A Bunch for the Weekend - # 16 - Pink Dahlias

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring pink Dahlias.

Dahlia is a tuberous plant and native to Mexico and Central America. There are 1,500 different varieties and they come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and in an amazing array of vivid colours. The varying sizes are from dinner-plate-sized to small button-size flowers.

Dahlias are great as cut flowers - but make sure they look fresh when you buy them or they will not last very long. Outer petals should be firm, not shrivelled, and the foliage should feel crisp.

During the summer months mix them with other summer flowers and towards the autumn they will mix perfectly with other autumn flowers.

On the other hand they are stunning on their own - and I have made an arrangement just using these gorgeous pink Dahlias in an old terracotta pot. 

You'll need: 
- 12-15 flower heads
- a terracotta pot
- a jam jar that fits inside the terracotta pot
- natural twine

To condition the flowers remove any of the lower leaves that would end up below the waterline in the container and cut the stems at an angle to maximize the water uptake. Put in a clean container with fresh water over night or at least for a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Change the water frequently and the Dahlias will last much longer.

I have used an old terracotta pot that is a bit weathered - it just adds to the charm of the arrangement.

After conditioning the flowers - start with tying the twine around the top of the terracotta pot. Double up the twine so you have about 4-6 strands, measure around the put so you have enough twine to go around the pot, make a knot and leaving a bit of the twine hanging down the side after you've made the knot.

It's a casual arrangement so I would not bother making a bow with the twine - just leave the end hanging casually down the side of the pot!

Fill the jam jar with water and place it inside the pot - you need to cut the flower stems quite short so that the outer flowers rest on the edge of the pot. Fill in with a little bit taller stems in the middle so you end up with a nice dome shaped arrangement.

I have not used any of the little buds - most of the tight buds usually never open up into flowers. In this particular arrangement I didn't add them as they would have made the arrangement a bit 'dotty' - and that was not the look I was after. But they will make a small interesting little arrangement on their own or mixed with some other flowers.

The contrasts between the delicate yet strongly coloured flowers and the weathered rustic terracotta pot with some casual twine tied around the middle is great for a summer lunch on the veranda. 

Have a Wonderful Floral Day!

I hope you are having a great summer wherever you are. I'm still in go-slow mode over the summer - I will be back mid August with another 'A Bunch for the Weekend'.

But before that Titti and I will be back on the 6 August with another FLOWERS. 

Till then - have a wonderful time in the sun!

xoxo Ingrid