A WEEK IN MY GARDEN - 1 AUGUST - DAHLIAS

So what do I have for you this week?  Well, the Dahlias have started flowering, there are some very colourful combinations in the Piet borders and there's a shameless plug reminder that the garden will be open for the NGS in a couple of weeks time.  Talking of which, the head gardener (me) and my team (Mr B) have been devoting ourselves to garden maintenance like nobody's business.  So if this blog is shorter than normal it's because I'm busy, busy, busy, so apologies.

To begin, here is the Long Border hot section with Dahlias, Kniphofia and Rudbeckia in quantity.  Unlike other plants in the garden, the Dahlias haven't been early this year.  They are noticeably shorter than normal, which I assume is due to the dry weather.

It took me a good few years to find just the right bright red, tall (I want something nearing 4ft) and showy Dahlia for this border.  'Indian Summer' proved to be just right.  The tubers seem to multiply quite well, so I now have a reasonable stock of plants from my original purchase of 3 tubers.

The next Dahlia is Khama Naomi.  It's proved to be a great do-er.  The tubers are massive, but they still keep flowering away very contentedly.  It's a good dark red colour.

Making their appearance towards the front of the border are two Bishop Dahlias = Llandaff (below) and Auckland (yet to flower).  I'm finding Llandaff to not be as robust as it ought to be and have had to buy new tubers on several occasions.  It's one of the most attractive Dahlias though, because of its dark leaves, and it would mixed well with other perennials without stealing the show.

There is only one of the orange Dahlias in flower - David Howard.  It's deservedly popular.  The colour is definitely orange, but it is never harsh, and the dark leaves set it off perfectly.

So far, only one of the yellow varieties has flowered and it is Glorie van Heemstede.  It's another one I've grown for many years.  I have got some new varieties, honest, but they are all a bit behind these ones for some reason.  Perhaps next week I'll be able to share them with you.  It's a lovely cool yellow colour.  I've never been to Heemstede, but apparently it's an area where bulbs are propagated so I presume this Dahlia was bred there.

The Long Border is designed to hit its stride in late Summer, as is the display in this perennial border.  It uses a selection of plants that I admired in the garden at Hauser and Wirth in Bruton which was designed by Piet Oudolf.  I have not watered this border at all this year, despite the dry weather.  Apart from the Helenium going over very quickly compared to last year, it has stood up to the lack of rain very well.

Helenium 'Morheim Beauty' on left

Veronicastrum Virginicum 'Erica'

Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction' - the most dramatic hot pink

Turning to my jobs for the week, I’ve been giving the yew hedges on the drive their annual cut. It amazes me how much they manage to grow, for a supposedly slow growing plant. Here’s the view from the top of my ladder, and that's the top of the hedge in the foreground.  It’s fun to see the familiar views from a different perspective. 

As usual the cat arrived to get in the way see what was happening. 

NB - not all the grass looks this dire

And so we arrive at my final point. It’s only two weeks until we open the garden. Mr B has made some lovely signs. I’ve been working my way through a very long to do list and lots of lovely people in the village are baking cakes. So we just need to keep our fingers crossed for some good weather. If you happen to be free, do come and say hello.  It would be lovely to see you.

 That’s all for this week. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and I hope to see you again soon.