Summer colour and bounty

The recently planted and still in progress claret garden is coming along well, the Japanese maple is doing well now that there is some protection from wind and the mix of red and deep red/rust coloured perennials such as chocolate cosmos and Echinacea are mixing together beautifully.

The dahlias are doing well also.

and the potager has a great crop of eggplant, basil, corn...

nasturtians (i have a plan for pickled nasturtian seeds but in the mean time the small leaves and flowers are wonderful in garden salads)...

and cucumbers on our cucumber frame.

Garden Bouquet

The one remaining dahlia corm that has survived the wet clay conditions of the garden is in full flower.  Makes a dramatic focal point in a green garden bouquet of herbs (rosemary, lemon verbena, bay, parsley and coriander flowers).  I am very fond of the perfect architectural form of the dahlia flowers so must hunt out a free-draining spot in the garden to have a full on old-fashioned riotously coloured dahlia bed.