Since we adopted our two cats about a year ago, I’ve discovered that I can no longer have most plants or even vases of flowers in the house. They nibble (and sometimes chomp) on most green or living things, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given our rural location and the number of mice that would love to call our home their home, especially in the winter. Many houseplants are poisonous to them; however, and many succulents, while not poisonous, seem to be very tasty. The upshot is I have a large Dracaena (Snake Plant) that they don’t touch and two Christmas Cacti, one up high and one half eaten. It’s a very sad sight.
Any vase of cut flowers I bring indoors must be small enough to sit on the kitchen windowsill, which the cats have, happily, yet to discover. I’m joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden with a small vase with a few large Dahlia blooms.
I have half a dozen Dahlia varieties crammed into a much too small section of the kitchen garden this year and they’re bushier and blooming earlier than ever. The names are on tags somewhere in the jumble of lower leaves where I don’t really want to reach, given the spiders and earwigs and ants that have made homes there, but among today’s vase is the large central bloom, ‘Wyn’s Desert Sunrise,’ I think, plus ‘Ferncliff Tropics’ and ‘Ferncliff Spice.’ Might be a ‘Just Peachy’ as well.
Have a great week, everyone!
They look almost like a painting! Wonderful.
Thank you Rosie!
That first photo is splendid. It makes me want to start growing dahlias right NOW! As for the cats, they do seem to have a taste for green. I finally got my to stop nibbling on the Christmas cactus by bringing her a container of organic wheat grass from the grocery every week, but otherwise? Nothing was safe.
LOL – I grew wheat grass myself last winter for them – they loved it! But then they regurgitated it up in little icky green puddles everywhere!
Oh. Well. Fortunately, that wasn’t one of Dixie Rose’s ‘tricks’!
LOL!
Spicy and peachy are apt descriptors for dahlias.
LOL – you’re right!
Those colours go together so well, and since you have new kits, I guess you will be taking such blooms when you visit your friends. Enjoy playing with your new pets, and watching their antics.
Indeed and thanks Noelle!
Pretty mix, Chris, and I love the hobnail vase!
That’s what it’s called !?! I need to remember that! What a great word!
I have a friend who has the same problem with her cats. But any time I can have just a vase of dahlias I have grown, I’ll take it. Gorgeous.
Thanks Donna – having even a small vase on the kitchen windowsill gives me something to look at as I do the dishes!
Your dahlias are beauties and I love the vase too. Have a good gardening week.
Thank you – you too!!
Haha, I have many plant labels buried under foliage too, although I do know most things with having to check, fortunately. Dahlias are such good value plants, and it is lovely to see your sunny grouping, Chris. Dahlia season is so bountiful!
I’m so happy not to be the only one with this issue!! Dahlias are truly bountiful this year!
Beautiful dahlias 😀
Thank you!
Just dahlias! I can still only wish for them in my garden. My cat used to chomp on flower arrangements too but she’s an old lady now (16) and seems to have outgrown the habit. Maybe your cats will as well 😉
It seems to be the consensus that the cats will grow out of it.. time will tell I guess!
The Dahlias are beautiful! Amusing, for me, kitty stories…our two are over 16 years and have left all the indoor plants (about 50, including succulents) alone. In the fall, when you can see the plant tags…maybe make a plot plan? Fill in all the names.
Ha – so I just need to wait 10 years or so… LOL! It’s a great idea about the plot plan, for next year though, since these will all be lifted and brought indoors for winter storage. Thanks!
Love the Dahlias, Chris. There are so many varieties I usually forget the names. Still contemplating how to store the tubers here. They are probably molding.
The good thing about Dahlias (and plants in general, I guess eh?) is there are always new ones to be given or to purchase every year – makes the garden different and keeps it evolving.
Dahlias are one of those stereotypically Italian American flowers that has been lacking from my garden for many years. (Brent refers to them as dago sunflowers.) I have postponed growing any of them until I can do so properly. They are so variable that when I finally do get around to growing them, it will be difficult to select varieties. I suspect that I will merely acquire them from friends and neighbors like bearded iris and such.
All of my tubers this year were given by friends with too many…sort of like canna lilies, walking onions, Iris…I need to cull the herd though…
Exactly, that is why I so rarely violate the rule of not purchasing anything for the garden.