Anyone who grows dahlias knows that September marks the height of the dahlia season. Armloads of dahlias means that everyone you know ends up with a bouquet, with few complaints. This year my cutting garden is looking better than it has, but since I’ve been traveling a lot, few flowers have yet to be picked.

When one visualizes the summer garden, especially from the perspective of a snowy, January evening, one imagines such lushness, yet forgets that such abundance can dull the experience a bit. If only one could preserve a few buckets of our coral and peach pom pom dahlias for mid-winter in some magical refrigerator, but such luxuries do not exist. We are stuck far too many dahlias and other cut flowers to enjoy on these last days of summer, so why not celebrate the bounty with a late summer arrangement.
Here is the story of the one I made today:
Click below for more.

Time to walk around the garden and see how I might combine a few distinctive flowers which I might combine to make some arrangements which would be different then those which that have been gracing our tables since early August.  OK, I will admit that we are a bit fortuitous with out floral prosperity –  it’s just the result of a well stocked cutting garden, and the fact that it is a cheerfully cool and bright September following what was a cool, and sunny summer with just enough rain.  Only our color selection has just grown monotonous  but it’s an acceptable obstacle we can blissfully overcome with some creativity.

Dahlias are ubiquitous during the cool, bright days of September and early October. Their colors and long stems make them the perfect cut flower – be sure to plan for next year by ordering some in late winter before the good cut flower varieties are sold out. My trick? Order from on-line nurseries which specialize in dahlias, and don’t rely on those poly bags found at big box stores. You are more likely than not going to end up with either colors which are horrid, or plants with flowers that are too large. Look for varieties with flowers around 3-4 inches in diameter, or ask your supplier for selections which are best for cut flowers – they will gladly tell you which ones have the longest stems and nicest flower colors. That’s what I did. Thank you Swan Island Dahlias!

Starting with lime green coleus as a filler in an antique, Arts and Crafts period copper glazed vessel. The darker green of the dahlia foliage was just too dark of a green – it didn’t feel as bright as this lime coleus foliage. Orange and pinks look great when combined with chartreuse and citron tones.

Last January, I decided to grow a few different celosia varieties – ones which were considered best as cut flowers. I didn’t want to depend on store-bought seedlings of celosia as most retailers only carry early varieties, or those which have been treated with grow regulators so that the young plants will be in bloom – hence, sellable condition in the cell packs. Still, celosia is not that easy to germinate unless they are under lights and warm. I did end up with a flat or two of seedlings,  but I then discovered that I had no room left in the garden (stupid me!).

I didn’t want to part with these Celosia ‘Cramers Lemon-Lime’ seedlings, so they found their way into some corners of the vegetable garden –  interplanted along side some kale and tomatoes. Now they’re ready to pick – tall and fuzzy with their ‘cockscomb’ heads. Their green-olivey color is absolutely superb.

‘Maarn’ is by far my favorite Dahlia color, with nice long stems and a beautiful, clear orange creme color unlike any other dahlia. Yummy and harmonious when combined with these shades of olive, chartreuse and lime green – but it is still a little ordinary and expected.

Not all colors mix well here. Many Dahlias have too much blue or yellow in them, like this pink cactus flowered variety. It doesn’t make the cut for this arrangement, but the peach and pink zinnias do.

I could add pink, but most of my pink dahlias are too……pink. I know, my artistic side sometimes gets the best of me, but I am a color geek – and as a designer, I can clearly see why this dahlia must be destroyed. Oh, ok, maybe not destroyed – just saved for another arrangement, maybe one with periwinkle tones in it.

The same goes for this Amaranth ‘Love Lies Bleeding’. Another challenging annual to grow from seed, I admit that I am happier with the way that my plant looks now ( the seeds from Baker Creek finally delivered a good show, but still not as robust as more hybrid selections).  I am not adding it to this arrangement because it’s raspberry color seems to start a party for my eyes I don’t exactly want.

This green flowering tobacco ( a self seeded Nicotiana langsdorfii) is precisely the color I will accept – another unique shade of green, and texturally it adds some looseness as well as botanical interest, which is important too. The final result should look like a garden arrangement and not one from a farm stand or florist.

THE FINAL ARRANGEMENT

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‘Maarn’ is a mid-sized melon colored dahlia, which I might admit is my current favorite. It is a popular cut flower grown by flower farms such as Floret Farm in Washington state, but why not grow your own next year? Many Dahlia catalogs on line carry this variety. Look for it next spring.

1. Maarn

Here is what I discovered: Most dahlia catalogs will list out the best varieties for cutting, flower arranging or for weddings. If in doubt, just ask them – better yet, do some research yourself – see what varieties the hip flower farms are growing, many list their varieties which is so helpful, since one wants long stems, flowers that are just the right size, and some proven experience in a vase or arrangement. If only you could just hear me talking to myself, or the dogs, while in the garden saying ‘maarn, maaaarn. Maaaaaarn’ in my finest Dutch accent.

‘Crichton Honey’ has a color which is difficult to define. Peachy-cantalopey beige perhaps? Buff and honey, ugh, forget it — I can’t name things.

2. Crichton Honey 

Crichton Honey is one of the most popular dahlias with flower farms for late summer and fall weddings. Introduced in 1976, it’s an old timer. Luscious apricot-bronze balls that remain around 4″ in diameter, it’s a rather short plant, as far as dahlias go, topping out at about 3 feet tall, which makes it great as a border plant, too. Like all of the dahlias listed here, it too has very long stems.

Not a great name, but ‘blah blah blah’ is anything, but blah. Introduced in 2010 it has flowers that are 5″ which come as close to the hottest dahlia of all ( if you can find it!) cappuccino Cafe au Lait. It also pairs well with most other colors.

3. Blah Blah Blah 

Perhaps the new dahlia on the block, introduced in 2010, ‘Blah Blah Blah’s 4 inch flowers are symmetrical yet loose, but it comes in the yummiest of all dahlia colors – that one that everyone wants – so close to the ‘It’ dahlia, ‘Cafe au Lait'(which is almost impossible to find but I know that our local grower/breeder has it – Pleasant Valley Glads  located in West Suffield, CT.). This image does it little justice, but believe me, it;s a nice, tall, long-stemmed babe that will magically blend other colors together.

Here in Rhode Island ( where I work, not live) the Foxy Lady is a strip bar! Don’t ask how I know that…..I just know that. I do sometimes get invited to bachelor parties. Not that it makes me dislike this dahlia, which often makes the list at flower farms. Start with one tuber, and each year, divide them if the cost is too high.

4. Foxy Lady 

This is an odd bicolored dahlia which comes as a three and a half inch ball, so nice on those long, strong stems – but then in dusty rose and creamy yellow? Sweet. The reverse side of the petals is a deeper rose-mauve, almost purple by my definition, but still, somehow this all works. It too is a strong plant, which is tall, with plenty of flowers. It’s safe to say that all of these cut flower dahlias are great garden plants as well – not like the giant dahlias with one or two flowers that we often think of. Foxy Lady looks as if one painted darker colors on with a scratchy brush.

5. Cornell

Look, red may not be your color, and it certainly isn’t my color, but after seeing that many flower farms grow this variety, I had to try it. Even my designer friend (red-hating) Jess pointed it out the other day as a fav in the garden. Score! Introduced in 1982, a time when the idea of color trends leaned deep into mauve and slate blue, this bushy variety with strong, long stems is a surprise worth checking out. It’s really more of a dark, pomegranate (that helps, doesn’t it?), but my guess is that this variety was named after the Red Bear and Cornell University’s school color, even though most catalogs list it with on ‘l’. I added the second one, anyway. Supposedly this was bred by a Dutch breeder, but I am not certain, but the Dutch sites list it as ‘Cornell’ and not ‘Cornel’ as Swan Island Dahlias does, but the Dutch photos show it as a brilliant scarlet dahlia – the sort of color that hurts ones eyes, and this gem is certainly not that red! Trust me – it much nicer than it’s dating profile photo.

Dahlia ‘Intigue’

6. Intrigue

I would never, ever have ordered this dahlia if I just went by the image shown in a catalog ( look). I mean, pink just isn’t my thing when it comes to colors. But this beauty is insane – like pink Thai silk that has been left out blowing in the trade winds and sun for a year. It’s just about the perfect shade of watermelon sorbet, that I think I can’t live without it. Introduced in 2002, it’s about four inches in diameter, and has those long stems which are so handy when deciding what to do with dahlias – even though we all prefer them cut short! The plant too, is nice, nearly 5 feet tall, if not a little more this year, and covered in flowers until frost.

I’m not a fan of each of these colors when seen in a photo on a nursery site — but once grown in the home garden, I can see why they are popular as cut flowers, especially when picked. I was very pleased with this years’ selection that I grew, and I can’t wait until next year when I try more to add to the mix.

Most of my dahlias were purchased from Swan Island Dahlias on-line, but many of these varieties can be found at any of the dahlia sites listed on the American Dahlia Society website under sources.

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I thought that I would walk around the garden and pick a few hand-tied bouquets for the house. Here is what I found: rather random, but still botanically interesting. A blue palette with China aster, brachycome daisy, tweedia, purple basil, dill, Nicotiana langsdorfii, echinops and Salvia ‘black and Blue’

Cuphea lanceolata raised from seed. Something a bit more unusual for a change.

‘Oklahoma’ zinnias are my favorite because they have smaller blossoms but awesome colors.

If only there was a bride handy! A bunch of gardenias, Acacia, white tuberous begonia, white tuhlbagia, phlox and baptisia foliage.

Coral, salmon and creamsicle tints with a begonia leaf. Twinspur, Trumpet Creeper Vine, zinnia and dahlias.

These small hand tied bouquets made their way to some of the elderly ( um…just ‘older’ according to Elenore across the street who at 86 prefers to just think of herself as ‘older’), people in the neighborhood who can’t get out to garden. I also have brought many of them tomato plants in felt pots, that they can keep near their house, near a porch or a door where it is sunny, providing them with a bit of summer – fresh tomatoes and basil, even a pickling cucumber plant (or, in Elenore’s case – an accidental hubbard squash seeding – which she feels is very exciting, if not naughty – I get a phone call about it most every day).

‘Oklahoma’ mix zinnia take only a little space in the vegetable garden. One packet of seeds gives us armloads of flowers to share with neighbors, and for the house.

Another photo of the white bouquet.

As a summer thunderstorm nears, I moved the bouquets indoors, here they sit as I fill the containers with cool water at the kitchen sink. I suppose you never know who is going to stop by.

I love to look around the garden for surprising flowers to use in bouquets. This tuberous Sinningia has pink flowers, and lasts long when placed in fresh water.

Here is a good example of why not to grow some seeds from seed savers. This packet of amaranths cordite came from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and clearly it has reverted back to a poor-perfoming selection. Maybe this ropes will thicken and bloom, but it appears that they are not. I am so disappointed, as this is a challenging flower to grow. My plants are healthy, and 6 fee tall, but the rope-like floral parts are no thicker than pencils. Next year – I will order from a seed catalog that tests their seed and that guarantees that they come true.

Don’t be afraid to allow some vegetable garden herbs to go to seed. These cilantro flowers are pretty both in the garden, and in vases, especially when cut and displayed with dill. Just be sure to cut them early in the morning, as they can wilt.

Seed heads of dill are precious around here, as I need them for pickles and they are hard to find at some farmers markets, but I still sneak a few for bouquets especially if I have purple flowers.

I grew a few species and selections of Cuphea this year, but my favorite – cuphea resinosa died when they were still seedlings, and when I was traveling (someone forgot to water them in the greenhouse!), but this ‘bat faced’ one, Cuphea lanceolata ‘Firefly’ . It’s tall and vigorous.

This Cuphea lanceolata looks a lot like the Proven Winners selection, but it is not dwarf like  Cuphea llavea ‘Vienco Red’ . It is still a terrific garden flower, perhaps too tall for containers. I think that it would look great in a naturalized setting, planted in large clumps and drifts. I bought from Chiltern Seeds in England. Sad, because this is a native American plant.

My giant gardenia shrub still looks small in photos – it is just my lens. The plant is taller than I am, and about 10 feet in diameter. Our friends Jeff and gene gave it to us about ten years ago, and it was large then, in a 40 inch pot. Every fall, I give it a good hair cut, and drag it back into the greenhouse. Each summer, it rewards us with dozens and dozens of flowers – so many that I can fill a vase with them every week in August. It is just starting to bloom.

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