The dahlias in my garden haven't exactly mounted a stampede yet but they're definitely gearing up to put on a good show. The zinnias are picking up their pace too. I didn't have to think long about what I was going to cut for today's vases.
Dahlia 'Labyrinth' was a late bloomer last year and wasn't especially prolific but this year it appears to be making up for lost time.
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| I didn't divide the 'Labyrinth' tuber as much as I probably should have, which may account for its output this year |
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| Back view: I've had 3 more varieties of zinnias make an appearance |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Honeybells', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Salmon Rose, Z. e. 'Queeny Lemon Peach', Z. e. 'Queeny Orange Lime', Z. e. 'Queeny Red Lime', and Dahlia 'Labyrinth' |
Dahlia 'Creme de Cognac' was a star last year and it seems prepared to follow up that performance with another great display this year.
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| I stuffed this vase more densely than I'd intended and, in the process, didn't quite manage to achieve symmetry |
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| Back view |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder', Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Red Lime', Z. e. 'Benary's Giant Lime', and Dahlia 'Creme de Cognac' |
Dahlia 'Mikayla Miranda' didn't appreciate the joint onslaught by heat and air conditioning last week and was fading fast by Friday. I hope the dahlias hold up better this week. By comparison, last week's second arrangement held up relatively well. Two Agapanthus stems were worthy of another round and I popped them into a smaller vase to sit on the kitchen island.
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| The stems of both Agapanthus 'Elaine' and Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated' are holdovers but I added a new stem of white Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus) to the mix |
After two days of fairly moderate summer temperatures in the mid-80sF (29C), we're expecting another heatwave to kick off today. I hope it's milder than the previous one as I went stir-crazy last week. Our air quality is nominally better as Cal Fire has gained ground on the active fires in Southern California - the Gifford Fire is now over thirty percent contained and the Canyon Fire that prompted evacuations in Los Angeles County is over sixty percent contained.
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Labyrinth is such a gorgeous dahlia. Love the mix of colours. Creme de Cognac is also a beautiful one. I'm growing it this year as well. Glad the fires are starting to become under control. Our summer has been cool and wet and relatively smoke free this year. A real treat.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the dahlias in bloom. The bud of what's supposed to be 'Cafe au Lait' looks ready to open but it also doesn't appear to have been correctly identified by the seller...Well, surprises can be interesting ;)
DeleteFabulous Dahlias and Zinnias, the stars of this week!
ReplyDeleteHere too Dahlias under perform their first year, and improve after that.
The bigger the tuber the better the blooms it seems!
DeleteI love the colors that run through your first two vase arrangements!
ReplyDeleteI should have more orange-toned blooms coming as dahlia season progresses, Loree ;)
DeleteWhat a shame to hear that fires are threatening much of the state again - is it only in recent years that they have become more widespread? It was the green and (sort of) burnt orange vase that jumped out at me today - you captured the colours of the two-tone zinnia beautifully. I m pleased your dahlias are beginning to perform for you and look forward to seeing the in lots of your vases in the coming weeks
ReplyDeleteFires have always been part of life in California but, with climate change, they do seem to have become larger, more frequent, and more destructive. At least the dahlias provide a distraction from that ugly element of the summer season.
DeleteMarvelous dahlias, Kris, you grow some great cultivars. With so many to choose from, I wish I had an extra acre just to grow more!
ReplyDeletePaired with these wonderful zinnias, you have created two gorgeous arrangements! Eliza
I used to want a 2-acre lot to garden, Eliza. However, I've come to accept that I've already got as much as I can handle with half an acre ;)
DeleteOhh, my favorites, Dahlias and Zinnias all gorgeous though the Queen Lime has stolen my heart. Let me know if you want some Beautyberries! A.melia
ReplyDelete'Benary's Giant Lime' and 'Queeny Red Lime' both look better this year than they ever have in prior years!
DeleteI remember Labyrinth from last year Kris, and it is one of the loveliest ones. Dahlias and zinnias make such wonderful companions for each other and you have a great mix of colours, beautifully arranged too. The Giant Lime Zinnia is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe lime zinnias are having a very good year for a change!
DeleteI'm glad to hear the air quality is improving, and there has been progress on the fire. I love Labyrinth, that's a stunner!
ReplyDelete'Labyrinth' was so relatively disappointing last year, I almost didn't bother with it this year but I'm glad I did. In addition to one very large mass of tubers, I popped a second tiny one into the same barrel, not expecting much. It's also doing amazingly well this year. I hope the third tuber I gave away to a friend is doing as well.
DeleteOh gosh, you can't go wrong with Dahlias and Zinnias! I love that lime green Zinnia--wow! And your actual vases/vessels are wonderful, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. That lime zinnia is a winner this year.
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