HALLOWEEN ARRANGEMENTS -- VOTIVE HOLDER USED AS A VASE

This votive holder lantern makes a great vase for a fall floral arrangement. The flowers are in an orange vase and placed inside the lantern.

Dinner plate dahlias were used for the Halloween arrangement. "October Sky," the orange/peachy one is actually grown on the same plant--the flowers have variable colors--no two blooms are exactly the same.  The rosy purple one is "Thomas Edison."

This arrangement was made on the 30th of October. And, as you can see, the flowers are big and beautiful. They will continue on that way until a killing frost--usually in November. And, like I've mentioned before, the more stems you cut, the more blooms you'll end up having.

HALLOWEEN ARRANGEMENTS -- USING DECORATIONS FOR VASES

This Halloween jack-o-lantern decoration has a glass jar inside, holding the floral arrangement.  I'm always on the look out for decorations I can use for them.

The fall dinner plate dahlias are the perfect flower to use in this October arrangement.  Used are rosy purple "Thomas Edison," yellow-orange "October Sky," and red "Envy."

Dinner plate dahlias take approximately 90 days from the time of planting to harvest. However, the wait is well worth the wait!

Nurseries have plants already leafed-out to plant in your garden, but I always buy the tubers and plant in spring, after the chance of frost of over. For zone 6, that's the day after Mother's Day.

DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS IN WARM, FALL COLORS -- Still going strong in October!

These beautiful warm-colored dinner plate dahlias make the perfect arrangement for Autumn in the first weeks of October. In shades of apricot, orange, golden, yellow and red, the huge blooms hold their shape well for a week, sometimes more.

I love this vase--it hangs from a hook at the top of the piece, with a base that keeps it erect. I collect vases and baskets that I think will make a nice presentation. Pictured here are yellow "Kidds Climax," red "Zorro," and orange-apricot "October Sky."

No two dahlias of "October Sky" are alike. Some may have more orange, others have more apricot or yellow. At any rate, they are beautiful.

As I've mentioned several times, the more you cut stems of these big blooms, the more they flower--so, snip away! 

In zone 6, the tubers need to be dug and stored until replanting in the spring. Dig two weeks after the first killing frost. It's usually November here.  Shake off excess soil and let the tubers dry out for a few days before storing. I've used several methods--wrapping in newspaper, layered in sawdust, vermiculite or perlite, or even just in open boxes. Keep in a cold, but not freezing area, like a shed. Check on them during the winter to make sure they don't get mold on, or are drying up.