Maybe it's just the sudden shift from scorching temperatures to much cooler afternoons with pleasant breezes but the seasonal change feels palpable at present. Late September and October can be very hot and in fact forecasters are predicting an uptick in the temperatures as we move toward next weekend but, for now, I'm enjoying the weather conditions we have. Two of my stubborn dahlias, both 'Fairway Spur', have developed buds so I may have those large orange blooms to look forward to in October as the plants that bloomed earlier in the season continue to wane.
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My cutting garden offered only a single bloom of Dahlia 'Summer's End' but it fit my theme so how could I resist? I added a few orange zinnias and tucked in berries that are in the process of shifting from lime green to orange.
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Back view: As temperatures fell, a handful of Gaillardia blooms appeared, along with the first flowers of the Australian fuchsia, Correa 'Ivory Bells'
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Correa 'Ivory Bells', noID Cotoneaster, Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata', Dahlia 'Summer's End', Gaillardia aristata 'Spintop Copper Sun', Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', and Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime Orange'
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While most of my dahlias are producing only a bloom or two at the moment, Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles' has been more generous.
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I think this makes 4 weeks in a row that I've used Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles' in a vase but a second bloom from its near match, Dahlia 'Mikayla Miranda', sealed the deal
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Back view
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Top view
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Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', pink and white Cosmos bipinnatus, Dahlia 'Lavender Ruffles', and D. 'Mikayla Miranda'
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Somehow, despite our recent extended heatwave and the temporary ban on outdoor watering, a few of the dark blue Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus) managed to produce new blooms I couldn't ignore so I've got a third vase to share this week.
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I stuck to a simple blue/purple and white color mix
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Back view: Wispy sweet autumn clematis and more variegated abelia provided froth
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Top view
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From the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Hopley's Variegated', Clematis terniflora, Liriope muscari, Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers', and Eustoma grandiflorum
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For more IAVOM creations, usually spun together with materials from contributors' own gardens, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2022by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
