High summer colour at home

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All the rain has meant lots of growth in the garden. The dahlias are looking great now and benefit from the sturdy stakes.

Dahlia 'Olympic Fire'

I have grown 'Olympic Fire' for the second year now and it is performing well. I like the contrast of the dark stems with the bright warm orange petals. I would really like to pair this with an orange variety of Helenium some time for a big orange display.

Dahlia 'Park Princess'

I have been growing 'Park Princess' for over ten years, the old tubers are still going strong. For the last few years I have used this variety at the front of the rectory but I will reconsider next year as earwigs have demolished most of the flowerheads.

I grow this at the rectory with Delphinium 'Black Knight', the darkest shade of blue and in a good year this is a very striking cool combination. This year it was a damp squib: earwigs on the dahlias and slugs on the delphiniums were a huge problem. I have cut back the delphiniums (after saving some seeds) and with a bit of luck there will be a second flush of flowers, someof the new stems are already a foot tall ind have been tied in.

Dahlia Bishop series?

This is either a member of the Bishop series or possibly Sam Hopkins. Again, lovely dark stems and a bright warm red for petals.

Dahlia 'Arabian Night'

 An old favourite of mins because it will work with a cool or hot theme alike. It is a deep dark red, very velvety and sumptious looking. This picture was taken with a flash, so does not reflect the colour accurately.


Apart from lots of colour in the dahlia section, I am very happy with the small hot border. 

Achillea 'Coronation Gold' and Corcosmia 'Mistral' are just lovely together.

Hope you are enjoying lots of colour, too.