo, so gorgeous. I love the deep blues in the first arrangements. Those Dahlias look huge. I did not realize you would have to lift Dahlias in LA?! I love that African Blue Basil and have yet to get one to grow. Sigh. Dahlias as well.
ReplyDelete'Iceberg' is supposed to get blooms up to 12 inches in diameter, Amelia. I measured this batch at 9 inches and I expect I'd have had to remove the side buds earlier for them to reach their full potential. Dahlia tubers do NOT need to be lifted in my climate but, as I use my cutting garden year-round, I pull them up to make room for other plants. Pulling them up also helps to avoid rotting the tubers underground in areas that are regularly irrigated as my raised planters are.
DeleteReally love the colours in your second vase Kris. The single dahlia is very striking. I must follow your example and have a little vase for leftovers, to stop me cramming everything into one vase!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I still cram my other vases, Cathy, the "leftover" arrangements are always useful to brighten one area or another.
DeleteYour dahlias have been lovely to see these past months, Kris. Always sad to see them go. (Mine got frosted this weekend, so are well and truly done.)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have lovely things in store for us as the winter season progresses - looking forward to it!
In the near term, I expect I'll be resorting to my year-round bloomers like the Grevilleas for floral color, Eliza. It's going to take awhile to get the cool season plants going. The only plug plants I'm seeing a lot of at my local garden center right now are snapdragons. I've got a few of those and, although I love them, I avoid buying a lot of them as rust is a persistent problem here.
DeleteDahlias have certainly contributed pazzaz over the last few weeks, it doesn't mean that I haven't appreciated everything else about your arrangements Kris.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. As in movies (and novels) the star of the story can seldom shine brightly without a good supporting cast.
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