Last week was very warm, dry, and windy and the dahlias still left in my cutting garden looked the worse for it by Sunday morning. I'm calling this the end of the season for the dahlias (with the exception of 'Rancho' which has yet to open its first buds). I also pulled the remaining zinnias, which like the dahlias were too badly mildewed to bear any longer. I'm sorry to see them go as a flower-filled cutting garden simplified the weekly process of creating arrangements for "In a Vase on Monday," even if the arrangements themselves became a bit repetitive.
So here's the last of Dahlia 'Labyrinth', offered once again in a starring role.
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| Cuphea 'Honeybells' was a last-minute addition after I trimmed it back |
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The last Dahlia 'Belle of Barmera' was tucked in the back of the vase to fill it out
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Honeybells', Dahlia 'Belle of Barmera', Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Blush', and Z. 'Senora'
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Although Dahlia 'Gitts Crazy' had an all-too-brief moment in the spotlight, I'm calling an end to its run as well. It's possible it could produce a few more blooms before the weather gets cold here (if that ever happens!) but its once pristine foliage is too ugly to tolerate.
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I lost a couple 'Gitts Crazy' blooms to last week's weather conditions too and I sacrificed two ready-to-pop buds when I cut these stems
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I threw two bright red zinnias into the mix to dress up the back view of the arrangement
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Gitts Crazy', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Tagetes lemmonii, and noID Zinnia elegans
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The vases containing the dahlias found places where they could be admired for as long as they last.
I couldn't leave the kitchen island empty so I cut a few bush violet stems again this week for a small vase.
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This vase is a re-run of the prior vases featuring Barleria obtusa (bush violet) with Caladium 'Debutante' as the only new element
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For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
