One of the best garden blogs around is
The Middle-Sized Garden
Yes, it is based in the U.K. so of course discusses gardens over there. But the information is, I have found, so very universal. Plus, I come away with so many new places I want to visit!
Go to the home page and look around. See what you think.
Last week Alexandra did a video chat all about growing dahlias. Listen to how the Brits pronounce this flower: dahlias with the ‘a’ being a long one. Do you like it?
I found this video talk so informative even though I have grown dahlias for years. But watch it until the end: I love the way they discuss companion plants for dahlias. I’ve now started thinking of next spring and making certain I plant some sun loving dahlias right with my cannas. Somehow I never saw those two together before!!
This is the only dahlia I’ve grown this year…sadly. These came to me from many family generations and I do treasure them! I dig up some of the tubers each fall but also leave some in the ground for the winter. In this climate it doesn’t really seem to make a difference (sigh of relief!)
It’s a busy time in the garden…but oh, it is looking so ragged. The zinnia leaves have mildew and look awful; the lichnys brought back as seeds from Hidcote are looking terrible and bedraggled; even the verbena bonariensis is brown despite a severe cutting back in July.
On the other hand, my gardenias are beautiful and the hibiscus thriving!
How about you? If you’re in a cooler climate then your garden might be faring better?
That is a great video, Libby. Thanks for sharing it! I’ve grown dahlias for the last 3 years and they’ve done a lot to change my perspective on summer, which used to be very short on flowers in our hot, dry climate. Most of my garden looks beleaguered at this point but my well-watered cutting garden is still floriferous (even if some mildew has recently made an appearance).
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