The latest flowers produced by Dahlia 'Break Out' may be getting smaller and the plant's foliage may be mildewed but I have to give it credit for going all out on floral production last week, despite the hot, dry conditions brought on by our notorious Santa Ana winds.
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| There are 7 'Break Out' blooms in this arrangement |
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| Back view: I filled out the vase using recent blooms of Senna bicapsularis, among other things |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Dahlia Break Out', Senna bicapsularis, Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum', and Zinnia 'Profusion Yellow' |
On the other end of the spectrum,
Dahlia 'Akita', the first of my dahlias to bloom this year, seems to be finishing up.
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| I added stems of 3 other dahlias to back-up a single bloom and partially open bud of Dahlia 'Akita' |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Alstromeria 'Inca Sundance', Dahlia 'Mystic Illusion', D. Akita', D. 'Kogane Fubuki', D. 'Summer's End', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', and Xerochrysum bracteatum |
A few leftovers, stems cut but not used in the vases shown above, went into the small vase that frequently sits on our kitchen island.
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| In addition to stems of Abelia 'Hopley's Variegated' and Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', this vase contains a single flower of Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait Royal' and 2 stems of Correa pulchella 'Pink Eyre' |
I'm still awaiting a bloom from Dahlia 'Iceberg'. Planted from a tiny tuber in one of the half barrels in our front garden, it doesn't get the water or the sun the dahlias in my cutting garden receive. I'd nearly given up on it when it finally produced buds. Last week I thought it was a sure thing that at least one of the buds would bloom in time for IAVOM but it's operating on its own schedule, not mine.
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| 'Iceberg', almost but not quite there |
All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
