Dahlias May 2018

Most killed in March by the Beast from the East, the most severe and prolonged cold we have had in 50 years here. The absolute temperature was low but the cold east wind did the damage. The cherry laurel looks very sorry for itself, the pyracantha lost most of its leaves.

So I have ordered a lot of new tubers from Sarah Raven. Hillcrest Royal still has some live bits, so we shall see. I was sorry to lose Evelyn, new last year, a fine white. And my new collection of Karma dahlias is gone.  I could replace Moor Park. and Rosemary Webb if it is still available.

This is what I bought. One each, except the 2 whites.

Sarah Raven dahlias bought May 2018

Flamboyant collection

• Dahlia 'Emory Paul'  biggest of these. 10” flowers. Bright magenta. 42” tall.
• Dahlia 'Penhill Dark Monarch' mix of apricot, coffee mousse and raspberry. 5 ft tall
• Dahlia 'Time for All' pink . white edges. 5” flowers.  42” tall
• Dahlia 'Zippity Do Da' mini ball.Purply, fading. 2” flowers. 

36 “ high.

Monet collection

  Karma naomi   Crimson up to 120 cm. Double decorative.

Darkarin. Not so double. Flower4-6”. Height 80 cm. Dark leaves. Rose-wine colour.

Tamburo. Darl red/ semi cactus 36”

White collection

Furka  White cactus, 43 “, good vase life, Sarah says.

Blanc y verde  white 36’ nearly single

Looks like I need a yellow and an orange. Not quite sure what are the survivors from the winter kill.

October 2018
In fact, this is what we ended up with.

Hillcrest Royal and Rosemary Webb, the two survivors of the frost. Large amounts of both, also Chat Noir.  All good.  Hillcrest was the tallest of any growing in either bed. Remember that in future.

Furka and Blanc y Verde. Two good white dahlias, sufficiently different from each other.

One huge cream/caffe latte dahlia, far too big for this windy site.

A bright med/dark red, good shape, plenty of flowers. Maybe Karma Naomi?  Petals rounded? Tamburo is a semi cactus, 36 inches high. or maybe one of the dark reds is Darkarin, 80 cm,  dark leaves.

A shorter bright yellow edged with orange. I wonder if that was Bon Bini? It wasn't very cactusy. not the best Karma dahlia. Go for Lagoon, Fuchsiana Fiesta and maybe Prospero (pink). Still need a good yellow . Yellow Star or Encore?

Most of Sarah Raven's labels didn't survive wetting. Next year, permanent labels!

Review of tulips 2018 May 14

Fusilier in the meadow and in the bed in front of the mutabilis and in the Katherine Havemeyer bed has been very good. Plant more in those places. Not sure if there are two forms? Some not multi headed? Maybe those are the older ones reflowering.

Red Georgette flowering from early May is excellent. A large clump by Rosa mutabilis, and another in the north conservatory border, also in the S border in the "box quadrant".
Consider other multiheaded tulips. Red is good but there must be others.

Tulips need to be planted in groups of up to 10, two here and two there is not good enough.

The coloured viridiflora in the box quadrant is not so good.

Lily flowered tulips by the shed not so big as last year. Maybe cheaper bulbs? Aladdin excellent, then (I think) Ballade and Ballerina.
More could be planted: maybe 75 or so, then I could cut for the house. But 150 would not be too many....

Couleur cardinal in a tub with Antoinette and wallflower is fantastic.  CC and Antoinette flower at same time, actually CC is a little earlier but there is a big overlap. CC is also very good in the conservatory north border.

Is it White Triumphator or Purissima in a tub with Little Beauty? That works well too.

Species tulips in border at foot of willow trellis don't show up at all. If planting again, plant big tulips there.

Bakeri Lilac Wonder is a star in the "shelf" bed.  Just beginning to go over. Plant more. Also, consider planting small species tulips on the end near the steps, along with very low things like lambs lug.