Dahlia ‘Moonstruck’ and Helianthus ‘Italian White’ are perfect in each others company in this week’s arrangement. Creamy-white with a touch of lemon, I placed them in a milk jug that once belonged to my grandmother.
Three Abyssinian gladioli (Acidanthera murielae) were added for accent. This is the second year I have grown them and while last year yielded no blooms before frost, this year they managed three. I’m doubting whether to grow them again, as they barely make it to frost. Being a zone 7-11 bulb, our summer is just not long enough for them. However, a single blossom can deliciously scent a room, so perhaps I’ll continue to try. Maybe start them early inside in pots? Anyone else have this problem?
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase arrangements created from our gardens. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
Those Abyssinian gladioli are sometimes available in catalogues, but I have never tried them. I did try to try those Italian white sunflowers many years ago. I mean that I got them from a catalogue, but was too cheap to get two packets. Instead, I sent them to Brent (my colleague down south) so he could plants some, and then sent the rest to me. Yeah, right.
They both are great performers (Dahlia and Sunflower). Your zone would be great for Acidanthera, I would think, but they might need irrigation in dry spells.
All those flowers would have been great for my garden with the naughty name. I do not want to mention it here out of context if you have not seen the article.
Bella 🍁🌾
Grazie, Karen! 🙂
Prego 🙏🏻
Understated beauty and combination this week, Eliza. ‘Moonstruck’ is a charmingly descriptive naming for the dahlia. 🙂
Thank you, Liz. I’ve been pleased with the lemony-white color of these flowers this year and will be planting them again.
Gorgeous – white flowers are my favourite and with all those shapes and other colours in them – just gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Sandra!
Love this combination of flowers Eliza. As to the Acidanthera; I’ve never had much success with them. Cathy at Absent Gardener seems to always have success in New Zealand so I think they need more irrigation than mine receive.
Thank you, Christina. Cathy is zone 7, I think, which is where they love to live. They take a good 6mos. to bloom and I am just a tad shy of that. I might try potting them up early and hopefully, they won’t mind the transplanting.
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
Thank you for reblogging!
Lovely this colourway… so classical…
Thank you!
Gorgeous! I just did the Italian White for the first time this year and I love them! Your combination is marvelous!
Thank you very much, Catherine. These two have earned a repeat performance next year. They’re Keepers!
Reblogged this on Purplerays.
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Oh this abundance of creamy yellow and white looks lovely Eliza – thanks for sharing
Thank you, Cathy. Sunshine for a cloudy day.
Eliza, such a delightful combination of creamy flowers, and perfect choice to use your grandmother’s pitcher. I garden in zone 7b so at least the long growing season would be in my favor for trying Abyssinian gladioli. They are lovely.
Thank you, Susie. I encourage you to grow Acidanthera, they are so fragrant, en masse they would be heavenly.
Shades of white? Seems impossible, but there it is and perfect in the pitcher. I have some of those Sunflowers to try this winter.
Thank you, Amelia. Italian Whites bloom continually, so you’ll have lots of flowers to put in vases. I will be growing this one again.
Great news, thanks. Well drained amended soil and full sun? They are gorgeous.
Sounds like you got it!
Florida is never the same =will try!
A lovely, graceful arrangement Eliza and I like the sense of history of displaying them in your grandmother’s jug.
Thank you, Andrea. I’ve loved that jug since I was a kid, I feel fortunate that it came to me.
Moonstruck by that helianthus! On the search … Another stunning arrangement by Eliza!!!
Thank you, Kathy! 🙂
Just lovely and looks good enough to eat! I think I’ve seen that gladiolius somewhere before. It’s pretty, but if you are having difficulties growing it there, I will not attempt it. 😉
Thank you, Joanna. Sometimes florists will sell this type of gladiolus, but it isn’t too common.
What I particularly like about your bouquet is that it is not the oranges and golds that most of us have in the fall. So soft and romantic.
Thank you, Linda. Yes, it a bit of summer amidst the autumnal.
I was struck by the mellow creamy colours.. Very nice!
Thank you!
I “need” to find that ‘Italian White’ sunflower next year – it’s a beauty! It also looks lovely with the white dahlia blooms. My own white dahlias (‘Hakuyou’) were prone to bugs that damaged the blooms. I’ve tossed out the tubers but maybe I’ll look for another white form next year. As to the glads, I tried growing them here in zone 10b and they didn’t bloom well but, as that was the start of our drought, that was perhaps a key factor in the failure.
Italian White is a winner – blooms continuously for months. Christina, whose climate is hot like yours, says the glads need added moisture. I’m going to give them one more year, if they don’t do well, I’ll give up.
How awesome to have a milk jug from your grandmother! Fun to think of the jug being on the table at dinner time & wondering what they were eating…maybe some cornbread. The gladioli look so different than the ‘regular’ ones we see, often falling over, but such pretty flowers
Thank you, Alice. I never thought about the jug being on the table, but you’re right… and there was my dad as a little boy! 🙂
These look wonderful in your gorgeous jug. I have a pale sunflower on my seed list. Your arrangement is so fresh. I’ve had acidanthera flowering for the first time ever but I think we have a longer season than you. Other people manage them easily, just not me. I did start them in pots then planted them out.
Thank you, Alison. I think starting them a month ahead is what I need to do.
Beautiful creamy tones…
Thank you, Julie ❤
Perfectly named flowers. Beautiful vase as always.
Thank you kindly!
Hi Eliza. Your arrangement is lovely and I adore the pitcher….especially since it belonged to your grandmother. I love the white on white! Very creative!
Thank you, Sally!
A lovely arrangement, the colours are well suited to a milk jug.
Thank you, Brian.
Refreshing paleness in the season of flames.
Thanks, Ricki. A bit of change from the regular. 😉
Such a beautiful arrangement!
Thank you, Belinda!
Beautiful!!!
Thank you, Debbie!
Perfect milky contents for your grandmother’s jug. Beautiful respite from the screaming hot colors of autumn.
Thank you kindly, Peter!
Just perfect.
Thank you, Sylvia. 🙂
Lovely!!!
Thank you!
Looks like happiness in a vase. I think you are right about starting the bulbs early…should work.
Thanks, Marian. I like that – ‘happiness in a vase.’ Looking at it certainly does make me feel happy!
What bounty! I’m envious. And our grandmothers would both be proud. There is nothing more elegant than a white-on-white floral arrangement.
Thank you, Helen!
Beautiful! I love the white – so unexpected this time of year, but in a good way.
Yes, a change from the usual. 🙂 Thanks, Sarah.
What a wonderful flowers!
best regards from Italy
Grazie, Antonio!
So elegant, I love that creamy white colour of the flowers! And the jug looks great, too.
Thank you, Anca!
I’m also in love with those colors. you did a great job putting them together and photographing. Even without flowers the glad foliage looks great in there!
Thank you very much, Frank!
Those look so wonderful together. D ‘Moonstruck’ is particularly attractive with those milky tones.
Thank you, Allison. Interestingly, the dahlia grows more lemony as the season progresses. Must be the cool weather.
I really like the combination of yellow/white in each of the 3 elements here. Another nice bouquet in a lovely pitcher.
Thank you, Micheal!
I agree that is a perfect colour combination. I love the arrangement. I have found Acidanthera very shy to flower. It throws up lovely healthy foliage and then hardly any blooms. Such a pity the flowers are gorgeous and smell so lovely.
Thank you, Chloris. Glad to hear it isn’t just me who has problems. With limited space in a garden, one has to justify its space!
I am so late coming back to this post Eliza, but just wanted to add my applause for this beautiful arrangement! I love those lemony shades. The sunflower and dahlia were made for each other!
Thank you so much, Cathy. Much appreciated. That color spectrum is a lovely one and additional plant choices along these lines might be in order for next year. 🙂
Sorry to be late responding. Time is not my own at the moment. However, your arrangement is truly gorgeous. I love that combination of colours. I’m just making lists of what to grow next year. 🙂 x
Thank you, Karen. It is a great combo that I hope to repeat and possibly expand upon.
Thank you Eliza. Looking forward to seeing what you are growing too. Flowers seem to bring happiness to everyone. Thankful that we have them. Thanks for reading and for getting in touch. I’m joining in again with IAVOM over the winter when there’s less gardening to do. I’ve got bulbs and all sorts in the mini poly tunnel for the winter. It’s more of a challenge, but I’m hoping I can keep the flowers coming over the cold period till spring. All the best. Karen
Looking forward to your winter posts. I remember your posts from last year. Pots in your potting shed window especially.
Thank you Eliza. I’ve been clearing out the potting shed today, ready for my winter display. Amazing how much clutter accumulates over the summer when you are busy working in the garden. Mum came and helped me clean out the greenhouse, and put all the exotics indoors, to that’s all set for the cold weather. I have to have somewhere to mooch to when it’s cold and dark. Thanks for your kind comments. Much appreciated xx