I had thought that the dahlias were winding down here but they surprised me last week by blooming like crazy, at least with the exception of
Dahlia 'Penhill Dark Monarch', which has yet to produce a single bud. I wasn't prepared to make up 5 separate vases (even I'm not that fanatical) but, after deadheading the flowers that were past their prime, I cut blooms for 2 vases.
Vase #1 contains both
Dahlia 'Punkin Spice' and
'Terracotta' but I arranged the flowers in such a way as to give each side what I think is a different look. You can be the judge as to whether I succeeded.
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| Side #1 highlighting 'Punkin Spice' |
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| Side #2 featuring 'Terracotta' |
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| The overhead view shows the vase's split personality |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Punkin Spice', D. 'Terracotta', Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder', Leptospermum 'Copper Glow', Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum', and Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Salsa Verde' (coleus) |
Dahlia 'Loverboy' produced 6 blooms last week. I tossed 3 as past their prime but cut the other 3 for a second vase. There was no blue
Eustoma to pair with
'Loverboy' - it seems she's packed up and left town for the season. But there were plenty of other suitable companions.
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| A stem of 3 white Eustoma grandiflorum (lisianthus) blooms provided a nice counterpoint to the vivid 'Loverboy' |
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| The back view is dominated by Abelia 'Edward Goucher', which has proven to be an amiable mixer for a range of splashier flowers, and bubbly Gomphrena 'Itsy Bitsy', also a good mixer |
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| The overhead view reveals Leptospermum 'Pink Pearl'. 'Pink Pearl' had little influence over the group as a whole but then she's always been a bit prickly. |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Dahlia 'Loverboy', Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher', Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy', Alternanthera 'Little Ruby (shown with Hebe 'Wiri Blush'), Eustoma grandiflorum (lisanthus), and Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl' |
The zinnias were clamoring for attention too but I ignored them this week. Maybe next week I'll be inspired to do something with them. In the meantime,
visit Cathy in Rambling in the Garden to discover what she and other gardeners have found to fill their vases this week.
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| The first vase on the dining table showing its 2 different faces |
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| The second vase in the front entry |
All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
