There is some heat in my vase this week in contrast to the cooler and wet day that it is out there. Spreading some sunshine are :
- Dahlia 'Copper Boy' planted in 2022 - these remained in the ground and came through the prolonged bitterly cold spell that we had last December to make for much larger plants this year. They were very well mulched before the temperature plummeted. Their only fault is that the stems are on the droopy side possibly because of the size of the flower. It's a big 'un.
- Helianthus annus' Claret' - or another case of a flower not reading the seed packet. My friend who I passed some seedlings on to inherited the real deep wine-red deal rather than the striped marmalade version that I ended up with. Still until recent years my sunflowers were invariably nobbled by molluscs well before they could grow to adulthood so I'm happy with any flowers whatever the colour.
- Rudbeckia 'Sahara' - a now favourite half-hardy perennial. This year's batch of seed has produced a mix of colours with both single and double forms. I have a soft spot for the singles. I sowed the seed in early March on the heated sand bench in the greenhouse making sure they were under cover on cold nights. Previously I've sown them in a heated propagator in early February but I don't think on balance that they gain that much from an earlier start.
The vase is an old Keiller marmalade jar which was an eBay purchase.
Thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for her impeccable hosting. Here the imminent arrival of the autumn equinox is being ushered in with a spell of predicted wild and wet windy weather this week. I was able to spend a few hours this weekend pottering about outside and have culled the tomato plants, taken salvia and lemon verbena cuttings, filled that green waste bin to the very brim and have sown more hardy annuals. I think that the next couple of days will be hunkering in days but I've resigned myself to that and have just been cheered by the sight of the first signs of germination from some pansy seedlings sown just nine days ago. Now to pick some apples before the wind brings them down!
That's a very pretty combination, Anna. I love Rudbeckia 'Sahara' and need to find that one next year (or maybe try growing it from seed). I've got some dahlias like that with heads bigger and heavier than their stems can properly support. We're feeling the change of seasons here too but it's a slower and more subtle shift than I imagine you get in your climate.
ReplyDeleteYes I think that the size of the flower head is the problem Kris and this weakness is highlighted when we have a spell of heavy rain or high winds. This last week has certainly seen a pronounced change in the weather!
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous ...the colors are autumn personified. I love that your dahlia came through the cold. I wish mine would.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and kind words Donna 😀
DeleteI like the shade of your sunflower, Anna - Velvet Queen, which I grow, is similar. And well done to your dahlia for sticking it out over winter - pretty astonishing after the winter we had. Will you risk it again? And what a great range of colours of Sahara, adding to your pretty autumnal vase. After my small success with Sahara this year I will grow it again next year after all ... 🤞
ReplyDeleteI will live on the edge Cathy and the dahlias can take their chance again this winter 😀 I will certainly mulch them thoroughly again. Glad that you have cracked 'Sahara' again and plan to sow them next year. A friend grows' Cherokee Sunset' and I might be tempted by them too.
DeleteThose colours all look delicious Anna, and marmalade does in fact come to mind! The Dahlia is gorgeous, and goes beautifully with your Sahara Rudbeckias. It sounds like you had a rewarding weekend before the weather broke. Isn't it lovely having flowers indoors for those damp days when we can't get out!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy 😀 Last weekend was most productive indeed and yesterday too. Today has turned back to some rain and it has been quite windy with
Deletestonger winds to follow as the week progresses. Yes bringing flowers indoor eases the pain of being stuck indoors!
Anna, your flowers are lovely with a definite nod to autumn. Dahlia 'Copper Boy' is especially nice.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Susie - it's an attractive dahlia despite it's tendency to flop 😀
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