The Last of the Dahlias

After the intense heat of summer, for me, the pleasing coolness of autumn has been very much appreciated. Autumn is my favourite season, with it’s golden richness and bountiful hedgerows, warm stews and cosy knitwear.

It’s the season for planning, especially where the garden is concerned. In September my long awaited greenhouse arrived, so seed sowing is well under way. The heatwave devastated several areas of my garden, but it has been an opportunity to observe not only what survived, but thrived. An unintentional experiment. It has also created space for the thousands of seeds I ordered from Chilterns this year. Restraint has never been my strongest asset!

Bulbs too, all now safely tucked up in their earthy beds. Alliums do well in my garden, and I have purposefully increased my collection each year. Fritillaries have also been planted in abundance, including some quite statuesque Persian varieties.

This year I worked exclusively with British grown materials from late May till early September. Beginning with my involvement at the Chelsea Flower Show, and ending with the final flush of the Dahlias.

During this period I developed connections and friendships with many talented growers, giving me access to some of the most exceptional flowers available. Now the British floral season has ended, I shall continue to nurture those connections throughout the winter and early spring, ready for when the first British grown Tulips grace us with their beauty. I shall also be focusing on developing my own patch.

The desire to grow more of my own floral materials has been building for quite some time. Unfortunately, my aspirations are somewhat hindered by an absence of acreage, so next summer shall be a masterclass in how many seedlings you can squeeze into a suburban garden!

The aim is to grow unusual varieties, which are often a challenge to source. I do love a niche floral. Slowly, my delicate plant babies are peeking their heads above the parapet of their seed trays, waiting to be set free in warm spring soil. I check on them daily, although that is far from necessary.

My work in the garden this year is not fully finished. Some hard landscaping is booked in for completion, and I’m wrestling with how much lawn to relinquish to flowers. I think we all know the answer to that question!

Photography by Julie Skelton, featuring myself and Lisa of Homestead Flowers, one of my preferred British growers.