The dahlias are still running the show when it comes to my Monday floral arrangements. It's not a matter of what's available but what to choose. While I remain hopeful that my dahlias and zinnias will be around for another six weeks or more, mildew is already a problem and the foliage of a couple of dahlias are clearly infected by dahlia mosaic virus (DMV). As a result, my cutting garden may shrink sooner than I'd expected.
Dahlia 'Miss Brandy' made her debut just over a week ago. I've already concluded that she's a winner and I currently plan to save the tuber when it comes time to clear out my cutting garden to ready it for cool season plants.
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| I kept the mix of plants in this vase simple so as not to compete with 'Miss Brandy' |
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| Back view: Another white gladiola popped up in one of the raised planters so I added it here to make use of it before its flowers were finished |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia 'Miss Brandy', noID Gladiolus, and Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Red Lime' |
The second arrangement stars two of my favorite dahlias, 'Summer's End' and 'Labyrinth'. Regrettably, 'Labyrinth' is suffering from a severe case of DMV. I cut the last of the presentable blooms it still had before cutting down all its branches and depositing them in a green bin for pickup. When I get around to pulling up 'Labyrinth's' tuber from the barrel it occupies, it'll also go in the green bin as online sources don't recommend saving or dividing the tuber, or taking cuttings from the plant.
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| 'Summer's End' has a waterlily-like form but it blends well with 'Labyrinth', which is a dinnerplate type |
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| Back view |
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| Overhead view |
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| From the upper left: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', D. 'Summer's End', Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder', Rumohra adiantiformis (aka leatherleaf fern), Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', and Z. e. 'Queeny Lemon Peach' |
I also cut three stems of Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' late last week after one large branch did a nose dive in the face of high winds. To avoid any more immediate crashes, I cut two other top-heavy stems before adding more support for the plant's branches. As the flowers I'd cut last Sunday were looking sad by Saturday, I popped the new stems in a vase with leftovers from last week's vase.
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| The Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Coleus scutellarioides 'Florida Sun Rose', and Zinnia 'Queeny Red Lime' used last week had a longer vase life than the original 'Lady Darlene' Dahlia stems |
After several days of cooler temperatures, we're expecting another warming trend by the middle of this week. Whether our temperatures reach 90F (32C) or higher again will depend upon whether or not the morning marine layer maintains a daily presence.
For more IAVOM creations, check in with our merry band's leader, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Both arrangements are a glorious mix of beautiful colours. You just can't beat dahlias for their array of colours and shades. Too bad about the mosaic virus. Will it linger in the soil? I have gorgeous peonies that I will have to destroy due to a mosaic virus. Breaks my heart but don't want it to spread to the many others I have.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that some people close down shop on growing dahlias in areas in which plants have shown up with the mosaic virus but the (admittedly cursory) advice I've read encouraged just discarding the plants and their tubers, as well as any divisions or cuttings from the affected plants. I've already ordered replacement tubers for 'Labyrinth' and 'Creme de Cognac' to ship next spring. 'La Luna' may go too. It makes me sad but, I dig up all my tubers each fall to make room for a cool season cutting garden and I'll be especially careful to get all the dahlia roots this year before I refresh the soil in my raised planters. Hopefully, that'll be enough...
DeleteAt first glance, dahlia 'Miss Brandy' and 'Lady Darlene' looked very similar. In fact, I had to check last's Monday's post. I'm glad I don't have to pick a favorite between those two!
ReplyDeleteWhen you did your Dahlia exposé last week, I also thought 'Summer's End' resembles a waterlily: so beautiful.
Will you have to buy all new 'Labyrinth' tubers?
(I may love that last vase best... )
Chavli
'Miss Brandy' has some more peachy-pink in it, while 'Lady Darlene' starts out yellow and red but they do look a bit similar in color as the flowers mature. The latter has a bulkier shape, though. I've just ordered replacement 'Labyrinth' tubers (among others) to ship next spring. Dahlias are my addiction. Actually, I'm addicted to plants in general but I tend to go off the deep end on dahlia tubers...
DeleteGorgeous combination of colors. Miss Brandy I haven't seen before, and is definitely worthy of some space in the garden. Labyrinth as well, are you ordering new tubers?
ReplyDeleteI was holding off on ordering new dahlia tubers until I faced the music today on 'Labyrinth' and a couple of others. I pre-ordered 6 varieties this morning, a couple as replacements and others as newbies. I can't help myself it seems.
DeleteGorgeous dahlias, Kris. I never tire of them! I esp. love the peachy colors in the second arrangement, it's a pity about the virus. Hopefully, the infection hasn't spread to your other plants. What a horror that would be. 🤞🏼 Eliza
ReplyDeleteI think the virus has spread to at least 2 other varieties, although it's not as pronounced in those plants. Still, as both appear to be producing fewer flowers, I'll be removing those soon too.
DeleteMiss Brandy is a keeper! I love the Queeny Lime Zinnias too. The virus is new to me, another challenge. A.melia.
ReplyDeleteThe virus is indeed a problem, especially as I'm not clear how it arrived in the first place. I'm guessing it may have come in with a purchased tuber. If it can be detected in a tuber before foliage emerges, I've no clue as to the signs of it.
DeleteMiss Brandy is an intriguing colour, although not as intriguing as that gorgeous zinnia - what a great combination they make! I am not sure what dahlia mosaic virus is and your link did not show any photos, so I don't know if its something that can appear in the UK too, so I must check it out
ReplyDeletePictures of the virus's affect on dahlia foliage can be seen in a post by the American Dahlia Society, which you can find here: https://dahlia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ADS-DMV_Symptoms_Slides.pdf. I can tell you that 'Labyrinth's' foliage was pristine when it first sprouted and well beyond that point. I didn't really take note of it until early August.
DeleteOK, I started scrolling through your post, and your flowers and arrangements just got more and more beautiful! I absolutely LOVE those shades of peachy/pink, and your skill with combining them and the foliage and the vases is wonderful. Just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth!
DeleteBeautiful soft shades in your vases this week Kris 😍 'Miss Brandy' is a lovely lady and I've noted her name for when I order dahlias early in the new year. I've not heard of dahlia mosaic virus before. My main problem with growing them well is damage from molluscs 😢
ReplyDeleteEw, snails and slugs! They don't pose a problem here, perhaps because the raccoons and possums eat them. I seldom see them anywhere in my garden. When I find a snail shell, it's usually empty - the raccoons are delicate when eating ;)
DeleteYour dahlias are lush and beautiful and the zinnias are quite nice too. Your gladiola is a surprise for this time of year. Hope you can contain the DMV. I'm totally unfamiliar with it. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteI heard about DMV a couple of years ago when another blogger complained about it. It can be confused with other conditions that affect dahlia foliage but it was obvious in this case. I'm afraid it may hitchike into the garden with new plants and tubers. The American Dahlia Society has some good photos showing what it looks like. Sadly, it can spread.
DeleteYour dahlias are looking as gorgeous as ever Kris. I love the colours of Miss Dandy. Do you leave the tubers in the ground, or store them? I have been lucky so far with mildew only affecting my zucchini and cucumber plants towards the end of their season. Some asters seem to get it too, but mine haven't yet. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteWhile dahlias can remain in the ground here, I dig mine up and store them because I grow them in the raised planters of the cutting garden, which I use for other bulbs and annuals during the cool season. All the moisture the cutting beds get would promote rot during their dormancy.
DeleteAs to the mildew, it's a common problem here. Our morning marine layers leave plants damp and then summer's afternoon heat brings on the mildew. I try to encourage air flow between plants but I avoid fungicides.