Sunday Selections #533

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.

 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.

 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 

I usually run with a theme.  Last week was v busy and sometimes fraught so I am sticking close to home.

Starting with a gentle dawn which delighted me.

 

Each year I wonder whether the tree dahlias (dahlia imperialis) will flower before we get our first hard frost.  This year?  Success.  There are a lot of buds yet to come, but it is definitely in flower.  In the nick of time.  This morning we are expecting to drop to minus four or five C, and I expect when it is light I will see that these proud beauties will have been hit hard.

 

Tree dahlias are fast growers.  They need to be.  I cut them down to ground level each year after the first hard frost.  The following year they power ahead - and these are well over 12 feet tall.  The canes are brittle and a strong wind has snapped them off more than once so ours line the fence between us and one of our neighbours - and one has established itself (and offspring) beside the garage.

 In other parts of the garden we continue to see signs of a very, very early Spring.  There are more paper-white jonquils out each day and another anemone has emerged and flowered.  

 My bulb planting continues.  I hope to get the last in the ground this week.  Hope, but won't guarantee.  Whatever the season, or the weather I hope your week to come is filled with beauty and joy.