This isn’t a how-to. There’s nothing for you to learn here. It’s just flowers.
You know how sometimes you walk into a room and forget why you went there? That’s me in the garden. I step out to do one thing and 3 hours later I've done nothing other than just stare.
I walk from flower to flower and plant to plant. I just look at it. This post is basically that moment. It’s just you, me, and the flowers.
Table of Contents
The Dahlias
The dahlias show up slowly. They arrive like an orchestra warming up. At this point in the season, the conductor is still straightening their cuffs.
In another week or so they should all be warmed up.
A La Mode
The buds in the photo at the beginning of this post became these blooms a few days later.
Verrone's Obsidian
An orchid dahlia with star shaped petals that are truly black.
Yvonne
A stunningly beautiful but finicky waterlily form dahlia.
Kelsey Annie Joy
A collarette form dahlia that's peachy and pink. There's just something about it.
Miss Teagan
This dahlia from Ferncliff Gardens is supposed to be pale pink and yellow but it's very lavendar in my garden. It's insanely prolific with strong stems but the colours and form aren't what I expected.
That can happen with dahlias. They have complex genetics and over time they can change.
The constants; Alpen Cherub and Cornel Bronze will always be planted in my garden. They're reliable, strong, and show up every year exactly the way they did last year.
The Cosmos
Cosmos are the opposite of dahlias. More wild and carefree. Like they woke up late and just ran outside in yesterday’s hair. That's their charm.
Bells of Ireland
Bells of Ireland are here on architectural merit. And bright green merit. And they also kind of smell like green apples. So that's a merit as well.
Tall, upright, green, appley — and that’s it. Also dangerously thorny. GREAT greenery for flower arrangements.
They're like little green soldiers.
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Big Duck Marigold
These things on the other hand, travel in gangs. They spread into a hedge of huge, fluffy, yellow heads. They're cheerful to the point of being annoying. They smell faintly medicinal. They aren't my favourite in this garden but if you need to fill a big space with an annual, this does a good job.
Celosia, though
This celosia looks like Neon bottle brushes. Feathers dipped in highlighters. They don’t look real. They look like they belong in a cartoon.
They aren't nearly as big as they should be because they were shaded for early summer and thirsty for the past 3 months.
This variety is Neo™️ Green. If I'm lucky it'll keep growing to maturity and I'll get a photo of it. This is the type of celosia with the big huge head in flower arrangements. Only one flower grows per stem.
Mason Jar Arrangements
Now we're going to take a small detour to look at some of these in a couple of arrangements I did for neighbours.
The large flower in the first arrangement is the first Cafe Au Lait dahlia to bloom.
The Rest
Sweetheart Kisses Verbena sends up a variety of colours from red, to coral to pale pink. Good for containers or windowboxes. Messy and wild looking.
Petunia Shake Raspberry was not a winner for me. The colours are faded, the blooms not particularly large and the plant is small.
Having said that, it could be a condition thing. Not enough light, not enough nutrients.
The petunias aren't my favourite. They remind me of tired women with smeared lipstick after a long day of taking care of absolutely everything.
The Zinnia
Zinnias are the reliable friends who always show up. They go to every party you invite them to, buy the biggest tub of $70 popcorn for your kid's fundraiser, and and help you move heavy things.
In return they don’t demand much of anything, last forever in a vase, and have really long, strong stems.
If I had to pick one downfall to the zinnia it's that the petals aren't soft. They feel half dried out. I don't like that. But it's that aspect that helps them last so long in a vase so I forgive them.
They also come in every colour from Cindy Lauper to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
Finally
And then there’s the cabbage. Not technically a flower, but I refuse to acknowledge that.
It's a massive rosette. It's beautiful. You will agree.
My apologies if you accidentally learned something.
Grammy
Thank you! For a thousand reasons, I just needed to see something beautiful today. You came through again.
Toby Earp
"The petunias aren't my favourite. They remind me of tired women with smeared lipstick after a long day of taking care of absolutely everything."
Now there's an analogy.
I say, bring them on and put their feet in a warm tub. Or all of them, what the heck.
I don't believe you're gonna stop these women from taking care of absolutely everything. Celebrate them, give them flowers ! Kisses ! A foot massage ! Maybe let them look after their own lipstick when they feel like it.
God bless 'em.
Not gonna say how far the analogy goes with petunias.
Nancy Nesbitt
Gorgeous dahlias! How do you keep zinnias from getting powdery mildew?
Karen
I've actually just never had a problem with it. Phlox though? FULL of powdery mildew. I solved that by removing at least half of it to allow better air around it. Worked like a charm. So maybe your zinnia are planted too close? ~ karen!