Following on from the last few months of colour charts that I have created documenting colours growing in the garden I have made a July 13 one too. The weather has been hot and dry but somehow the slugs have enjoyed the marigolds so there is a lack of orange in this colour palette this year. The Foxgloves are pretty much over but the Hollyhocks and Dahlias are stunning in their part of the garden relay race through the summer schedule.
It’s been a long wait, but today our first Dahlia of the season has opened its petals and shown itself. This is a huge success given the battle of the slugs that I have been fighting – organically mind. We have more to come but today we celebrate – by morning it may well have been felled by slugs or rain.
I’ve been rather keen on dahlias for years and have admired the huge borders that the National Trust are able to show off at this time of year. I hope they are sharing in our success. The long border at Baddesley Clinton is usually well worth seeing and I think Packwood House may also have some. The second and third photos are from last summer – note sunshine! I also include an image of ‘pompom’, an editioned lino print I made a while ago, having been inspired by the dahlia season. Long may they bloom!…
Kate Farley - drawn to design 