Hellebores are the wonders of the winter garden. They are a combination of delicate and strong. They are elegant but can survive the most horrible weather; freezing rain, snow, hail and wind. Hellebores are easy to grow and are one of the few plants to bloom in winter. The flowers come in a gorgeous variety of muted colours including creamy white, pink, dark red and almost black. There are many varieties to choose from, some with frilly double and delicately freckled blooms. They are one of my favourite flowers, both for the garden and the vase!
Continue reading Hellebores for the garden and the vaseCategory: Gardening
Favourite dahlia varieties from my cutting garden
One thing I love about dahlias is that there are so many varieties. They come in a dazzling range of colours, sizes, and forms, with enough variety to satisfy everyone’s taste. I love to select a few new dahlia varieties each year to add to my garden. And maybe you do too! If so, read on. In this post, I share some of my favourites that look good in both your garden as well as the vase. I hope this helps you discover some new dahlia varieties.
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Favourite dahlias: growing Sweet Nathalie
Dahlia Sweet Nathalie is one of the most beautiful varieties I have ever grown. The healthy plants were covered in pale blush blooms all last season. Long, strong stems make this a great cut flower. Perfect for flower arrangements, they pair beautifully with dahlias Peaches n’ Cream, Cafe au Lait and other pink varieties. If you are looking for a beautiful dahlia to add to your garden, Sweet Nathalie is the one for you!
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Growing great dahlias without pesticides
Dahlias are easy to grow but you have to be willing to put in the work. After a few years of growing dahlias in my dahlia garden, I am confident enough to say I know how to grow great dahlias. I have grown many different varieties and harvested hundreds of beautiful flowers. And I did this without ever using any pesticides, not even organic slug pellets.
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Dahlia discoveries: perfect Peaches n’ Cream
Dahlia Peaches n’ Cream is one of the most beautiful, the most productive and the best cut flower varieties I am growing this year. I am so in love with this pretty little dahlia. A gorgeous bloom, and this seasons favourite.
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Dahlia garden review: exciting newcomers
Hooray for Spring!
It has been sunny and bright here in Holland, the cherry trees and magnolias are in full bloom and daffodils are starting to flower in the streets. It’s almost time to start planting my dahlias!
Dahlia garden review: trusted favourites
It’s spring here in Holland and that means brighter days and warmer weather. The days slowly get longer which means I can still do some gardening when I get home from work. I love it! It’s wonderful to be outdoors after a day at the office, even if it’s only for half an hour.
Sweet pea show: exhibition at the farm
Sweet peas are nostalgic flowers and a cottage garden favourite. I am sure many of you have memories of your grandmother or mother growing sweet peas. The fragrance of these delicate blooms will bring you right back to the garden of your childhood. Continue reading Sweet pea show: exhibition at the farm
What’s blooming in the garden: June 2017
One of my sons told me I should update my blog more often.
14 years old.
I told him he was right, of course. I didn’t want to ruin a good mother-son conversation.
But I could also have told him I would have more time to blog if I didn’t have to help him learn his French words or Latin grammar. It’s Juni, so it’s that time of year again. The end of the school year and the end of year exams.
Planning a dahlia garden part 2: design your plot
Hello there! I hope you are enjoying the light and the longer days of May. Here in Holland, we had a cold and dry start to spring. Not ideal growing conditions. It wasn’t all bad, though, the daffodils and tulips lasted a lot longer than normal. But now that the Ice Saints have gone, it is time to start hardening off your seedlings and plant out any potted up dahlias.
Continue reading Planning a dahlia garden part 2: design your plot