We met E for lunch in Solihull a few weeks ago and I was hoping to combine it with a trip to Baddesley Clinton to see the dahlias and scarecrows. It had been raining heavily all morning so I thought we were going to have to forget the visit but as we drove past the rain actually stopped for a brief three quarters of an hour so we were able to walk round the gardens.
I am not usually a lover of ornate flowers, for example, I don't like lilies or chrysanthemums very much, but strangely I do like dahlias. Perhaps its because it reminds me of the ones my father used to grow - as a child I was always fascinated by the earwigs you could find in the pom-pom variety.
I usually visit mid September but there were still plenty flowering.
There was also still plenty of colour in other areas of the walled garden.
Several clumps of mistletoe growing on the apple trees.
A quick look at the Vegetable Garden - the scarecrows were no longer there :( Perhaps they remove them at the end of September?
I thought this might be the last bee I saw this year but we have had a few in the garden this week.
One of these days I will be unable to resist temptation and will buy one of these metal sculptures!
We got back to the car just as the rain started again.
Love the dahlias Caroline. They take me back. When I was only about 8 yrs old my dad was the park keeper at the local council park in the mining village we lived in. He grew loads of dahlias and crysanths in beds between the lawns. The structure and colour was amazing....When i have tried growing them the plants get eaten by slugs...hey ho.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely get the hedgehog :-). Lovely display of flowers.
ReplyDeleteStewart - Thanks so much - lovely to read of the memories they brought back for you. They are beautiful en masse - the display at Baddesley is the best I've seen. Sorry to hear you've had no luck growing them. I've planted a few here but always forget to dig up the corms for the winter so they don't always re-appear :(
ReplyDeleteCountryside Tales - Thank you. Very tempted by the hedgehog -didn't dare even lift the price tag as OH was with me!
such a wonderful varietty of Dahlias and the colours are amazingly beautiful. Did you not cme across Tommy and Bella?
ReplyDeleteLovely display of colours, such a gorgeous red. The metal sculptures are great, I 'd have to bring the robin home. :-)
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson - Thanks Margaret. I didn't see Tommy and Bella this time although when I have been in the past there is often a cat in and around the Vegetable Garden.
ReplyDeleteDeb - Many thanks Deb. I try and visit each year to see them! I might find myself returning to do some Christmas shopping and a robin might just find its way into the purchases :)
The Dahlias en masse look lovely but I really dislike red in any form, so that would have to go.
ReplyDeleteI would have to own one of the Robins!
Toffeeapple - Thanks :) Red doesn't seem to match the other colours so I agree with you!
ReplyDeleteI will check out Robin price when I next visit!
There is still a lot of colour around this year but I'm sure we probably say that every year! Always an enjoyable trip with you to this great garden. I love the metal sculptures too-the little robins look lovely.
ReplyDeleteSeagullSuzie - Thanks very much Suzie. Yes, I think we do say it every year but flowers certainly seem to have lasted longer this year and the leaf colours seem early to me. Robins seem very popular :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same about Dahlias - just love the wacky colours and shapes and the blast of colour that lasts for months! Looks like a beautiful garden, so full of colour still. I'd like that large duck! :-) xx
ReplyDeleteMillymollymandy - Thanks Mandy :) I think you've hit the nail on the head there with your comment abut the different colours and shapes :) Baddesley is lovely - something different to see whenever you go.
ReplyDeleteWhat stunning Dahlias. My few have been really pathetic this year.
ReplyDeleteThose little Robins are the ones I like too.
Bovey Belle- Thanks so much. Mine didn't even appear this year :(
ReplyDeleteRobins definitely seem the most popular :)