I'm impatiently awaiting the arrival of my dahlias and zinnias, which seem to be off to a slow start again this year. In 2019, I had my first dahlia blooms by mid-June and they peaked in August. In 2020, I had my first blooms by mid-August and the plants peaked in September. I seem to be tracking to the 2020 schedule despite the fact that I started my tubers earlier in temporary pots this year. Apparently, Mother Nature operates according to her own schedule regardless of my intent.
Luckily, the other Orienpet lilies I planted as bulbs last fall, 'Purple Prince', bloomed late last week. As the 'Pretty Woman' lilies I cut last Sunday held up in a vase as long as they did in my garden, I went ahead and cut a single stem of 'Purple Prince' for one of this week's arrangements, leaving two stems in the garden.
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| 'Purple Prince' looks more mauve-pink than purple to my eye |
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| Back view: Yes, I'm using Daucus carota 'Dara' again this week. The blooms are unstoppable and among the most prolific flowers in my garden at the moment. |
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| Top view: I'm assuming the lily bud will open even after the stem has been cut |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Daucus carota 'Dara', Leucanthemum x superbum, Cuphea hybrid 'Starfire Pink', and Lilium 'Purple Prince' |
A lily of another sort made its debut in my back garden late last week as well. Unlike the dahlias, it's arriving right on time, although given our low rainfall it remains to be seen whether I'll get as many blooms as I had last year. Amaryllis belladonna (aka as Jersey lily or naked lady, as it blooms after its leaves have died back) isn't a true lily but it is a true Amaryllis, unlike the Hippeastrum commonly referred to as Amaryllis.
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| This ornamental teapot wasn't the ideal vessel for the tall, thick Amaryllis bloom stalk. I had to cut the stem very short to make it work. The green Lisianthus is a holdover from one of last week's arrangements but everything else was cut fresh yesterday morning. |
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| I used a stem of a noID Pelargonium to dress up the back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Eustoma grandiflorum (aka Lisianthus) in shades of green, pink, and white; Amaryllis belladonna; Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' (without flowers this week); Myrtus communis 'Compacta'; and noID Pelargonium |
To find more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
