With the plants in my cutting garden rapidly succumbing to the combination of heat and mildew, I didn't immediately see any good prospects to fill a vase. I fixated on a red and white dahlia bloom in one of the half barrels in my front garden and jumped off from there. For a time, I thought I'd be combining that single flower with a variety of foliage plants until I noticed that the variegated Australian fuchsia was beginning its annual bloom cycle.
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| Unfortunately, the dangling flowers of the Australian fuchsia (Correa 'Wyn's Wonder') got somewhat lost within the foliage. The Correa is a variegated variety but, over the years, it's begun to lose that variegation so it doesn't stand out as much as I'd like. |
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| Back view, with the Correa buried within branches of glossy cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Alstroemeria 'Inca Vienna', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Prunus caroliniana, Caladium 'Tapestry', Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', Dahlia 'Catching Fire', and Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Deep Red' |
I'd no idea what, if anything, I had available for a second arrangement until I noticed that the Chihuahuan sage (Leucophyllum laevigatum) in my back garden had suddenly produced a second flush of bloom. The sage bloomed early in September only to have the flowers quickly wither away when our prior heatwave struck. I hadn't expected another round of bloom so soon.
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| I wasn't thrilled with the combination of the lavender-blue flowers of the sage with the flowers of Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple', which are more deep pink than purple to my eyes but the arrangement has (sort of) grown on me |
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| Back view: The sage's flowers are supposed to be fragrant but I can barely detect the scent even when I stick my nose right into them |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', pink and white Cosmos bipinnatus, Leucophyllum laevigatum, and Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Purple' |
There were a few yellow dahlias in bloom that I assumed wouldn't make it through the current heatwave, which is expected to run through Thursday, so I cut them for the kitchen island.
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| The small vase contains: 2 Dahlia 'Calin', one D. 'Summer's End', 2 short stems of Correa 'Wyn's Wonder', and 2 stems of Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Carmine Rose' |
With my cutting garden torn up awaiting the (still unscheduled) arrival of plumbers to replace 100+ feet of water pipe and everything in the raised planters sliding into decline, I'm tempted to pull everything up just to restore a sense of control over the space. However, even with their mildewed foliage, many dahlias have buds and I'm hoping to see more blooms before I throw in the towel on the summer season so, for now, I'm trying to ignore the mess.
Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find other IAVOM creations.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
The Dahlia is allowed to be the star in the first one. It meets the challenge!
ReplyDeleteNo flowers to speak of but enough for three outstanding arrangements. Hmmm...
Much as I miss the Dahlia 'Akita' I'd ordered, I'm very happy with the red and white one I ended up with, HB. The Leucophyllum blooms were a complete surprise coming virtually on the heels of the first flush!
DeleteOh good grief, Kris - is that plumbing work running right through your garden? I cannot imagine the disruption it will cause 🙄 I assume it must be a necessity to have it replaced? I am pleased you were able to put together a selection of vases beforehand but know what you mean about wondering whether to throw in the towel on the summer season. I find that once I start clearing some things, I get the urge to sweep through and clear more - but will result, as there is plenty more to come, especially in the cutting beds. Those sage flowers make a great show, don't they?
ReplyDeleteOur water meter is slowly spinning, which signifies a leak. We weren't able to identify it's specific location (without bringing in a contractor specializing in acoustic leak detection) but we were able to isolate the affected stretch of pipe. As this is the third leak in the copper pipe running from our connection to the city's water line, we decided it was time to face the need to replace it. The plumber was able to suggest a method to reduce the impact to my garden but I'm still facing a trench through one planted area, under my compost bins and through a long section of gravel-covered path surrounding the raised planters in my cutting garden. My husband has already dug up the gravel, currently in bags scattered around my raised planters. It's a mess and we still don't have a date from the plumber to do the work. I'm hoping October will be better than September's been...
DeleteUgh, reading about the plumbing..though it sounds very necessary. I love the Caladium foliage in the first arrangement and have been wondering who could grow fuschias here - you! Good luck nursing your Dahlias through the work. Amelia.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to claim I can even grow fuchsias here, Amelia, and I imagine it'd be twice as hard in Florida. The only one I've had any degree of success under current conditions is Fuchsia magellanica 'Hawkshead', which has small white flowers. I grow it in a half-barrel where it's protected from the sun and receives water via a drip irrigation line. If you want to try one, that's the one I'd suggest!
DeleteI'm just about ready to transition to Trader Joe Alstromerias with whatever filler/greens I can harvest from my garden. I give it about 2 or 3 more weeks.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually yank the plants in my cutting garden until late October or even early November but, disappointed by their output this year, I doubt I'm going to be able to tolerate them for long as the mildew worsens. The current heatwave isn't doing them any favors either. I'll sow seeds for cool season annuals once I clear and refresh the beds but it'll be months before I see blooms there. My Senna usually starts blooming in October but it's struggling right now and the bush violets (Barleria) probably won't bloom until November :(
DeleteI greatly admire the way you arrange the huge range of flowers and foliage you have. You are very clever with the choice of colours and textures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Noelle. I'd go into flower farming if I had the opportunity for a do-over on my career choices.
DeleteNot quite nothing, Kris ;) Way more challenging to find anything suitable in my garden. All your vases are delightful and no doubt brighten your days. You're a very talented flower arranger.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. As you can no doubt tell, I'm addicted to flowers.
DeleteThe second vase is really striking Kris. How strange that the salvia has no fragrance. I have noticed my culinary herbs do not smell in intense heat, but by the evening the smell and flavour have returned. Love the Caladium in your first vase too. I grew Correa once as a summer annual and rather liked it - it is very unusual here!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if I might be able to detect more scent from the Leucophyllum in an outdoor setting rather than an air conditioned house, Cathy, but it's been too hot to venture out to check that theory ;) As to the Correa, fortunately, they're relatively long-lived shrubs here in most cases, although I've lost a couple within a single season.
DeleteBoth vases so perfectly complement their floral contents, well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree.
DeleteSo pretty, Kris. Sorry you're continuing to have extreme weather. But October is right around the corner, hopefully there'll be cooler temps and showers in your forecast. Eliza
ReplyDeleteSeptember - and October too - can be cruel, teasing us with signs of fall only to slap us with a filthy heatwave afterwards.
DeleteSorry to hear about all the plumbing work Kris. What a disruption to you and your garden! That Chihuahuan sage sure is pretty, I don't know of it. Amazing what you can find to fill your vases despite all your heat and drought. The gardener should be commended :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Horticat. That sage is native to Mexico and not all that commonly sold even in California so it probably hasn't made the crossing to Australia yet ;)
DeleteOh and I have a question re your caladium. Does it die down completely for you in winter? If so, do you lift the corms? Are you growing it in a pot? I've never grown them but am very tempted to try.
ReplyDeleteThe Caladium is in the ground, although I'd previously grown the same corms in pots. They grew taller and more vigorously in the pots but water could be a factor in the difference. I haven't pulled them up since they were planted out 2-3 years ago. 'Tapestry' made a halfway decent showing this year but its stems are still on the short side. The other variety I put in the ground, 'Debutante', barely made a showing on stems no taller than 2 inches.
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