Although the calendar says we've entered the fall season, "Indian summers" are the norm rather than the exception here in coastal Southern California. For one thing, we don't get frosts. However, in contrast to the recent heatwave, our temperatures were on the deliciously cool side last week. It's supposed to be warmer today (low 80sF/27C) but our morning marine layer is back, which operates like natural air conditioning. If we're lucky, we can at least anticipate that the heatwaves are behind us and nighttime temperatures should continue in the low 60sF (17C). In other words, it's our version of fall even if very different from conditions in much of the Northern Hemisphere.
My dahlias are still going strong. The first arrangement includes two varieties of dahlias, one which I've used before (and also grew last year) and the other which is new.
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| I've featured the huge blooms of Dahlia 'Fairway Spur' before but the ball-shaped 'Brown Sugar' Dahlias are new to my garden. I haven't made up my mind about them yet but I thought their rusty orange color echoed that at the center of 'Fairway Spur'. |
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| Back view: The foliage of Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' may be too similar to the 'Brown Sugar' Dahlias |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Brown Sugar', D. 'Fairway Spur', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', and Zinnia elegans 'Golden Hour' |
The second arrangement contains another dahlia I'm growing for the first time this year. As with Dahlia 'Brown Sugar', I haven't decided if this one's a keeper either.
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| Dahlia 'Excentric' is supposed to be a hot coral-pink variety but in the garden it's more pink than coral, although the coral element is easier to see up close than it is in the photos here |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Excentric', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Coral', Z. e. 'Raspberry Limeade', and Z. e. 'Zinderella Peach' |
For more IAVOM creations, visit our host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Love the Dahlias, and of course the Zinnias. You have some lovely vases, too, Kris. Here in my part of the country, our highs went from hot (high 80s) to cool (high 60s) almost overnight on the first day of autumn. Would like to see more 70s in the forecast, and it looks like they're on the way in the week ahead. Enjoy your pleasant weather, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see more temperatures in the low 70s myself, Beth. However, it looks like this week could deliver some 80s, which we consider "warm" rather than hot as they're least better than the 100+ temperatures we had recently!
DeleteI like the autumn color of Brown Sugar. Your weather is pretty perfect, we are hitting 100 again today. But the shorter daylight should help ??
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'm sorry to hear that your temperature has zoomed up that high again, Tracy. Hopefully, at least the nighttime temperature will be reasonable. In any case, we can both be happy we're saved from Phoenix-level temperatures...
DeleteI love how some Dahlia blooms change their color as they mature. I noticed that in one of my Dahlias; the evolving hues is quite lovely. Your first vase have wonderful hints of the changing seasons, aided by Leptospermum 'Copper Glow'. Dahlia 'Brown Sugar' has gorgeous saturated color. Wow.
ReplyDeleteDahlia 'Excentric' looks delicious in the second vase: to me it says Raspberry sorbet. And as you may remember, it's in my favorite vase.
Chavli
I'd meant to comment of that second vase, Chavli. It's one of my favorites too but I think this may be the first time I've used it this year. 'Excentric' seemed made for it, though ;)
DeleteHow big are the Brown Sugar blooms, Kris? I really like the colour of this one. The ball or small decorative dahlias are my favourite, although one year I mistakenly bought a pompon dahlia which was much smaller and definitely not what I wanted! It works well with the other dahlia and the zinnia, and you have got some great complementary blooms in the second vase too
ReplyDeleteWithout actually measuring the blooms, I'd guess that the 'Brown Sugar' Dahlias are about 3 inches in diameter, Cathy. It makes a great accent flower, not being a diva as so many dahlias are.
DeleteI love your new dahlias....They are spectacular in color and add so much color to these incredible vases. Glad you are getting some relief from heat. We are finally getting cooler weather and rain.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I wish we'd get some rain here, Donna. Today's heavy morning marine layer gave us 0.01/inch of measurable precipitation, which just doesn't cut it...
DeleteDahlia colors can be quite variable, can't they? I like all of these and you've found good companions. Dahlia 'Excentric' has an nice free, loose form.
ReplyDeleteMy sense is that the weather - or at least temperatures - may play a part in the color variations of at least some dahlias, Susie. I recently noted that my 'Lady Darlene' Dahlias look a lot different this year than they did last year but, since the temperatures dropped last week, I note that the newest blooms more closely resemble those I saw last year.
DeleteBeautiful dahlias, Kris. You've used the pom-styled ones well. I've never grown them and often wondered how'd they look arranged. I love the color esp.
ReplyDeleteHope your weather continues to be pleasant and a decent rain year starts soon. Eliza
I think the ball-shaped dahlias make great accent flowers, Eliza. As to rain, I think we need to set our expectations on November :(
DeleteYour dahlias and zinnias are enviable Kris, and I love them all. Those orange pompom ones are quite stunning and perfect for a late summer, early autumn arrangement. Glad you are getting cooler weather - it's cooling down here rapidly now, with just 8 or 9°C at night.
ReplyDeleteThose nighttime temperatures would be on the cold side even for winter here, Cathy ;)
DeleteLoving the shapes of your arrangements and the colours indeed are indicative of Fall. Beautiful.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2024/09/23/in-a-vaseseptember-23/
Thanks Jenny. Even if it feels like an extension of summer here, we can fake a change of seasons using floral color ;)
DeleteGorgeous dahlias. I have a few that are still blooming vibrantly. They are great flowers.
ReplyDeleteThey are! They make the difficulties posed by summer heat here more tolerable.
DeleteHappy Fall. Kris. I think your dahlias are lasting amazingly well. I love the leptospermum with them. Amelia I saw your coleus pots in the new post, love them!
ReplyDeleteThe dahlias have lasted until early November in the past. I'm hoping that may be the case this year too, Amelia. I'm hoping Hurricane Helene poses no serious issues for you this week!
DeleteGorgeous colors. Love those gorgeous colors!
ReplyDeleteI hope Meeko has settled in and is a happy girl.
Oh, she's happy, HB, but she's living up to the Algonquin meaning of her name, "little mischief." She jumped a few feet from a living room chair onto the fireplace mantle this morning, sending a framed photo crashing to the floor, shattering the glass...
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