In a Vase on Monday: Retreads

Although I have more dahlia flowers than I can use to fill my vases, some of those in my cutting garden are still keeping me waiting.  Five varieties have promising buds but have yet to bloom.  Two other plants have been stingy with their flowers and another has failed to produce any buds to date.  So, while I wait out the stragglers, I've put together two arrangements using my more vigorous cultivars, hence the reference to "retreads."

I'd meant to give Dahlia 'Labyrinth' top billing this week but 'Summer's End' played tug-of-war for that spot

Back view: I added several stems of Grevillea 'Superb' for extra interest

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia 'Labyrinth', D. 'Summer's End', Grevillea 'Superb', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', and Z. e. 'Queeny Lemon Peach'

I previously used Dahlia 'La Belle Epoque' in a mix with Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait Rose' but she's gone solo this week as the star of my second arrangement.

Well, Dahlia 'La Belle Epoque' received a little competition from Eustoma grandiflorum 'Carmine' (aka lisianthus)

Back view: Lisianthus has a much longer vase-life than dahlias.  The stem of pale pink lisianthus tucked into the back of the arrangement is a leftover from one of the vases I put together 2 weeks ago.

Overhead view

Clockwise from the upper left: Argyranthemum 'Grandaisy Dark Pink', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Eustoma grandiflorum in pale pink and carmine, Dahlia 'La Belle Epoque', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Wine', and Z. e. 'Queeny Red Lime'

After a couple of days of moderate temperatures due to a brief recovery of the morning marine layer last week, we saw another uptick in temperatures again late last week.  Temperatures in the low 90sF (32-33C) are expected to continue through Labor Day into at least the middle of this week before slowly dropping into the upper 70sF (25-26C). Until then I'm taking my daily walks during the early morning hours and minimizing work in my garden.  Overall, however, California's coastal temperatures have been cooler than usual.  In fact, one climate scientist's recent report indicates that our coastal area is experiencing one of the coolest summers in thirty years.  Unfortunately, that can't be said for either California's inland areas or the Pacific Northwest.

For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party