Last summer, while losing my mobile phone in the luxuriant dahlia trial (and finding it again the next day) I realised that some visitors, overwhelmed by the flamboyant exhibition types, may have missed some of the best new dahlias of recent years. The Happy Series. which includes the dramatic Happy... Read more..

News from Ireland of a gorgeous new dahlia which Camolin Potting Shed of Wexford have on sale before anyone else. ‘Maya’ was raised in Holland by Kees and Aad Verwer of Verwer Dahlias , the good people who have been bringing us the superb Happy Single Series of dahlias as well as the popular dwarf double... Read more..

Last year the Wisley dahlia trial was one of the most colourful - and interesting - of the season. It usually is. It's always worth seeing just to admire the dazzling display. But of course there's a purpose to it: finding the best. Out of a grand total of one hundred and forty nine different... Read more..

Last year the Wisley dahlia trial was one of the most colourful - and interesting - of the season. It usually is. It's always worth seeing just to admire the dazzling display. But of course there's a purpose to it: finding the best. Out of a grand total of one hundred and forty nine different... Read more..

Did you see the piece about the Winchester Growers dahlia exhibit on BBC Two's nightly programme on the Chelsea Flower Show tonight? Not much about the display itself, just a few words with a deservedly thrilled John Wheatcroft who put it all together, some superficial discussion about eating dahlias... Read more..

It's truly summer now here at Wisley. In July the garden looks wonderful. We have our Armed Forces Day flag prominently positioned on the Conifer Lawn, and the sweet peas and dahlia bed (where the Subtropical Borders usually are) are flowering well. Day by day the self-sown annuals that form this... Read more..

It's truly summer now here at Wisley. In July the garden looks wonderful. We have our Armed Forces Day flag prominently positioned on the Conifer Lawn, and the sweet peas and dahlia bed (where the Subtropical Borders usually are) are flowering well. Day by day the self-sown annuals that form this... Read more..

There are not many people who breed plants as different as dahlias and sweet peas and clivias - in fact I can only think of one. Dr Keith Hammett , from New Zealand, is one of the world's leading plant breeders and his dahlias and sweet peas are widely grown. He also breeds Dianthus , Primula and... Read more..

Following the award to the National Dahlia Collection of the award for the best floral display at the Chelsea Flower Show , I headed for their exhibit in the Plant Heritage Marquee at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last week to check out their new plants. And there I found another new dahlia, raised... Read more..

Colourful July, and we're at the peak of the season. If you're coming to visit us this week look out for some of these: On the corner of the Laboratory, the trumpet vine Campis radicans is creating a vertical carpet of deep orange. On the Top Terrace, the flowers are really starting to perform... Read more..