It's one of these new dahlia tubers. It started out in April much smaller than it is now! 
In early June, I tranferred it to this larger container with a Tropicanna. I planted it under the soil, but it's grown so big that it exploded right out above the soil.
My plan was for big black Tropicanna leaves to shoot up above the dahlia. It didn't quite work that way. The dahlia took over and you can't even see the Tropicanna unless I spread the (bug eaten) dahlia leaves.
Here is the twin container planting. Different color dahlia, but otherwise the same planting.
This dahlia took off nicely, too. I must have planted a larger Tropicanna because it did exactly what it was supposed to. I love the red dahlias with the black leaves. Can't wait to see how it looks when the Trop blooms.
The orange dahlia I showed a few days ago keeps getting bigger and bigger. Look how you can't even see my hand spread out behind it!
The three wall planters are doing O.K.
I wish the orange geranium would have gotten about twice this size, but I have yet to grow a lush-looking geranium. I do like the shape of the Sweet Potato
vine in the front. It has completely covered the front of the planting area, which is exactly what I aim for.
All in all the deck plantings are looking pretty good right now. In the next two weeks I should have a lot of cannas in bloom and I will rearrange the containers to best show off the canna blooms. Of course, I will post more pics when that happens.
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Your dahlias are just gorgeous, I love their colour, and look at that orange one, wow!! I must admit when I was loading your page and that first picture appeared I thought "ewwwwww"! lol My dahlias are budding but haven't opened yet...soon:-) xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Zoey, I enjoyed seeing your dahlia photos. I wish I could grow them but the Japanese beetles destroy them.
ReplyDeleteDid a double take on the first photo. It does look like a brain:)
Marnie
Your Dahlias look lovely. I love all your containers.
ReplyDeleteEach year I promise myself to do more containers, but once again, I never managed to get it done. Maybe next year.
Wow, everything looks so beautiful, I'm so jealous! :)
ReplyDeleteYup Zoey..you have the 'magic touch' with flowers..maybe I should say you work hard and get the results!
ReplyDeleteI hope you take time to sit back and enjoy your beautiful garden and potted plants.
I so have to get into dahlias! The ones I gave Sean to plant don't like the shady underneath of the magnolia tree.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see more of yours in the coming weeks.
A bit off topic, but did you ever make your own clothes? I've made mostly skirts and dresses over the years, not lately though.
Pea, Thanks. Are dahlias a new one for you? I don't remember seeing them last year.
ReplyDeleteRoses, Something has been eating mine, too. There are a lot of holes in the leaves.
Debbie, At this time of the year my gardens are nearly finished and not looking very nice. I am always glad to have so many containers to play with for the next two months.
PPQ, thank you.
Betty, This year I have not really sat out on the deck very often. August and Sept. is when I enjoy the deck the most because everything is fully grown. Maybe I will sit out there a bit this weekend.
Dianne, Each year I get more dahlias and I like them even more. I am pretty much down to planting just dahlias, callas and cannas. It's nice because I don't have to buy many flowers anymore. This year I spent only a quarter of what I usually do on annuals and they deck is just as full as ever.
I didn't plant any cannas this year and am so sorry. Next year, I will definitely have a good assortment. Like you, I save my tubers from year to year, thereby saving lots at the nursery each spring. I also bring in my asparagus ferns, amaryllis, geraniums, and spider plants. It's a lot of work in late September, but so worth it when June rolls around.
ReplyDeleteGiddy, I wish I had a place to overwinter more plants. I only have the basement , which does have a large window in a small room where I save just a few plants that do not go dormant. I find it a real pain with all the leaves falling all over and the aphids, but like you said, when June comes it'z nice to have those plants!
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