Monday, October 26, 2015

Dahlias and quotes from Gertrude Jekyll and Eleanor Perenyi

Dahlias from our neighborhood Farmers Market. Everything sold there is organic.

"The dahlia's first duty in life is to flaunt and to swagger and to carry gorgeous blooms well above its leaves, and on no account to hang its head." Gertrude Jekyll, Wood and Garden, 1899.


"Looking at my dahlias one summer day, a friend whose taste runs to the small and impeccable said sadly, "You do like big conspicuous flowers, don't you?" She meant vulgar, and I am used to that."
Eleanor Perenyi, Green Thoughts, 1981.

Eleanor Perenyi's book is wonderful, I think. Do you like my vase? Well, the photo doesn't really show it, but I bought it this year at Goodwill Thrift shop, and it is pretty and suits larger bouquets with tall stems.

31 comments:

donna baker said...

I love dahlias. They don't return each year where I live. I planted those dinner plate sized ones once. They do like to fall over, but that is easy to solve. What's not to love?

Your Invisible Crown said...

I love the colours dahlias come in. And hooray for cool thriftstore finds!

Sparky said...

Very pretty! I've been sticking with Zinnia's, Cosmos, etc. that grow well here in SE Georgia. Gotten lazy in my old age. *lol* Hope your day is blessed. ~:)

Michelle said...

They are such beauties.

Denise said...

such gorgeous flowers

Mari said...

I love dahlia's! They really are pretty. A vase from the thrift shop is nice too!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

They are gorgeous. It seems like their is a reference to these flowers in Anne of Green Gables too. Sweet hugs, Diane

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Love your flowers! Such a pretty color.
warmly,
deb

happyone said...

They are so pretty. What a great color they are.

Linda said...

Beautiful! Flowers and your Goodwill treasure!!!

Margaret D said...

Georgeous bloom Dahlias have. Used to grow them once but no more..

Sam I Am...... said...

Love the dahlias and the quotes. One can never have enough good gardening books!

Susan said...

Oh Terra, your dahlias are most lovely. I had some this year, too. Susan

Unknown said...

Terra, your Dahlias are divine!

JoAnn said...

So beautiful!!

Maria said...

Thanks for stopping by my page, Terra and for sharing these dahlias. It's been quite a while since the last time I brought back flowers for my place. I'll probably consider getting some cuts tomorrow :)

Rebecca said...

Dahlia's have to be dug up each year, right? Yours are really beautiful. I was given a few bulbs several years ago. Their flowers were as big as a baby's head! I was to lazy to winter them so they died in the ground.

Deborah Montgomery said...

Beautiful flowers! Quite witty writers there. Funny to think of a dahlia as being vulgar! I think they're gorgeous.

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

Oh my goodness - soooo pretty! x

Neesie said...

Beautiful blooms and words Terra,
I'm a huge Gertrude Jekyll fan ;D

Dee said...

Your flowers are so pretty and from what I can see of the vase... it's the perfect place to store those gorgeous flowers. Have a lovely rest of the weekend... :)

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

My Dahlias didn't perform very well this year, so I am drooling over yours!

Lady Jane said...

I love dahlias! I planted some in my garden this year but they didn't come up. Next year I wont buy them at Walmart but go to a garden store because they really dress up the garden. Hugs, LJ

Vee said...

Vulgar? Dahlias? Oh my. They are so beautiful, remind me of a smaller peony, and last longer!

Jen Beaudet said...

These are beautiful! my daughter brought me dahlias from her bosses garden a while back. I love them now! You scored on that face! I love finding things like that.

Jane the Booklady said...

I love dahlias too. Thank you for your lovely comment about missing my blog posts. It was serendipitous, I had just decided to write a piece that morning! Jane xxx

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Such sweet flowers! XO Maryjane

Red Rose Alley said...

Your dahlias are so pretty, Terra. I really like the color too. Flowers are, indeed, the magic in our lives.

Happy November.

love, ~Sheri

Vintage Reading said...

Great quotes and great dahlias!

A Colorful World said...

Lovely! And love the "thoughts" that accompany it!

Louisette said...

Wonderfull dalhias
http://louisette.eklablog.com