"It's a new day
It's a new dawn
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good"
~ lyrics from the fabulous song 'Feeling Good' by Nina Simone.
In this case the new dawn is supposedly dahlia 'American Dawn' which is a new to me dahlia this year. I say supposedly because I'm not convinced that it is the same dahlia that features when I search for images of dahlia 'American Dawn' on the web. It caused me some concern as soon as I saw the first flower appear which was entirely different in colour and patterning to what I had been expecting. I was a yucky orange and yellow combo but then flowers that followed were so very different. Whatever it's identity it has been a most welcome addition. I am though tempted to order 'American Dawn' from a different source in the future so that a comparison can be made next summer.
I was ahead of the game and the rain mentioned by our hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden', as I had noted Sunday's forecast and in fact picked my blooms late on Saturday afternoon. It had rained for a good part of the morning but the sun made an appearance later so the flowers had dried out by the time I picked them. Yesterday was decidedly wet and chilly here for most of the day but on the plus side the reservoirs may be filling up again. The vase accommodating the dahlias is an old stoneware jug which I think was bought in a local charity shop many moons ago.
My prop this week is a recent purchase in the shape of a 'Fitbit' which is currently on my wrist. This hot summer made me come to the decision that I must make a serious effort to lose weight as I felt so uncomfortable and lacking in energy. One or two readers who have met me in the flesh are aware that I am lady of ample proportions and sadly have been for most of my adult life. After some gentle encouragement from one of my nieces and a lunch time chat with a trio of lovely nurses at the Southport Flower Show I have bought a basic Fitbit. Nothing too fancy but it set to record a daily target of 10,000 steps which I've managed to achieve every day so far for the last week. It certainly has kept me on my toes and I apologise for not commenting on all the blog posts that I have read due to less sitting down time :) I know that I must also revise my diet but this is is a first step I hope to a healthier life.
Thanks as always to our inspirational and gracious hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for the motivation to put together a vase most Mondays. I wonder how many steps that process could involve. The vase is now sitting on the kitchen windowsill, where the flowers have lost their different shades in the reduced light and appear a most pleasing gentle dusky pink to the eye.
P. S. - Thanks to Cathy's comment I now know that my dahlia isn't 'American Dawn' but 'Jowey Winnie'. Although the colours seemed to match I couldn't reconcile the shape of my dahlia with images of 'American Dawn'. I put it down to my labelling going astray somewhere along the line as I had also planted what I thought was 'Jowey Winnie,' for her to be all foliage only or so I thought.
What a pretty dahlia. Such a sweet color.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Cindy :)
DeleteI'd send a photo to the supplier and ask what they think. We bought dahlia last year that was nothing like the image on the pack but I liked it and so didn't bother. We only wanted a variety of dahlias for the allotment and were not after a special colour etc.
ReplyDeleteI would have done Sue but the mystery has now been solved :)
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your visit and comment Sandra :)
DeleteThat's a nice Dahlia Anna...as to the fitbit, maybe you will also garden mindfully with aplomb, knowing that each stretch, each bend, each heavy bucket of manure carried is keeping you fit too.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks Noelle. If only the Fitbit would measure all those stretches, bends and buckets too! You're quite right though as the garden and allotment work should producing positive results.
DeleteIt's a beautiful dahlia whatever its name. "A rose by any other name..." Also being a person of, ahem, ample proportions, I'm inspired by your resolution to improve your health.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind words and understanding Peter :)
DeleteA lot of the dahlias I've bought from DIY shops here haven't been what was on the pack but some have been even nicer (like huge white I showed last week) but they are very cheap and available. I would like to order a few specially choice varieties but I'm not sure where to order from. Any recommendations would be useful. I love yours btw!
ReplyDeleteThat white dahlia of yours was rather gorgeous Christina. I have bought most of my dahlias from Wilkos, Peter Nyssen and Sarah Raven. One of my allotment plot neighbours bought some fabulous sturdy and healthy dahlia plants from Pheasant Acre Bulbs this year. They have been most impressive. The same nursery also sells tubers. I came across their stall at the Great Dixter autumn plant sale last year and all that they were selling looked good quality. I'm not sure though whether post to Italy.
DeleteIt's very beautiful but so frustrating when things don't burn out as ordered. Do try and get a refund, I've had reasonable success with that. It would be good to know what it is so we can all grow it. I'd like some modest size dahlias. Good luck with your fitness plan. I know it's not easy but will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt's rather lovely indeed Alison but it turns out that I had ordered it but got my labels mixed up :) Thanks for your good wishes.
DeleteThe dahlia does look a bit like 'Jowey Winnie', but that's just a shot in the dark really. If you can be bothered asking for a refund then do go for it - I think I would. And well done on making a start on improving your fitness - the first step is the hardest. I am a big fan of Fitbit - even though the Golfer and I are already active having a Fitbit was a real eye opener as it made me realise how easy it was to sit down for several hours (in front of my laptop on Mondays for example!!!), so setting it to buzz if we have not made 250 steps in the previous hour is a great incentive. Do you swim at all? Yours is the same as mine and will record your lengths ps the Golfer always does at least 10,000 steps on a round of golf... ;)
ReplyDeleteWell you are spot on Cathy with your id! Many thanks. I must do better concentrating on my labels or just pot up one dahlia tuber at a time in the future :) Thanks for your encouraging support. Yes that 250 steps can take some doing at times e.g. sitting down to watch 'Gardener's World'. I had to press the pause button and walk up and down the hall a few times before resuming my place. I'm not surprised that the Golfer meets the daily step target with all that golf. I might take up swimming again at some point in the future.
DeleteI love the colors of your pom-pom dahlias even if they weren't what you expected. (I looked it up from the provider I generally use and you're right, it's not the same flower they show either.) I should follow your example and up my own physical regime as I find I'm doing way to much sitting of late too. Best wishes with the fitness plan, Anna!
ReplyDeleteThe colours are most appealing Kris and I now know what it is. Hopefully I will see 'American Dawn' in flower in the future. It's all foliage this year :( Thanks for your good wishes for my new fitness regime.
DeleteSuch a pretty dahlia. Good luck with the fitbit. Don't do what I did; throw your trousers in the washing machine and wonder where on earth you put your fitbit. Fitbits aren't washable.
ReplyDeleteWell I will try not to Chloris. I am wearing the Fitbit on the wristband so have yet to put it my trousers pockets but that day may yet come :) I'm sorry to hear about the tragic fate that befell your Fitbit.
ReplyDeleteWell done for achieving 10,000 steps daily, I need to follow your lead :)
ReplyDeleteThe dahlia is absolutely beautiful, regardless of its name! Hooray for a start towards a healthier you!
ReplyDeleteLovely dahlia - I saw it at West Dean Gardens last year and took many photos - including the label as it was such a unique name! Well done for getting motivated to walk. I felt the same way during the summer, overweight and uncomfortable. As I'm an apple shape, I really notice it when I'm sitting down and am trying to make improvements - I even bought a new swimsuit but it hasn't been used yet! A fitbit might be the answer for me too.
ReplyDelete10K sounds daunting - but so encouraging if you can already achieve it on a daily basis. I probably only hit that target on my weekly hike.
ReplyDelete