I was never a fan of Dahlias but this year they have excelled themselves in my garden. I grew some from seed several years ago and overwinter in the garage. Usually I start off in pots in the greenhouse and then later get Mike to plant into the vegetable beds as they become empty. They make good cutting flowers for the house.
Earlier in the year I was well enough to tackle several areas of badly neglected ground elder and other weeds, thus leaving some rather bare soil. Bare soil is not part of our gardening schemes and reluctant to plant up with perennials, I decided to plant out the Dahlias around the edge of the front bed. It proved successful and when I remove them for overwintering it will enable me to have another good weed.
There has been no shortage of bees in our garden this year. I did see a pink one but didn't get my camera in time to photograph. He/she was collecting pollen from a pink Lavatera and the pink pollen made the bee look pink.
The ground elder gets it's roots under the pavers and so around the edge of this bed was rather overgrown. Yes I know we could lift the pavers but such a task and they never go down as well. One day I will get the systemic weed killer on the ground elder but have probably missed my opportunity for this year.Still I am pleased with what I have achieved after having had several years of not being able to garden.
These blooms are lovely, Joanne! I don't like the idea of digging out the tubers for winter, but I think I need to do it this year. Last year, I left them in the soil, and some of them got rotten, since last winter was very wet.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty, Joanne - I like the apricot one especially. Hope you continue well, and manage to banish the evil elder!
ReplyDeleteLooking at dahlias as beautiful as yours really tempt us at giving it a chance in our garden... Will look for seeds soon!... ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Dahlias ... can't grow them but love to see them ...
ReplyDeleteAnd you've got so many different ones! Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteKatarina
I have a real soft spot for dahlias, and those are lovely. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou posted a great show of color today!! Beautiful Dahlias..
ReplyDeleteGorgeous
ReplyDeleteespecilay the busy bees !
They are all so darned pretty! Just like a warm sun.
ReplyDeleteJoanne ~ You are Welcome ... I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, you have done a fantastic job with that bed! I do hope you can get all of the weeds while the dahlias rest inside. They are too pretty to have to put up with such lowlife. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Lovely colours and pictures Joanne!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, your Dahlias are so lovely. Like you I was never a fan of Dahlias, my father always grew them and they always had earwigs in them when he cut them for the house. But Since having the allotment I have fallen in love with them. They are a traditional allotment flower so I see them on other plots and they are stunning. So now I have so many on the plot and in the garden mostly all grown from seed, and glad to say I have never had an earwig in them. Your garden is lovely by the way.
ReplyDeletethese are such beautiful Dahlias...what fun to be able to enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteStunning. I love the pink with yellowish center. Next year I want some dahlias. I saw some pretty ones around town this year. They were a very deep purple.
ReplyDeleteThe dahlias are gorgeous and comes in so many colours. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI love all of your dahlias. They are such long bloomers here and they add so much color. They are great to bring inside as cut flowers too. I've been lucky with being able to leave them in the ground here. I love the view of them in your last picture.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne
ReplyDeleteHealthy blooms indeed.
I grew a dahlia called 'honka' last year. Star shaped blooms.
I've only grown 'bishop of Llandaff' in a pot this year. They do well in pots by the way.
Hi Joanne
ReplyDeleteI also didn't used to be a fan of dahlias. But I adore your photos - it's like they have a cute button nose. And of course the bees agree with me.
cheers, catmint
What a fantastic range of colours Joanne. I must have a go at growing some from seed next spring. They provide great late summer into autumn colour.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, I have left an award for you on my blog, I hope you take part. I don't always but this is a nice one and you deserve it. I hope you are well. I will get that visit in one day.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
Hi Thanks for all the comments I have been busy entertaining Alison from Canada and attending LDA conference and then last few days sick ugh. So I have a lot to catch up on.
ReplyDeleteMaureen I will pop over soon to your blog but must just do a post.