Midsummer Wedding Flowers

 

In August I arranged flowers for a wedding reception.  I used purchased roses and garland, but the rest of the flowers came from my garden.  My dahlias were going strong and provided most of the color.  The photo above includes 'Cafe au Lait,' 'White Onesta,' 'Labyrinth' and 'Linda's Baby' dahlias.

In the small centerpieces I included roses, 'Labyrinth' dahlias, 'Ruffled Swan' anemones, 'Little Lime' hydrangeas, 'Dalmation Peach' foxgloves, peach hypericum berries, 'White Glitter' sea holly, 'Autumn Bride' heuchera, parsley seed heads, scented pelargonium leaves, mint stems and honeysuckle.

This vase for the guest sign-in table used most of the flowers listed above plus some 'Little Quick Fire' hydrangeas.  I was delighted with the dainty white anemone flowers.  I have 'White Swan,' 'Dreaming Swan,' and 'Ruffled Swan' anemones in my garden, and they are all vigorous bloomers from midsummer to frost.  'Ruffled Swan' flowers are the most substantial and my favorite for arranging.

I grew four 'Labyrinth' dahlia plants this year, and they were highly productive.  No wonder this dahlia is so popular with flower arrangers.  The twisting petals combine peach and rose shades so they blend well with many color schemes.

Here's another shot of the centerpieces en masse.  I ordered the glass cylinder vases in bulk from Amazon.

I made two of these large arrangements with a giant 'Penhill Watermelon' dahlia as the focal point of each.  

Here are the large arrangements next to the disassembled arch.  For the arch I used a garland of honeysuckle, salal and bear grass that was ordered from Costco.com, plus more flowers from my garden.  I had never created a floral arch before, so it was fun to stretch my skills.  I have no plans to become a professional wedding florist, but it has been enjoyable to help a friend or two with reception flowers each summer.

Mid May Garden

 

I am finally posting these photos from mid-May, with 'Purple Sensation' alliums and 'Excelsior' Spanish bluebells in bloom above.

By the middle of May the 'Royal Raindrops' crabapple trees had dropped their petals and taken up their summer maroon color.

'Early Emperor' alliums in the foreground were a lovely contrast with the chartreuse leaves of a 'Sutherland Gold' elderberry at left and the 'Red Dragon' contorted filbert at right.

This chair has been a favorite place to sit and take in the view down both sides of the path.

The last of the tulips included 'Blue Spectacle,' 'Black Hero' and these unknown coral-red lily tulips.

In the white garden, 'Spring Green' viridiflora tulips bloomed along with the 'Popcorn' viburnum at back right.

The west garden was full of leaves if not color, with a few clematis flowers opening on the trellis.

Tulip Time in Early May

 These photos of the backyard are from early May when the tulips were in full bloom along with the 'Royal Raindrops' crabapple trees.

'Margarita' pink double tulips were blooming at front along with lily-flowered 'Merlot,' 'Orange Princess,' 'Negrita' and 'Black Hero.' 

As the 'Spring Snow' crabapple trees finished blooming, white petals covered the ground.   

These double red 'Palmyra' tulips might have been my favorite this year.  In the background you can see one of two newly planted 'Primo' dwarf arborvitaes.  Eventually they should grow four feet tall by one foot wide to add beautiful evergreen structure to this main sunny bed.

A shot looking west shows the back northwest bed.  I've been giving extra water and love to the two 'Green Tower' boxwoods at right.  We transplanted them out from the very back of the bed last year, and they're still a little stressed.

Speaking of stressed plants, my two 'Thoweil' false cypress shrubs (just left of center and far left) are both struggling.  I'm not sure if they have tip blight or if they just got too dried out last winter, but they've had a lot of dieback and just don't look good.  I have been making sure the soil is moist at their bases and have treated them with fungicide.  Every time I walk by I send them good thoughts for recovery.

The tulips in this area came back nicely for a second year, including pink 'Aveyron' and creamy 'Verona.'  Newly planted 'Bowles Golden' carex echoes the chartreuse blooms of cushion spurge.

In my tiny white garden, the 'Exotic Emperor' tulips have multiplied over several years to make a good showing along with variegated white aubretia and the 'Spring Snow' crabapple.

This photo doesn't do them justice, but the 'Exotic Emperor' tulips have interesting green flames coming up their sides and lovely full blooms.  

A view of the east back garden reveals the new hot tub at far right.  We bought it for my husband and I swore I would rarely get in, but it turns out that I use it more than anyone else in the family, especially after a long day of gardening.

This is the view from the best seat in the hot tub.  It has become another way to enjoy the garden!