COLORFUL SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS - Dinner plate dahlias, roses,

September 7th and the garden is colorful with dinner plate dahlias, hybrid tea roses and more gladiola and zinnias. The zinnias will bloom until a killing frost. Dinner plate dahlias, the giants in the garden, aren't hardy, and need to be pulled two weeks after a killing frost in the fall, when they have turned black. If necessary, carefully divide the 'fingers' of the tubers--sometimes there will be many--other times there won't be. Shake off the soil and let them dry for a few days before storing in a dry, dark place for the winter. Check on them periodically to make sure they aren't dry or molding. If dry, take a paper cup of water and put in the box with them.  If molding, brush off and make sure they aren't in a damp or humid area. Replant in the fall. Pictured here are three of my favorites: Pink, with a yellow heart "Kidd's Climax," white "Fleurel," and yellow "Kelvin Floodlight." 

GLADIOLA - Luscious shades of shrimp for arranging

The weekly arrangement for August 23rd found these luscious shrimp-colored gladiola blooming in the garden. The top heavy 48-60" tall stalks are perfect for this 22" vase. Cut stems with some of the bottom flowers blooming, and others still in the bud stage for arrangements that will last over two weeks. If possible, keep cutting the stems shorter when the bottom blooms are spent. I did that to this one after picking it up from the dentist's office after a week, and enjoyed them for an additional week or so. I like to arrange in the evening, then put the arrangement in a refrigerator I have in the garage for flowers, set at 40 degrees, over night. I always use a floral preservative for extra long lasting displays.