After an all too brief period of temperatures in the mid-80sF (29C), they soared into the mid-90s (35C) last week and appear to be stuck there. I made half-hearted attempts at cleaning up a couple areas of my garden but the heat sent me back into the air-conditioned comfort of the house all too quickly. I did my best just to keep my cutting garden watered on a periodic basis. Still, I managed to fill two vases with flowers that hadn't withered in place.
The first vase contains two dahlia varieties that have been stingy with with their blooms so far this year.
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| I didn't do much of anything in terms of arranging the flowers here beyond plonking them in this mug I've always used as a vase. I let Dahlias 'Enchantress' and 'Mikayla Miranda' carry the show with an assist from Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple'. |
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| Back view: what was most incredible was that I'm still getting new stems of foxgloves in this heat! |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left are: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia 'Enchantress', D. Mikayla Miranda', Digitalis purpurea in white and purple, and Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple' |
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| The arrangement sitting on the front entry table |
The second arrangement features Dahlia 'Nicholas'. I fell in love with its waterlily-like flowers at first sight but the plant's foliage has presented problems from the outset. Mildew has gradually become an issue for many of my dahlias this year but none are as sad as 'Nicholas'. However, although it hasn't produced a lot of flowers, the mildew hasn't tarnished the flowers themselves.
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| The Dahlia's color mellows as its flower ages. I paired it with stems of Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' and Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'. |
While many of the dahlias appear to be in retreat, the zinnias continue to pop up here and there in small numbers (without any sign of mildew from them as yet!), and one sunflower stalk is now in bloom, awaiting its turn in the limelight.
For more IAVOM creations, check in with Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and other contributors have to share this week.
All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
You'd never know it was that hot looking at your summer flowers. 'Nicholas' is a real beauty! I like the plonked in vase look, it feels like it should carefree nearing the end of August.
ReplyDeleteIt is MISERABLY hot at the moment, although I admit we've seen worse in other years. My brother's area is significantly hotter - he says it's supposed to get over 107F in his area.
DeleteOh how lovely Kris - the pink blooms with the white foxgloves are gorgeous, and the two shades of orange in the second vase are charming too
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. It remains to be seen if I'll have any dahlias left by next week. The terrible heat looks like it's going to persist!
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