I really meant to make a design this week without dahlias. I wanted to challenge myself to not use them, given how they are always the focal flower in autumn arrangements here at Love ‘n Fresh. I wanted to spice things up a bit! I had plans to use one of our newly-blooming antique mums instead. But then this mystical and mysterious lavender-threaded ivory dahlia appeared in the field. It’s among the Cafe au Lait stand, but it’s either a wild mutant of the most delicious nature or a total mistake on the part of my tuber supplier. You’d better believe this plant is now tagged, and those tubers will be dug and treated like gold after the frost. I’d love a thousand more of these painterly beauties.

The bed of fading lavender lisianthus with accents of black ninebark, purple salvia, and lavender gomphrena under the mystery dahlia was sublime. The gold persimmons were surreal. I don’t often say this, but the photos of this arrangement do not begin to do the colors justice. I’ve struggled all day with the right descriptor for this particular brand of faded lavender-ivory-gray. None comes to mind. Thoughts?

What’s blooming in your backyard this week? Feel free to add a link to your own Backyard Bouquets in the comments section below. If you are on Instagram, be sure to use the hashtag #backyardbouquets to join in the fun. I’d love to see what everyone is growing and creating!
The only “rule” is that all the elements in the arrangement must be sourced locally, within a 25 mile radius. Your own backyard is a great place to start!!