March 1997

I am rationalising my Dahlias. Colour groups are as follows: lemons, yellows, brick reds, magentas, mid-reds, bluey-reds, soft oranges, lilacs. All soft orange and lemon Dahlias are to go in the Jelly Bean Border near the Graham Thomas roses... Or in the Driveway Border near the Buff Beauties. All lilac dahlias are to go into the Hump. All mid-red dahlias are to go in Driveway Border.

Ideas for the Driveway Border: Maybe shift some of the Hebes - have only one. Who needs three? Put the two Cornelia roses together. Move the Japanese Anemones and the Hostas. Shift the Dublin Bays? yes. Put them all in the Pond Paddock Border behind the Glass-House.

March List 1
• Dig - grass by pond.
• Shift - Appleblossom penstemons, Abraham Darby roses, mauve and yellow dahlias out of Driveway Border.
• Get - pea-straw and horse-poos.
• Collect - pansy seeds, blue, white, and yellow ones.

More March Things to Do

Cut down dahlias and move the orange and red ones well away from Rosy Cushion rose. Take rose cuttings of Othello, Nancy Steen, Mary Rose, and Graham Thomas.

Gardener's Comment in 2009

I had obviously read a book about co-ordinating flower colours. And what is this obsession with dahlias? They were all here planted when I moved in - I'd never grown them before. I am taking my dahlia responsibilities over-seriously. What lilac dahlias?