There was a problem with my dahlia order. Last autumn I selected a modest amount of mainly species varieties, plus one cultivar. These would arrive in the spring as rooted cuttings, young and adorable. Time trickled by and I began to wonder if I had been stood up. I emailed, I was placated. I was let down again. I emailed, they confessed. Some of my order was not available. This did not surprise me, it has been a difficult year for growers. We agreed on replacements. Still I was a little forlorn as I was looking forward to growing merckii again. There is always next year. There is always, always next year, that is one of the wonderful things about gardening.
Now that little problem had been sorted out, I was told they would arrive forthwith. Great news as I was going away for a long weekend on Friday morning. Like a child waiting for Christmas, each day I rushed home “are they here?” only for my little face to fall when I was told “not yet”. Thursday snuck up and still there had been no box of horti-bonbons delivered. There was no other option, I would have to pass the potting up task to OH. Not ideal. He would try his best I am sure and beggars cannot be chosers. Then, a tap at the door. It was 9.15pm who could that be? I had told Tom Hardy that I couldn’t go to the pictures with him that night, but he has been known to be rather persistent. It was none other than my neighbour from across the road and he was clutching my parcel. Before he had time to explain, I grabbed the packet, yelled some suitable platitudes and dashed to the shed to get the compost out. Before long they were all potted up, well watered and given some suitable words of encouragement.
Let me introduce you to my charming crèche: 2 x Dahlia dissecta, 1 x D. purpuseii, 1 x D. sorensenii, 2 x D. campanulata and 2 x D, ‘Candy Eyes’. They might not all have been first choices, but each and every one of them is most welcome. Although, a merckii would have been nice. You are right, I must move on. As Luther Vandross once sang, you should always “love the one you’re with”. The following morning I would set off for Somerset knowing that they at least they had been planted the right way up.
On Saturday we visited Wells and The Bishop’s Palace. A glorious day and an equally gorgeous garden. And then, as if to rub salt into the wound, who should be blooming its little heart out in one of their sumptuous borders? Yes, my almost, nearly, should have been me, Dahlia merckii. Next year, definitely next year.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Merkii is very easy from seed, I gave one to a friend a couple of weeks ago think I still have a baby one in the cold frame, I will check later if you like I could send it
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How lovely! That is very kind. 🙂 Perhaps a swap with something I have?
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Aaaagh! I can’t believe that you were, for once, so near, and yet we were so far – Croatia to be exact …Darn!!!!x x x x
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I know, I have been following, but not in a creepy way. We will have a special vist x
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Do you mean that a teeny-tiny piece of merckii didn’t break off as you brushed past and accidentally jump into your pocket? Have you turned out your pockets? Hm? I rather think I’ve got a packet of merckii seed that stayed in the box because this spring was so awful and late. When I sow it next year, if it still comes up, I shall remember this post. And your horti-bonbons are lovely. :~))
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It didn’t! I must be getting very absent minded in my old age. Thank you, you are very kind. 🙂
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Horti -bonbons, lovely expression. Interesting collection of dahlias. Next year try growing Dahlia merckii from seed, it’s easy-peasy. Enjoy your break.
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If only I had know before! Thanks, home now, had a great time, a good combination of decadence and culture. And laughing, there was lots of that too. 🙂
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Lots here to think about and plan for. Order Dahlia merckii seeds. Check on the dahlias (I was luckier than you – they arrived months ago). Stop thinking about the deer that wants to take up residence in the garden and has already chewed up the blueberry bushes that had almost ripe blueberries on them for the first time this year. Console myself with the thought: “there is always, always next year”.
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Indeed! I always thought we gardeners need a term, like manana, for “always next year”. ps bloomin’ deer! Good luck with that, they are the worst kind of nightmare – very hungry and very beautiful. x
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I’m sure they will be beautiful. Gorgeous garden.
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It was lovely Kayti, wonderful planting, ruins, moats, wells, and all with the backdrop of the Cathedral.
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Will they be able to develop their tubers before winter? I would be concerned even with our long growing season. The funny thing about dahlias here is that despite our long growing season, they do not bloom until a few weeks ago. They are late summer and early autumn flowers. They may not bloom until August, and then finish with the first frost.
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I am hoping the will make a sudden growth spurt. We have a long season here, they should be big enough to over winter. Fingers may have to be crossed.
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I had to look all your dahlias up Gill, and I think they are all lovely but d.campanulata is just splendid, so if it wasn’t your original choice, you did very well there. Love ‘horti-bonbons’, most appropriate expression, and there certainly should be a special word for a gardening next year, because we all need one.
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That was the one that I really wanted, so very happy about that! And I totally agree about a special word, perhaps we should make one up. 🙂
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I’m thinking….
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Hortibonbons? Love it. I have seed packs of hortibonbons. Waiting.
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For the right moment!
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Dahlia merckii much in evidence in Kent gardens – they obviously got them all.
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