Dahlias

Dahlia, gift from a friend,  in the garden

I planted some single flowered dahlias early this year and lost them all, so I ordered a second lot and lost them as well. This is a good indication that they need to be started late because my last lot have all done well including the amazing single red one given to me by a friend which has huge splendidly coloured flowers. I prefer the single ones because they are a good food for late insects and anyway, they look spectacular. 

Similar single dahlia but  less detailed in colour

It has been hard keeping everything watered this year. We in London have had less rain than almost anywhere else in the country and until recently I have been watering the leaking pond with watering cans every day as well as the flowers. Now that's mended and looking so good, I am really happy. The frogs are back in and I am  hoping that next year it will attract lots of hover flies among other things. 

The other things that have done really well in spite of the drought are the Autumn cyclamen hederifolium.  

Autumn cyclamen

Some years ago I planted three under the trees and they have moved into places all over the garden. They look wonderful and obviously don't mind the clay. Cyclamen coum is similar but with differently shaped leaves and flowers in late winter/early spring. I have some of those too. 

Autumn cyclamen elsewhere

This pigeon in the garden looks so non-confrontational. But it comes from the roof where it has created a nest and leaves its mess in the side alley. When we did up the house recently, we left stuff meant to put it off, but it hasn't made the slightest difference. I have a friend who managed to get a pretend hawk up on her roof. But she says it hasn't made any difference.  Any ideas anyone?

Pigeon in the garden