News that Starbucks was bringing back its pumpkin spice latte made the national news in the US late last month. Ridiculous as I find that, I'm pleased that my own
'Punkin Spice' Dahlia is finally flowering strongly enough to greet the public "In a Vase on Monday," the popular meme hosted by Cathy at
Rambling in the Garden. I planted 2 of these tubers but put one in a large pot placed in a shady area where it doesn't get the regular attention (translation: water) it needs and it hasn't flowered well. The second tuber, planted in a plastic pot as a temporary measure, was late in finding space to spread its roots in one of my cutting garden's raised beds but the plant is healthy and happy and finally flowering.
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| With our remodel finally speeding up a bit, I finally got back a real wall in my home office, opening up space for me to photograph my vases there. It's still awkward but at least it's better than the temporary kitchen space I've been using. |
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| I think I actually like the back of this vase better than that I designated as its front |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Punkin Spice', Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' with Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose', red Zinnia (perhaps 'Benary's Giant Wine'), and Duranta repens 'Gold Mound' |
I cut
Dahlia 'Terracotta' to accompany
'Punkin Spice' in the vase but, realizing its inclusion would stuff the vase too tight,
'Terracotta' was given its own vase.
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| Dahlia 'Terracotta' looks pinker here and in most photos than in does to the naked eye |
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| Dahlia 'Citron du Cap' was preparing to bend its tall stem and keel over so it got tucked into the back of this vase |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Citron du Cap', Leucadendron 'Jester', L. 'Summer Red', Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth', Tanacetum parthenium, Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Orange' and, in the middle, Dahlia 'Terracotta' |
After more than a week in a vase,
Dahlia 'Diva' still looks good. All of my other dahlias are singing their swan songs after 4 days in a vase so this performance has proven
'Diva's' worth in my eyes. She's been bumped to the card table we're currently using as our dining table but I'm going to hang onto her for awhile yet to see how long it takes for her to fall apart.
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| All the contents of last week's vase held up well but, given how quickly most dahlias fall apart, I'm most impressed by 'Diva', who's flaws can only be seen in close examination |
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| This week's fresh vases assumed places on the bedroom bureau and mantle respectively |
For more IAVOM creations,
visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
