When the heat is on, the dahlias step up

I wasn't sure the dahlias would come through for me this year.  For one thing, they got a late start because I was held up by medical issues during the period I'm usually getting the tubers started.  In addition, all my dahlia plants had succumbed to a vicious virus last year and it wasn't guaranteed that the soil in my cutting garden wouldn't prompt a repeat performance despite my efforts to clean the slate before planting the area again.

Although not all the new plants that made it through round one have flowered yet, fourteen have.  Four of these are duplicates but I thought I'd show off the ten varieties currently in bloom, starting with my favorites so far.

This is 'Good Morning', apparently named after a long-running television show

This is 'Labyrinth', which I've grown in prior years

'Omega' is new to me

'Karma Caroline' is small in size but floriferous and very pretty with a waterlily-like form

This tuber was sold to me as 'Belle of Barmera', which it certainly is not.  My best guess is that it's 'Break Out', which I've previously grown, although I don't remember it getting quite this big!

This is another one that's new to me.  It's called 'Snowbound'.

This one, called 'Admiral Rawlings', is just getting started.  It's taller and narrower in size that the other dahlias in this year's collection.  The flowers are the deepest purple I think I've ever seen, although that color isn't well represented in this photo.

This is the first bloom produced by 'Enchantress', another of my favorites.  Unfortunately, it'd already faded by the time I got around to photographing it.

This is the only "collarette" dahlia I have this year.  It's called 'Hartennas'.  The bees love it.

I haven't made up my mind about this one.  It's called 'Mystery Day'.

The duplicates currently blooming include:  'Labyrinth', ' Break Out', 'Admiral Rawlings', and 'Mystery Day'.  The dahlias that haven't flowered yet include: 'Creme de Cognac', Honeymoon', 'Nicholas', and 'Table Dancer'.  'Creme de Cognac' was eaten to the ground early on and I'm not convinced it's going to recover but I have relative confidence in the rest so far.

Dahlias aren't the only plants that warrant a bit of attention this July, however.  Here are a few others worth mentioning:

Catharanthus 'Blueberry Kisses', a variety of vinca, produces pretty, if relatively small flowers.  What impresses me most is that I planted these last fall if I recall correctly and they've survived despite being ignored.

The Cistus have produced another flush of flowers.  The species on the left is Cistus x skanbergii.  I've no ID for the one on the right, which I can't even remember planting years ago.

These are just a handful of the Daucus carota 'Dara' that self-seeded freely in my garden this year.  The bulk of them are cleverly hiding out in the shrubbery to ensure their survival into next year and beyond.

The Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus) have put on a patchy show this year and I expect that the intenser heat we're now getting will take out those that remain very soon.  However, I did get some blooms in apricot and pale green a this year.  No blues whatsoever, though!

Monarda 'Peter's Purple' has come back in very small numbers this year, which is rather disappointing

In contrast, Rudbeckia 'Juliana', planted in this barrel last summer, is putting on a very good show.  I need more Rudbeckia!

Salvia canariensis var candidissima rebounded this month after being cut back bard last month

That's it for the July floral parade in my garden.  I've got some sunflower and zinnia seedlings still in the development stage but, as both got an even later start than the dahlias this year, I'm surprised I've any.  My fingers are crossed that I may at least get some flowers of each in August.

I hope you've got some flowers to brighten your summer garden too!

All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party