It is always exciting when the first dahlia blooms, and this week I have two: Dahlia ‘Hypnotica Icarus’ and ‘Grandahlia Dark Red.’ Orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is looking fine, but I’ve seen no butterflies, only ants, alas. My first self-sown white love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) flowers are blooming this week as well. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and a small dill flower (Anethum graveolens) complete the arrangement.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts the weekly garden meme In A Vase On Monday, featuring flowers from our gardens. Click the link to join the fun or see what others are sharing this week.
Eliza Waters 
Your Dahlias are stunning. I’ve had no success growing them, so I’ll have to admire yours from afar. I have purple nigella that self-seed every year. I like the idea of adding white ones.
Happy Monday, Eliza.
‘Hypnotica Icarus’ certainly is fiery. ‘Grandahlia Dark Red’ is as grand as the name implies.
Wow. Beautiful!
The fire dragon is roaring, it looks delightful Eliza 🤗❤️🙏