The stragglers among my dahlias are slowly revealing themselves. I have two recent arrivals to share this week. The first is 'Lady Darlene'. I grew it for the first time in 2023, saved the tuber, and planted it again in 2024. I divided the tuber last November and, in mid-April, potted up one division for myself and passed another one along to a friend. Both germinated but mine remained in a pot like several other tubers until the latter part of June, when I finally pulled up my late-flowering sweet peas, clearing space in the third of the raised planters in my cutting garden for 'Lady Darlene' and my remaining dahlia plants. As in prior years, 'Lady Darlene' was a late bloomer but was worth waiting for.
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| Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' has varied in appearance from year-to-year. I remember blooms with sharp yellow and bright red petals but I love the subdued butter-yellow and soft-red petals of the current blooms. I suspect weather conditions impact the flowers' appearance. |
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| Back view: I used zinnias and coleus as fillers |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Coleus scutellarioides 'Florida Sun Rose', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Lime', Z.e. 'Queeny Red Lime', and Dahlia 'Lady Darlene' |
The second late arrival is Dahlia 'Kelsey Annie Joy'. This dahlia is new to me this year. It's a collarette type, although I'm not absolutely certain it's 'Kelsey Annie Joy' as that flower is generally described and shown as apricot, peach or yellowish in color. My collarette is definitely more pink than peachy-yellow in color but it's still interesting. I couldn't find another named variety that matches the appearance of mine.
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| I've only had a handful of the collarette flowers so far but I relied on the bountiful 'Cafe au Lait Rose' Dahlias to fill out the vase |
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| Back view, featuring the equally bountiful 'Benary's Giant Wine' Zinnias |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: noID Dianthus, Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Wine', Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait Rose', and D. 'Kelsey Annie Joy' (or a relative) |
The cooler temperatures we expected last week never materialized. Our afternoon high yesterday was still 90F (32C). Nonetheless, the weather forecast for this week once again shows temperatures dropping into the low 80s to upper 70sF (24-26C). We shall see.
To find more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Knock me over with a feather! 'Lady Darlene' must be my favorite in your collection and I thought this vase would be your best today, till I saw the second! I may love that one better, especially from the back (if it's allowed): 'Benary's Giant Wine' Zinnias melted my heart this summer, all thanks you. Although I rarely shop for annuals, I'll be buying zinnias next season, no doubt about it.
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I've never seen any of the 'Benary's Giant' Zinnias in local garden centers. I grew all mine (including those in the 'Queeny' series) from seed this year. The 'Giant Wine' really took off. In addition to using them in my own vases, I've given LOTS away, including bottles I left in the driveway for neighbors this weekend. And even then there are still lots of them in my cutting garden - it's amazed me.
DeleteLady Darlene is a beauty! Your Dahlias are really showing off right now. And 2nd what Chavli said, 'Benary's Giant Wine' Zinnia is a showstopper.
ReplyDeleteThat is one exceptionally vigorous Zinnia! I must have timed the seed sowing of that one perfectly this year.
DeleteThe Queen series zinnias seem to do well for you. Would you consider them strong growers? I love what they bring to the first vase with LD.
ReplyDeleteBoth the zinnias in the 'Queeny' and 'Benary's Giant' series are very good performers, although they're having a banner year. 'Giant Wine' is the most bountiful. The zinnias I sowed the earliest in May have been incredible by comparison to those sown a month later..
DeleteI'm wild for that second arrangement. The way the smaller flowers at the base look like they are growing right off the lines of the vase is too perfect!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say I'd deliberately planned that effect but the vase was really chosen because it was the right height for the 'Cafe au Lait Rose' Dahlias ;)
DeleteOh Kris, your dahlias are delightful! I especially love the first vase, the colour play of the dahlias and zinnias is simply awesome. Must check out these varieties which are new to me. Happy Indian summer!
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette! I have a dahlia addiction. No matter how many tubers I save to grow again, I can't help buying new tubers to try as well. I gave away a dozen because I didn't have room to plant all of them in my cutting garden (the only place that gets sufficient water to support them).
DeleteSo very pretty, and an extra great year for Dahlias as well as Zinnias in your garden. Especially like that tall vase holding the 2nd arrangement. It has an elegant shape.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a good year, especially for the zinnias. That vase was a gift from my mother, given to me upon her return from her one and only trip to Finland, her parent's home country.
DeleteLove the latest dahlia showings, Kris. I'm such a fan of zinnias and dahlias this time of year. I wonder if your weather alters the look of your dahlias, too. Another thing that I've noticed is that the flower color changes as it ages, so sometimes what blooms isn't what you thought it'd be when you saw it in a catalog or online. Regardless, dahlias are gorgeous and I never met one I didn't like! Eliza
ReplyDeleteYes, it occurred to me that the aging of the bloom was also an issue with the color variation I've seen in 'Lady Darlene' in particular. I think the heat was a factor in hurrying the process along, though.
DeleteIsn't it intriguing how the colour of dahlias can vary, Kris? I agree it must be the weather. What a year for your zinnias too! I love both your vases today
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. As Eliza pointed out, the flowers can also change in color as they mature but I think the heat has a lot to do with how 'Lady Darlene' looks.
DeleteYour dahlias are gorgeous Kris! I didn't know that the colours can vary according to their growing conditions… that may explain why I often get flowers I consider to be wrongly labelled. Mine have underperformed again, so it is a real treat to see yours. And those zinnias look enormous too! Do you feed them something special?
ReplyDeleteI've been giving the dahlias a "bloom booster" (high in phosphorus) but, as the the zinnias are mingled with them they're also getting that booster. However, the 'Benary's Giant' Zinnias in particular are bred to be big!
DeleteLady Darlene is quite the lady isn't she?! An aristocrat to the stem. All your blooms are quite gorgeous Kris. Beautiful colours and stunning arrangements. Your temperatures are not much different than ours although my guess our nights are cooler 15C ish. Daytime highs have been in the thirties and high twenties - crazy for September. My Sweet Peas are still producing and I am able to pick a bunch every other day. I have a hard time thinking of them being over in June!!
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/09/08/in-a-vase-monday-september-8-2025/
Sweet peas are cool season annuals here, Jenny. I wouldn't be as bothered with their dying off in June if they bloomed earlier. I used to see them as early as February and certainly by March but, for the last 2 years now, they haven't shown themselves until May, only to be mildewed and fried by June :(
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