Funning up the dahlias

That’s better. I have finally found a way to fun up these rather odd flowers.  These dahlias are as big as side plates. And rather unpleasantly pink.

Yes, I know, why do I grow them? Because the tubers were a gift and they are absurdly easy to grow.

And I have the space to grow heaps of flowers.

But only with the addition of an oak branch, and some flowering pannicum grasses does it finally look acceptable.

My usual green branch solution is chestnut. But the poor chestnut leaves are looking a bit browned on the edges as the fruit is about to drop and leaves are not the vital part of the trees right now.

I stalked about the hedges considering and rejecting eleagnus, acer, bupleurum, cotoneaster, robinia. And came upon the usual but wonky standby, oak.

The branches do go a bit strange in the vase, but at least it’s a talking point for my friends at the market. Here I’ve combined the oak with zinnias and the tasteful dahlias.  Bronwen, you might almost find these small crimson dahlias fetching.