The title of this post has less to do with my mental state than the fact that, at long last, Dahlia 'Gitts Crazy' has bloomed, earning it the starring role in my first arrangement. The dahlia was planted during the latter part of April, late based on my usual practice, but not as late as others that bloomed much earlier. I'd nearly given up on it when it finally budded out.
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I sacrificed several nascent buds to cut the first blooming stem of 'Gitts Crazy' but, as its season is going to be relatively short, that seemed a better approach than sacrificing the bloom while waiting for those buds to mature
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I filled the arrangement out with stems of Dahlia 'Labyrinth', which has continued to be generous with its blooms. The 'Labyrinth' and 'Gitts Crazy' tubers were planted on the same date.
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlias 'Gitts Crazy' and 'Labyrinth', Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Auranticarpa rhombifolium, Calliandra haematocephala, Correa 'Sister Dawn', and Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Blush'
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My usual fall bloomers have recently shown up too, chief among them the bush violet (
Barleria obtusa). Since it made its first appearance with a few stray blooms last week, it's moved into high gear. Each stem bears literally dozens of buds. No single bloom lasts long but even those still in bud open gradually after the stem is cut, extending the show.
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Barleria obtusa was the inspiration for this arrangement but Dahlia 'Iceberg' is nudging everything else into supporting roles
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Back view: I used variegated mint bush (Prostanthera ovalifolia) to lighten up the darker foliage of the bush violet. Mint bush produces beautiful purple blooms in the spring but I grow it for its wonderful foliage.
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Top view
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Clockwise from the left: Barleria obtusa, Dahlia 'Iceberg', Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', and Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus)
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For more arrangements created by contributors from materials on hand in their gardens, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
