In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens. I am reluctant to show all the weeds in mine, so that leaves dahlias and zinnias for today, along with a few Espresso gladioli like the one in last week’s vase.
I actually managed an hour of weeding one morning and continue to dream the garden will be reclaimed eventually. There were dark storm clouds every night and twice we actually received rain, though we need much more. It has been hot, hot , hot—and humid. Dahlias are thirsty. Zinnias are thrilled.
There are some beautiful red zinnias this year and I gathered as many of them and other red flowers as were available, at first conceiving a woven basket of summer flowers for this week’s In A Vase On Monday. The result ended up being more formal when I shifted direction and selected a favorite Chrisco’s Pottery vase instead. The pot stands 8 inches tall and is decorated with a black matte and glossy sgraffito design.
In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
Flower hues include the deep red, magenta, reddish-orange, apricot and coral.
In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
There is also a sassy orange cactus zinnia that I really enjoy.
In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
The focus flower is Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’ and features fringed white petals.
In A Vase On Monday – Red Hot Summertime
Materials
Flowers
Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’
Dahlia ‘Tsuku Yori No Shisha’
Gladioli ‘Espresso’
Zinnias
Foliage
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood)
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Container
Red/black raku vase, Charles Chrisco, Chrisco’s Pottery
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower designs across the world. Visit her to discover what she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.
pbmGarden 
What bright and happy colors that almost make me wish for the coolness of fall! I’m not ready for summer to be over, but I am ready for this extreme heat and drought to go. It is so hard on the garden, not to mention the gardener. Sounds like you are getting more rain than we are here in Ohio. Seems like Indiana is hogging it all and saving none for us, but what can one do except pull out the garden hose.
Hope rain comes your way soon Cindy. We were passed over again this afternoon, lots of clouds but no action. We’ve had very little rain all summer, but just a few miles away people complain about it raining so much!
Fabulous burst of colour, I love how the dark gladiolus manage to make the riot of red more sophisticated.
Thanks Christina. Gladioli do have an inherent elegance or formality I think.
Love the white spotlight!! There are a lot of Zinnias on these pages this week – shows what a valuable, versatile and hardy (ie drought tolerant) flower it is eh?
Yes, they’re real workhorses. That white dahlia doesn’t last very well in a vase and there have been only a few to bloom. Hope as it cools there will be more.
Stunning! I actually have a couple of Dahlias this year, and they are blooming. 🙂
Judy, nice that we’re experimenting with similar plants this year. Most of mine didn’t live but the ones that did have been exciting.
Your gladioli would have fitted in with my Sozzled vase, wouldn’t they? Your vase certainly gives off some heat, a great selection especially considering your limitations. Now that I know where I am going with zinnias I will choose my varieties carefully for next year, as there is a lot of choice. Thanks for sharing your sultry vase, Susie
Cathy, I had to look up sozzled! Ha! Yes, I wish we could have a plant exchange right through the computer screen. Would gladly share some zinnias for some of your gorgeous dark wine-colored blooms. They’re fabulous. There are a lot of zinnia choices–it’s hard to go wrong or have too many.
It has taken me a few years to get to the stage of successful zinnias, and they are only half successful this year because they shared a bed with some rhubarb which grew in a way it has never grown before and crowded them out – it won’t happen again, as the rhubarb is OUT!
A great vase with a nice combination of colors. I am only keeping the front yard weeded at this time. It is also too hot here to work outside.
Thank you–it was satisfying to create a large arrangement. I haven’t weeded enough for the past several years and the past has caught up with me. Good luck with yours!
What gorgeous colours. I have these dahlias too and they are all fabulous. Your zinnas are lovely too and all put together so artistically.
Thanks so much! I’ve enjoyed dallying with growing dahlias this year, although there has been a lot of attrition.
The black vase was the perfect choice, Susie – it makes those vivid colors sing. The Glads are especially dramatic. I hope you get a break from that heat and humidity soon.
Thank you Kris. The front of that vase actually has a red glaze (sort of a diamond shape) in front, above the black, but the red clashed considerably with the flowers. I was surprised because there were so many different reds I thought it would all blend! It’s raining all around us this afternoon!
As a dahlia lover, this just speaks to me. And the colors are so vibrant! Beautiful.
Thank you Angie, so glad you like it.
Sorry I tried to leave a comment on your beautiful pink glads but ended up in a circular login situation. They’re so delicate.
Ooh, sizzling! Love those hot colours Susie. 🙂 Hope you get a cool breeze and some showers soon.
Hi Cathy, thanks! I don’t know how the zinnias can tolerate our recent weather but for now they’re happy and bring me joy.
Wow! Full, lush, stunning! ❤
Thank you Eliza! Fun to have a large collection of zinnias and dahlias in bloom to work with.
Susie, so, so gorgeous and I love the colors. Dreaming of Zinnias. I am also dreaming of garden reclamation, but can’t stay outside long enough to conquer the weeds.
Thanks! The weeds are definitely in control here and not responding to my lament.
Mine are laughing at me, rudely.
Love those red and orange Zinnias.
Lucked out with zinnias this year.
Dang! Zinnias are enviable. I can grow dahlias, but not zinnias.
Zinnias are much more carefree here than dahlias.
That seems to be the consensus.
Mildew is not much of a problem in our arid climate, but somehow bothers things that are not bothered by it in more humid climates, including zinnias. It makes no sense.