Here for you is an August bouquet with dahlias.
The weather is kind of crazy here at the moment. We have had a long hot period which is very unlike our normal Normandy climate and I have to tell you that my poor garden is struggling.
Temperatures rose last week to 43°C (which would be 109°F) and nothing in my garden is destined for that kind of temperature! We try to be careful with our water here, but I did water some plants that were recently planted and hadn’t had time to put down deep roots. I’m glad to say that nearly everything survived, but the result is definitely fewer flowers than we would normally have early August.
So hoorah for dahlias, and Polka roses, which is what I used in this bouquet. Along with a couple of sprigs of peony leaves, and some black elderflower foliage. I also added a little fennel flower, dotted between the blooms. Fennel is great, not only for its delicious fragrance, but for its elegant outline shape, like small yellow stars.
Voila, a bouquet for your weekend, I hope you have something fun planned for this beginning to the month.
26 comments
Beautiful photos!
Stay cool!
Lovely❤️
Such beauty! Thank you for the update.
Beautiful Sharon! Have tried growing Dahlias in Southern California but think it is too hot here for them to grow well.
I have always loved dahlias, but I don’t tend to see them in the American South. Possibly it’s too hot and humid for them here. We have a summer place in Maine, and when we get to spend more time there (aka retirement!), I plan to plant dozens of dahlias!
Hello Sharon, It’s been hot here in Rhode Island too. We’ve gone above 90 degrees for at least 2 weeks. It’s finally cooling down some. Love the bouquet. Stay cool, and a big hi to the pooches!!!
Thank you so much for the photos of these beautiful flowers, just perfect.
109? That seems preposterous1 Has it ever gotten that hot before in Normandy? I am wilting just thinking about it …and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. Your bouquets are divine. Here’s hoping your garden survives your sweltering summer.
YOU’RE bouquets are just lovely, and the colors are delish, thank you ! Jayne
Just Beautiful but also it is very hot her in Canada
Just outside of Toronto in Burlington it had been over 90’ for the past 2 weeks and continues. Our gardens have to be watered morning and evening.
Good luck with your garden for the rest of August.
Thank you so much for posting the photos of your bouquets. They always make me happy. We too on the south-central coast of Alaska are experiencing above normal temperatures with an increasing sense of foreboding regarding water availability. So anxiety producing! Your bouquets have inspired me to add elderberry and spent poppies to bouquets and they are so much more interesting.
Beautiful bouquet! I have a Polka rose growing in a large pot but it is not blooming very much so I am thinking of putting it in the ground. How big does it grow please? At the moment mine is about 14 feet high growing over an archway…
So very gorgeous Sharon. I understand about heat living in Arizona so I truly feel for you with that heat. This is the time of year during our monsoon season where I want to run away from home to escape. I intend to do that very soon. Be well & stay cool.
Beautiful floral arrangements. Thank you so much for sharing.
What a stunning bouquet! Thank you! Here in Edmonton Alberta Canada. We on the other hand are experiencing rain ( not the norm) with temperatures of 20 to 28 degrees, evening cool for the most part to 15to 17 degrees Celsius almost everyday so my roses 18 varieties of tender roses, many David Austin, are doing well but they need our Alberta sun to make them open as now they are in bud but the rain just turn them into unopened mush. We do not lack for daylight as the sun rises at 5:00am and goes down at about 11:00pm. The rains do bring the prairie’s thunder storms that are loud and magnificent. Hoping your weather cools soon and the rains come. Monique
As everyone says – beautiful arrangement. Do you have deer there? So many plants I would live to have the deer eat. Just wondering.
Beautiful Sharon!
Quick comment on the wonderful Rose et Marius offer: Is there some way for them to offer a small sampling of their scents? A few small soaps or tiny perfume testers? Since I’m not familiar with the product , I hesitate to order a large combination of their items even though they look amazing!
Sometimes “making do” has beautiful results!
I just wanted to tell you that many of the pins in my “Just Because It’s Beautiful” board are of your arrangements of your own flowers! Such a gift you have of creating beauty!
Sharon, thanks for another inspiring post. What a lovely bouquet! I never think to use my flowering herbs this way. The fennel is a nice addition – it will be in my next arrangement!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful summer bouquet Sharon!
The winter chill has hit its straps here (in New Zealand) with good snowfalls in the South. Wonderful for all the snow bunnies but not for gardeners like me!
What a joy it is to see your stunning dahlias! I also love the foliage pieces you added, the fennel flowers are gorgeous as are the Elderberries! I can’t wait for Spring to arrive!
I’ve followed your blog for years and enjoyed seeing your garden develop!
I can’t wait to receive the August Provence themed MSFB!
Our daughter is married to a Frenchman and lived in Burgundy for 18 years. They have three beautiful daughters and have been living back in NZ for two years.
Our eldest granddaughter already has plans to return to France in three years to attend University!
We had two wonderful Summer holidays in Provence, so Sharon I was over the moon when you announced the theme for the August box!
To be transported back to that unique part of France will be a dream come true for me!!!
Mcerci!
Shane ♀️✨
wow!! so many great things and amazing pictures.
Thanks for sharing this.
This bouquet is wonderful. It looks really crazy! I would like such decorations for my wedding!
Your ebullience is refreshing!!
Dahlias were one of my mother’s favourite flowers. I love each and everyone of your posts. My roots are French from Paris and I live in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
What a beautiful arrangement! I ❤️ your magazine! Run down to Barnes andNoble when the current issue comes out! Best wishes, Gael Birkenbuel