The dahlias are producing more flowers every day, but this week my eyes first fixed on the foxgloves that burst into bloom all at once in one area of my cutting garden. I don't generally expect to see foxgloves in July as the heat usually takes them out much earlier. So I cut them first and looked for dahlias that could back them up afterwards. Before I was done, I'd cut three varieties of dahlias and some lilies to add to the mix. The lilies were a real surprise as I'd almost given up on seeing any more of them this season.
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| The lily is 'Pretty Woman', planted 4 years ago. I'd noted earlier that 2 stalks had withered in place before the flowers fully opened, presumably in response to too much heat and too little water, so the third stalk was a pleasant surprise. The dahlias shown at the front of the vase are 'Admiral Rawlings' and 'XXL Veracruz'. |
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| The back view of the vase, which shows off 3 'Hartennas' collarette dahlias and a few stems of Polygala (aka sweet pea shrub), has it's own personality |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia 'Hartennas', D. 'XXL Veracruz', D. 'Admiral Rawlings', Digitalis purpurea in purple and white forms, Polygala myrtifolia, and Lilium 'Pretty Woman' |
It's been hot and humid here for the past week. While our temperatures are no longer in the 90s (33C), it's still uncomfortable (mid-80sF/30C). I try to get in my walks and any remotely strenuous garden activities done well before 10am if at all possible. My garden is taking a beating as there's never sufficient time or energy to tackle everything, nor all the water the garden needs. As the heat is on seemingly everywhere these days, I expect many of us are dealing with the same issues but, if you can't complain to other gardeners, who can you complain to?
Wherever you are, I hope you find a spot to cool off! I know we're lucky to have air conditioning as many do not. We're just closing our eyes to the electric bills for now.
For more IAVOM posts, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to find what she and others have found to fill their vases this week.
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| My vase in place in the front entry |
All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I do love this arrangement a lot and not only because it's in one of my favorite vases of your collection.
ReplyDeleteIt seems plants will always and forever surprise us. Today those are good surprises. The cream-colored Foxglove is lovely (my Foxgloves are done too), and the Lily with that dainty swish of pale pink is a dreamboat. The dark Dahlia pulls all the 'frilly' elements together: this is one fabulous vase.
The back view: a whole other look and feel: beautiful just not as dramatic :-D
Chavli
I turned the vase around this morning just to give it's "side #2" fair time ;) As to the foxgloves, I wonder if I'll get another round from them before they're done? The 3 plants I had elsewhere in the garden (i.e NOT in the well watered cutting garden) all fried long ago without ever blooming.
DeleteThis is a pretty one, the Foxglove is a great addition! The humidity is feeling especially gross to me, I'm not used to it. I AM thankful for AC, sleeping in a hot house at night is so uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteThe humidity is certainly making summer more difficult this year! My friends that don't have AC are pretty miserable. Although we're also situated along the coast, we face the port and don't get the westerly winds they do, which usually keep them cool without AC - that's not true at the moment! I'm glad we upgraded our own AC system 6 years ago!
DeleteYou always manage to grow such gorgeous foxgloves, Kris, with such full blooms - certainly not what one would expect from your location. It seems strange to read of you experiencing similar temperatures to ours (or is it the other way round?), although it is not as humid here as it was a few weeks ago, thankfully. Your dark dahlia is especially pretty and you have chosen equally pretty companions
ReplyDeleteThe foxgloves I grow in the coddled cutting garden do well but those I periodically try elsewhere do not! I tried them again in 2 other areas of the garden and those all croaked. As to the weather, it can get as hot as Hades here for extended periods. Even though we're situated on the coast, we don't get the westerly winds other parts of the coast gets. We were just lucky that the morning marine layers hung on longer than usual this year but that break seems to be over...
DeleteA beautiful vaseful of blooms Kris. Here my one foxglove this year is going over already and I must check the plant for seeds soon. I love your dark dahlia and the lily too. Here it has been an extremely hot summer although not as hot as is it is for you and I've also been struggling to keep on top of things 😢 We're thinking of purchasing a portable air conditioner for next year which is a course of action I thought that I would never consider!
ReplyDeleteSadly, the world's climate is changing and not in a good way, despite denials on the part of a certain world leader and his short-sighted cronies. Southern California has always been hot during the summer months but the spike in humidity at the same time adds a new element of misery.
DeleteWhat a sight for sore eyes. All these yummy colors. Glad it cooled a bit. I too feel I am not getting much done in my garden given the weather, my energy and physical limits. Even a small garden takes a lot of effort. Thank goodness for my husband and his watering.
ReplyDeleteWe're lucky to have an automated irrigation system but it isn't appropriate to use it all the time (even if some people go over board). I save my collected rainwater but it runs out eventually and our rainfall isn't likely to return until October. Only my cutting garden gets a bit extra.
DeleteWow, foxgloves in July! Ours are but a distant memory! LOL! They look so pretty with your dahlias. I really like the little ones at the back of the arrangement. Hope you can stay cool Kris!
ReplyDeleteThose "collarette" dahlias are very cute. The variety I'm growing this year seems to be mire vigorous than the one I tried last year too!
DeleteLove the soft pastels in the lily and the vibrant hue of the dahlias, 😍 add foxglove and you've created yet another winning combination, Kris! July has been yet another month of extreme weather all over, hope yours returns to reasonable temps soon. We're enjoying a bit of respite from the heat and smoke, grateful for that. 👍🏼 Eliza
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know your're currently smoke free and I hope it stays that way, Eliza!
DeleteOh, oh! I complained about the weather today too! I’m temporarily changing my lifestyle for the weather. I’m not showing up on your blog list again though.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that. A lot of the blog comments I receive seem to lag now but there's no rhyme or reason to it that I can account for.
DeleteThe toad and the vase really add to the appeal of this arrangement. :) And the blooms you combined make a great combination. The Foxgloves look so lush! Our weather has been yucky lately, too. I was glad to be in Buffalo for the Fling: The temps were in the 80s, while we had 90s and humidity here. When we got back home those conditions remained, and then wildfire smoke kept us all inside. :( However, this week is lovely--70s and 80s, and low humidity. Now we just need some rain.
ReplyDeleteOh no! You've had wildfire smoke too?! This is turning out to be a very tough summer for a lot of people it seems. I'm glad you had a good time at the Garden Fling, though.
DeleteHot, humid, and smoky. Missed seeing you at the Fling. The amount of smoke in the Ithaca region afterwards was awful. And now we just went through a little heatwave here in Oregon with lots of lightning last night. Hope we don't have a lot of wildfires now. It's so dry! I can't believe you still have lilies and foxgloves!
ReplyDeleteI've a hard time believing I have those flowers now too, Jerry! I hope we all get a break from the heat and humidity soon.
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