September in the Garden
After a wet end to the summer its great to have plants that just keep flowering, Dahlias being especially good at this time of year. New this year is a dark purple spiky variety called 'Nuit d'Ete'. We have grown it next to the pink foliage of Salvia horminum, an easily grown but unusual hardy annual. Our saved tubers from last year of the pink Dahlia 'Classic Rosamunde' have also put on a good show, and have provided flowers for cutting too. Next year we will have many more varieties of Dahlia as part of our herbaceous and summer bedding plantings.
Crocosmias, Asters, tender salvias, lobelia tupa, and many varieties of hardy fuschias continue flowering for weeks, Whilst star shrubs this month include Abelia grandiflora, Nandina domestica and hydrangeas of course.
The garden team are currently growing candelabra primulas, foxgloves, sweet williams and sweet rocket plants to provide early summer colour next year. All of these from seed supplied from local specialist supplier, Chiltern Seeds, -so expect a few surprises amongst the more traditional varieties!