DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS AND STATE FAIR ZINNIAS -- BEAUTIFUL COLORS FOR COMPLIMENTARY FALL ARRANGEMENTS

I love pairing dinner plate dahlias with State Fair zinnias. Both have huge blooms, and compliment each other well in arrangements.

This arrangement has creamy white and bright golden yellow State Fair zinnias. The zinnias have a variety of blooms--from single to fully double. Pictured is a creamy white bloom measuring 6" across, with layer after layer of petals. Gorgeous! There are also singles and semi-double ones in the bouquet.The bright golden color adds to the arrangement; complimentary colors always provide drama to the bouquet.

The more stems you cut of both of these plants, the more they will bloom. Their large, colorful blooms will continue through the summer and fall, until a killing frost in the fall--usually November here in zone 6.

Working with these glorious blooms is always a pleasure. I'm always anxious to go out and decide which will be used that day for a new arrangement. Because of the heavy bloom this year, I have used them widely in the weekly arrangements.

LOVE-IN-A-MIST -- A RARE TRUE BLUE BLOOM

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is a beautiful true blue annual. It is an easy to grow wild flower that is adaptable to most soils. It readily reseeds, so once you have one, you'll be enjoying the unique blooms for years. It blooms from June through killing frosts in the fall.

Lasting several weeks in arrangements, the 12-24" plant does well in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy in zones 3-10. It is known for its delicate, feathery foliage.

Two things I like best about these pretty blue flowers is that it blooms in several different shades of blue--from a very light blue to a dark, true blue.  And, once the bloom is spent, lovely seed pods form that are unique and beautiful. They are widely used in arrangements as well as their blue counterparts.  It's a flower that all gardens would benefit from.