I have asked to be excused several times recently for my excitement about this year’s dahlia success – and I need to ask again as they are undoubtedly stars of the garden this August Blooms Day, a meme hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. From left to right: Serena, a Bishop Children’s seedling from last year, Procyon, Karma Amanda and Karma Fuchsiana. Nigella ‘Delft Blue is in the right foreground with a hint of Tagetes ‘Paprika’ and a dwarf coreopsis mix behind.
Adjacent to this cutting bed are more of this year’s successes, the rudbeckias, with Chim Chiminee on the left, Cherry Brandy on the right and what I thought was a rogue Cherry Brandy seedling in the middle but which I wonder now is indeed a stray gaillardia. The leaves are very similar on both, as well as the flower – what do other people think?
Similarly sunny and bright is this bold border combo – sunflower ‘Ruby Eclipse’ (saved seed producing nothing like the original plant), Crocosmia ‘Canary Bird’, Inula hookerii, Dahlia ‘Bishop of LLandaff’ and the last of Lobelia ‘Fan Blue’. I have had this particular Bishop for about four seasons now, lifting him each autumn, but this year he has produced more flowers than the other three years put together. Oh, and do kindly ignore the basket of very dead nasturtiums…
Cooling things down a little are Phlox ‘Rembrandt’ and Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue‘:
Like this phlox, I was thinking today just how much some white flowers light up parts of the garden – Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ certainly does, shown here with just-about-over Astrantia ‘Shaggy’:
Not actually white but still doing a similar job amongst fresh growth on Rambling Rector is Clematis x jouiniana ‘Praecox‘…
… and this informal combination of green and white successfully fulfils its summer role in the special snowdrop border – Californian Poppy ‘Ivory White, pansy, wild carrot, Geranium nodosum ‘Silverwood’ with hosta and Heuchera ‘Electric Lime as foliage back-up:
Some of the roses are producing small second flushes, but ‘The Poet’s Wife’, a new purchase for this year, thinks otherwise:
Prize for the stupidest plant this month has got to go this tree lily though – reaching dizzy heights way above my head (not difficult) last year, I took the advice of Green Tapestry‘s Anna and put it into a pot instead. Did it stunt its growth? No it did not – and its fist size pink trumpets are now blaring away in the clouds, taunting me from above…
Wundervoll ❤
You should be proud…mine aren’t even close to blooming yet which is a discouragement. But I have a plan for next year.
Thanks Donna – and I don’t suppose it means success every year…. Hope yours do bloom – and I am intrigued about what your plan might involve…
I love your dahlias and am a bit jealous. This is the first year I have tried them here and mine have been puny. Maybe, next year. Maybe.
I am always an optimist – so kept on trying….if at first you don’t succeed…etc
Pingback: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – August 2015 | Duver Diary
Lovely! And wow, that tree lily! Which one is it? 🙂
I suspect it might just be called ‘Pink’…
Wow, what a lily specimen! It’s stunning. Everything is looking so wonderful! Summer is just the best!
Thanks Eliza – and yes, things are probably looking better than previous mid Augusts, probably due to the addition of annuals
Lovely dahlias, I like them all! I have a few bishops too and they are flowering their heart out right now.
If you want to keep lilies as short as possible you can try to split the bulbs every other year or so, if you grow them in pots it will be easier to do so, just tip them out in February or March and carefully prise them apart without breaking anything and then put them back with a bit of space between them. Individual bulbs will not grow as tall as clumps of older bulbs, but whether grown in pots or in the ground makes no difference for eventual height once a clump gets a few years old.
Thanks Helene – I might try some if the other Bishops next year too. Whuch is your favourite? Thanks for info on lilies – knowing where to put this monstrosity is an issue too!
Oooh, how can I choose a favourite, they are all so lovely! If I had to choose one I think perhaps it would be ‘Mary Eveline’, I have had it for many years, it is very reliable and looks a bit unusual – but it’s hard to choose!
Oh how pretty. Love that tree lily and the roses.
Thanks Lucinda – the Poet’s Wife is looking great, isn’t she?
Your garden is so beautiful in mid – August, Cathy! And that Poet’s Wife rose is a splendour!
Thanks Anca – and I too am pleased the garden isn’t running out of steam yet
Your dahlias are certainly making your garden sizzle! Annabelle and your lily are fantastic, everything is looking so pretty!
Thanks Pauline – and the annuals have really made a difference this year too
Love the pink lily!
I don’t have many dahlias in my garden, but in my new garden at a new house I have great plans. In the meantime I hope you will visit and leave a comment and enter my drawing for a beautiful book, Beardless Irises, by clicking here http://tinyurl.com/p9mn5n6 The drawing is on Aug. 19
I like a good plan too! How soon will the new house and garden come about?
No apology needed in admiring the dahlias. It is their season to dominate the blooming garden. The white phlox is screaming for all to look at it as the tree lily looks down. Happy GBBD.
Thanks Lisa – and there is more phlox elsewhere which is beginning to look good too, after taking a few seasons to establish
Lots of lovely blooms, Cathy. I love all your Rudbeckias. The shape of the middle one looks more like a Rudbeckia than a Gaillardia. I love all your white flowers and what a success you have had with your dahlias. I never bother digging mine up for the winter. I cover them with newspaper and a thick mulch.
I am impressed with your gallery. The things you can do.
Thanks Chloris, so the middle one probably is just a rogue then. I shall look for some other varieties for next year, and perhaps try perennial ones again too. Hmm, shall I risk leaving the dahlias in over winter…?
Your garden is a paradise. So much colour and then in complete contrast the coolness of the blue and white. Lovely. I am looking forward to seeing lots of dahlias in vases over the coming weeks and becoming inspired.
Aw thanks – colourwise this is probably the best year ever, thanks to annuals, and the dahlias of course. But there are areas tailing off so I will try and plan for annuals to boost them next year
I think you are entitled to be excited about your dahlias Cathy. It seems to be a good year for them. Glad to hear that the tree lily responded favourably to pot cultivation. Mine took a battering during Friday’s downpour but the scent was fabulous last week:)
Thanks Anna – yes, I can’t assume dahlias will now do well for me every year, more’s the pity! The tree lily seems indestructable – and it’s not a very big pot that it’s in either…
I wouldn’t make any excuses for excitement at having all this beauty in your garden. Enjoy. 🙂
Thanks Judy – so much of it is out 0f my control anyway. It works its own magic most of the time…
Stunning lilies, a pot seems to suit them!
Perhaps, but still too tall – I think the pot will have to go at the back of the woodland edge border….
Loverly…you have pulled off the look I am pulling for.
Thanks rickii 🙂