In a Vase on Monday: The hero shows up at last

I'm having a good dahlia season, even though two dahlias have been especially tardy about showing up.  'Belle of Barmera' is within days of opening its first blooms; however, 'Hometown Hero' finally made its first appearance last week.  Fortunately, it's made up for lost time by producing a large number of blooms all at once.

'Hometown Hero' was named to honor the firefighters who fought wildfires in Oregon in 2020

Back view: In addition to Zinnias, I reused the stems of Leucadendron 'Blush' I originally cut for my "Flashy Lady" IAVOM post 2 weeks ago, which still look fresh.

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Abelia grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope', Dahlia 'Hometown Hero', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Leucadendron salignum 'Blush', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Coral', and Z. e. 'Golden Hour'

Meanwhile Dahlia 'Catching Fire' has been on fire all season.  I haven't used it often for IAVOM but I've given the flowers away now and then.  As the season gradually draws to its end, I thought it deserved a swan song.

Dahlia 'Catching Fire' was joined on this occasion with a single bloom of Dahlia 'Iceberg', which has been stingy with its flowers this year

Back view

Top view

Clockwise from the upper left: Correa 'Ivory Bells', Dahlia 'Catching Fire', D. 'Iceberg', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', and Pelargonium peltatum 'Dark Burgundy'

The heat is trailing off at last here.  This week's forecast shows temperatures ranging from the low-to-upper 60sF (17-20C), which in our terms is practically cold!  Of course, that doesn't mean we won't see another heatwave but it's a good sign.  There are even chances of drizzle in the coming days but I'm not counting on that.  The marine layer is expected to be heavy most of the week so we may pick up a hundredth of an inch of precipitation here and there in any case.

For more floral arrangements, check in with our IAVOM host, Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party