No, I haven't forgotten our recent scorching six-day heatwave. However, dahlia flower production was unabated - it even appeared to step up in many cases. Their foliage may look awful and dozens of dahlia flowers did end up in the compost bin during the worst of it but I've got more of these flowers this week than I know what to do with. (Note: The rest of my garden didn't fare as well as my cutting garden, which received extra sessions of deep watering before and during the heatwave.)
There were enough 'Labyrinth' Dahlias to make a splashy arrangement.
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| The 'Labyrinth' flowers start out on the pinky side before turning a peach color at maturity |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the top: Dahlia 'Labyrinth', Grevillea 'Superb', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Coral', and Z. e. 'Golden Hour' |
I threw three different dahlias into my second arrangement.
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| Some of the 'Catching Fire' Dahlias that opened post-heatwave appeared more pink and white than red and white so I combined them with both the violet-purple flowers of Dahlia 'Vancouver' and the lavender and white flowers of Dahlia 'Mikayla Miranda' |
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| Back view |
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| Top view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Catching Fire', D. 'Vancouver', D. 'Mikayla Miranda', 2 shades of Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Wine' (one pink and the other burgundy-red), and Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' |
A third arrangement couldn't be avoided as I can no longer abide leaving the kitchen island without flowers.
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Top: 2 views of the smaller third arrangement
Clockwise from the middle left: Dahlia 'Iceberg', D. 'La Luna', Clematis terniflora, Pelargonium graveolens 'Lady Plymouth', and Symphyotrichum chilense |
Two of my dahlia varieties have yet to bloom but one of these is getting closer. I haven't given up on the second one either. For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
My Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day post for September will be published on Wednesday.
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
