Gardening is akin to writing stories. No experience could have taught me more about grief or flowers, about achieving survival by going, your fingers in the ground, the limit of physical exhaustion.
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Yes, it’s almost the end of September. The air has taken on a slight chill, and the slant of light has moved closer to the earth. I’m behind on my gardening blog posts. Plain and simple. Before we are fully immersed in autumn, here’s a look back at the late-summer bouquets through the end of August. These bouquets were made for family and friends.
July 27th bouquet for former fellow Lunafest East Bay committee member Anja.
Close-up of the most gorgeous dahlia in the garden this season, hands down!
Another close-up of this mesmirizing dahlia. See how intricate Nature can be!
Another view of the July 27th bouquet. Dahlias galore.
Close-up of a pink zinnia and a velvety burgundy dahlia.
Another view of this bouquet, packed with different colored dahlias.
Beautiful white dahlia with intricate layers of petals.
The second July 27th bouquet for fellow East Bay Lunafest committee member Peggy. The gladiolas were late this year, but whereas last year they didn’t come up at all, this year, they came up in abundance. Next year, it will be even better.
Close-up of zinnias, dahlias, and baby’s breath.
Lime green zinnia paired with a bright pink zinnia.
A ginger plant and salmon-colored gladiola anchor this July 30th bouquet for Joann.
Close-up of bouquet with burgundy dahlias, zinnias, alstroemeria, bachelor’s button in blue, baby’s breath, scabiosa, and Helipterum roseum
“Pierrot.”
Close-up of July 30th bouquet.
Another close-up.
Another view.
Bachelor’s button blue with yellow dahlia and pink zinnia.
First bouquet of August, on the first of the month.
Close-up of the rare gerbera daisy, the lone plant in the backyard garden.
August 5th bouquet.
Hot magenta and orange dahlias in this close-up of the August 5th bouquet.
August 7th bouquet of pinks and burgundies – roses, dahlias, zinnias, alstroemeria, and baby’s breath. For my neighbor Carla.
Another view of this bouquet.
Yellow, orange, and salmon colored bouquet, second August 7th bouquet. For my neighbor Faith.
Close-up of second August 7th bouquet.
Another close-up.
Last view of this August 7th bouquet.
August 11th bouquet.
Close-up of August 11th bouquet.
Another close-up of gladiola, zinnia, dahlia, scabiosa flowers.
Another view. Look at that big yellow dahlia!
And here’s the full-on view of the dinner plate-size dahlia.
Second August 11th bouquet, featuring rudbeckia hirta “Chim Chiminee” – the yellow sunflower-looking flower on the right.
August 14th bouquet.
The other side of the August 14th bouquet.
August 17th bouquet.
Close-up of August 17th bouquet with a magenta dahlia and yellow rudbeckia.
Full-bodied August 17th bouquet.
August 18th bouquet.
This August 18th bouquet features a double-flower gerbera daisy and the proliferation of rudbeckia flowers.
Close-up of the double-flower gerbera daisy.
Another view of the August 18th bouquet.
Dahlias are still going strong in August, despite the creep of the usual powdery mildew.
Close-up of my favorite rudbeckia hirta “Cherry Brandy.”
Orange and lime-green zinnias, baby’s breath, and yellow dahlia.
August 25th bouquet.
Second August 25th bouquet.
Another view of the August 25th bouquet.
August 26th bouquet. Baby blues and pinks.
Close-up of August 26th bouquet – pink dahlias and zinnias and yellow rudbeckias.
Close-up of the reliable pink zinnia.
The last day of August and we have bee balm, rudbeckia hirta (Cherry Brandy), gerbera daisy, and scabiosa.