AUGUST - BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

 Sorry - It's been a while since my last post.  First there were holidays (to Romania which was lovely - I thoroughly recommend it), then there was the post holiday Covid which dragged on and on and all of a sudden we are in August! How did that happen?

The Long Border is looking gorgeous.  It cheers me every time I walk by.  It's not that much work to look after at this time of year - just a little staking and deadheading of the Dahlias, and watering once a week since it has been so dry.

These photos were taken at the crack of dawn (or thereabouts).  I have read that professional photographers are posed, camera ready, as the sun rises; so when I awoke early one morning, I decided to potter outside in nightie and anorak.  Luckily we are not overlooked.

Here are six things happening in the garden this week.  

The Helenium's are in flower.  These are mingled with the Monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet' with a couple of Dahlia 'Glory of Heemstede' behind.

I lift the Dahlias and store them over winter, and usually pot up the Cannas and put them in the greenhouse to die.  I ran out of time to lift the Cannas though, but they have survived quite happily being left outside.  The red Dahlias are Indian Summer and Bishop of Llandaff.

At the cool end of the border grows Echinacea purpurea and Achillea 'Double Diamond'.

I've had these Dahlia tubers for many years and it's always been a good plant - tall and strong.  It's called Karma Naomi.  My early morning photographic tour has made the colour a little warmer than it really is.

I know we grow plants from all over the world, but many seem right at home here in Europe.  Kniphofia look very defiantly non-native to me - like a Wildebeest might just wander into shot.

From Africa, back to a very English scene.  A posy of roses on a dresser filled with blue and white china.  It's Madame Alfred Carriere, my rose nemesis.  It swamps the arbour and flowers only meagerly. and is shading out the plants beneath it.  I know it is the wrong time of year, but I have hacked it back ruthlessly while I decide whether to remove it or not. 

That's all I've got room for this week.  Want more - then perhaps you'd like to check out the other Six on Saturday posts hosted by Garden Ruminations ?