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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Outstanding In Its Field


Dahlia coccinea ‘True Wild Form’ is tasty to grasshoppers

It might be more accurate to say, "Dahlia is standing out in the field....of Susans."


 Although, I deliberately planted this lovely in the middle of the Susan's Border,  I had visions of red flowers, not a vision of a red flower!


I fell for this brilliant red dahlia with the golden yellow stamens when I  saw it in the Annie's Annuals* catalog last Spring.    Remember Spring! When the weather was near perfect and we bought plants with abandon and  hopes for summer.    In my fantasy 'True Wild' was making a dramatic statement much earlier in the season and then continuing to bloom when the Susans opened in July!  That was my plan!
Fading beauties: Susans, early blooming wildflowers and still blooming Coreopsis 'Redshift' and Cup Plant

 Instead,  she's outstandingly beautiful in the field of fading beauties~


 Placing a bold red flower in the middle of Rudbeckia fulgida might not be to everyone's taste, but,  I like it.  
Salvia
  In fact,  I love bold reds and yellows.

Coreopsis 'Redshift'
  Nature has gifted us with many naturally occurring reds and yellows~ like Partridge Peas, Ratibida columnifera, Helenium autumnale, and spring blooming Aquilegia canadensis and Spigelia marilandica.  So why not plop a red and gold flowered dahlia right in the middle of the Susans for a spot of intensity.
Poor Dahlia is too tasty to caterpillars

I might move her a  smidge closer to the Coreopsis Big Bang™ 'Redshift' and order a few more for impact!  I wish she wasn't such a tasty treat for those darn grasshoppers.  Soldier beetles do your best!

xxoogail


*Annies Annuals


25 comments:

  1. It is an outstanding Dahlia. You need more so you can share them with the grasshoppers. Some for you, some for them!

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  2. Awwww what a shame you didn't get more blooms from this flower. I love the bright shade of red and that of the Salvia too. Hopefully next year!

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  3. Red demands attention, whether there is just a dash or a whole paragraph. Your red dahlia is that much more special for its torn leaves and brilliant show. Go red!

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  4. Now I know exactly where you live. The Fading Beauties photo gave it away. It's Paradise. I guessed it, right? I would have your photos on my walls as art.

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  5. I love the second photo, Gail! Miss Dahlia looks like a queen amidst her crowd of followers. Red and yellow really make a statement in the garden; a great combination.

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  6. She is outstanding in her field! Dahlia's are one of my favorite flowers...don't know if you recieved the memo about my new blog. I had to start one because of an idiot relative.
    http://hundredsofideas.wordpress.com

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  7. Oh that's a beautiful dahlia! It really pops against the field of yellow! I have some red and yellow together in the garden as well. And my red house and all my yellow flowers are a great match too!

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  8. Beautiful color contrast Gail. I love the red with the Susans. Do you leave your dahlia in the ground over the winter? I am not big on digging things up for the winter.

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  9. Oh how wonderful! The yellow stamens make the outfit, dear Gail. Fingers crossed that perhaps she will return next year, to offer even more blooms for you.

    xxxooo
    Frances

    ps, I love red and yellow in the garden, flowers and friends.

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  10. Janet, The literature says zone 7...so I might giver her a try...I sure hope she returns...The real issue is the heavy winter rains we have. I shall mulch with permatil and she how she does.

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  11. That dahlia really stands out among the susans...so lovely!

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  12. I love the lone dahlia amongst all the rudbeckia! It really make a strong statement...here I am, check me out! It conveys strength and independence!

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  13. This dahlia is standing tall during a time we need such a dramatic kick in the garden. It is beautiful.

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  14. Speaking of soldier beetles, I have lots in the garden, but usually I have HORDES of them. This whole summer was like 50-70% as many insects as usual. How was it or you? Maybe the glut of preying mantis influenced my garden--never seen so many.

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  15. I do remember spring, wasn't that just last week?! Sheesh, where did summer go? I see nothing wrong with planting such a bold red flower adrift in a sea of Susans. At least that way you can't miss her! Do the bees like her? (It seems everyone else does). I noticed some of the Dahlias at the garden center the other day were absolutely swarming with bees! I don't have any planted here, maybe I should!

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  16. I like red and yellow together too. Bold is good in this instance!

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  17. I love the deep, beautiful shade of red on that dahlia! I can definitely see why you fell for it, Gail. :)

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  18. Oh Gail, that red would have definitely made a statement with the yellow. I'm not a fan of red and yellow together as a rule, but in this case, the colors are perfect together, especially with that coreopsis. It's like fire!

    Can you dig the tuber and bring it in, save seeds, etc.? Where we live, you either dig tubers or treat them as annuals. And I must say, although I am basically lazy when it comes to dahlias, I've got a few that I do dig and then pot up again in the spring.

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  19. I like red and yellows together and your plan of Dalia was a good one. Too bad the grasshoppers think so too. But now the Dalia has character, right? This has been a bang up year for grasshoppers. Just too darn many of the little hoppers.

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  20. How nice that dahlias are perennial in your area Gail! They're annual here unless we dig up and store the tubers. I really like the single varieties, and yours is such a brilliant color. It sure stands out amongst the Susans!

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  21. Very handsome head... sometimes less is more :)

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  22. Love it! Mixing it up is beautiful.

    Lisa

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  23. Gorgeous Gail. I like the red/yellow combo. Nature sure is good to show us how different colors go together.

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  24. That's a lovely scene your wild dahlia made for you, though not what you planned! It's interesting how often the plants have minds of their own, and how often they persuade us to do it their way :) Beautiful images of your hot and wild favorites!

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  25. It is a show stopper. I should plant some in my new "red bed" next year.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson