Sharing my bouquets: mid-summer flowers

‘All gardening is landscape painting,’ said Alexander Pope.
– Rebecca Solnit, American author who writes on the environment, politics, place, and art, from Wanderlust: A History of Walking

The second week in July, the other auction winner family came back from their summer vacation, so I resumed putting together two deliveries each week. But now, since I started back in March with one family and May with the other person, I only had two weeks left for the 10-week weekly bouquet donation.

July 10th bouquet: Architecturally sound bouquet featuring my late-coming gladiolas.

Close-up of zinnias, dahlias, scabiosa, Cerinthe major purpurascens
“Blue Honeywort,” and Love in the Mist seed pods, July 10th bouquet.

Close-up of “Fama Blue” scabiosa, white gerbera daisy, and dahlias, July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

Another view of the second July 10th bouquet.

Close-up of second July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

Deep burgundy dahlia next to “Fama Blue” scabiosa, July 10th bouquet.

“Fama Blue” scabiosa next to the salmon gladiola, July 10th bouquet.

A deeper-blue “Fama Blue” scabiosa. I’m so pleased they are really blooming this season after so many paltry seasons, July 10th bouquet.

Deep burgundy dahlia close-up, July 10th bouquet.

The deer have yet to get to my gladiolas, which are coming up in the front yard around our Japanese maple tree, July 10th bouquet.

Fuschia dahlia, July 10th bouquet.

More dahlias, July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet detail with dahlias and rare white scabiosa.

Here are the final bouquets for the two auction winners. And thus ends my donation for Korematsu Middle School’s auction. In previous years, I donated to El Cerrito High School and Harding Elementary School, all in El Cerrito. It’s been a nice run, and I’m happy to have supported my kids’ schools through the years. The next bouquets will be special because I’ll get to make them for friends.

July 15th bouquet: The red-and-white dahlias finally bloom.

Close-up of red-and-white dahlias, July 15th bouquet.

The second July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of dahlia, July 15th bouquet.

Another view of the second July 15th bouquet.

Bonus: A third July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of rare fuschia dahlia in third July 15th bouquet. Nice paired with the “Fama Blue” scabiosa.

Pale peach and yellow dahlias, third July 15th bouquet.

Another view of the third July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of echinacea (coneflower), dahlias and zinnia, third July 15th bouquet.

Prolific yellow dahlia and fuschia dahlia close-up of third July 15th bouquet.

July 18th bouquet. Last delivery to Grizzly Peak in Berkeley!

Close-up of July 18th bouquet: dahlias, rudbeckia, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), chocolate cosmos, helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Another view of the July 18th bouquet.

The second July 18th bouquet anchored by a ginger plant.

The other side of the July 18th bouquet.

Compact side view of July 18th bouquet.

July 22nd bouquet: Last Korematsu Middle School auction delivery: Dripping with cerinthe major purpurascens “Blue Honeywort.”

My rare snow puff cosmos in the July 22nd bouquet.

The other side of the first July 22nd bouquet.

White echinacea close-up of the first July 22nd bouquet.

Second July 22nd bouquet topped by a single gladiola.

Deep burgundy dahlias surrounded by yellow, pink, blue, and orange, July 22nd bouquet.

Another view of the second July 22nd bouquet.

And finally, the last view of the last Korematsu Mddle School auction winner’s bouquet for spring/summer 2018.