D IS FOR................................

At the moment we only have a white DICENTRA; we moved our pink one and it wasn't very happy about it and we lost it. We will definitely get another though; they are a superb plant. We call them Bleeding hearts but they are known by many different names like Dutchman's breeches and Lady in the bath. The grandchildren like picking one of the flowers, turning it upside down and gently pulling the petals apart and lo and behold the lady in the bath appears.

Believe it or not these are our DWARF DELPHINIUMS.....I think the good weather this year made them put on a growth spurt! Once they've flowered I cut them to the ground and we always get a second flush later in the year.

One of my favourites; the DOGS TOOTH VIOLETS; I have them in pots and they are exquisite. These too get a potash feed once they've finished flowering. The leaves have a slight purple marbelling on them. They are quite expensive to buy but I picked my bulbs up in a little nursery tucked away in the back of beyond. They were 2 for £1. What a bargain.

Spring just wouldn't be spring without the DAFFODILS. We only grow the dwarf varieties; this spring being pre camera days I've only this one photo. We do have other varieties.....more pics next year! I try very hard to leave them to die down naturally so that all the energy goes back into the bulb for the next year. As they start to die down I always give them a good potash feed.



Mick loves the DAHLIAS. His special favourites are the bottom two; Fascination (bought when we went to Salcombe in Devon) and Bishop of Llandaff. We really like the bronze foliage. The upper two are just dwarf varieties we grew from seed one year. We keep them in pots and once the first frosts have blackened the foliage we dry them off and pack into sawdust for the winter.