My Plants Are Regressing

 

A few weeks ago I bought a couple of dahlia plants to cheer myself up as the garden was so barren and void of colour.  I bought a beautiful deep velvety pink one and one that was red and white variegated - a bit like a raspberry ripple effect. The one above was the first I had my eye on.  Out in the garden its leaves quickly became ravaged with snails and slugs so I thought it would be best to bring it in at night.  I have watered and fed and tended it.  It stays in the garden during the day and comes in at night.

  

I recently noticed that one of the blooms had become two tone - or rather a few of the petals seemed washed out of colour.  Most strange.

The second dahlia I bought was the one shown above.  Beautiful quilled shaped petals that opened out into bi-colour.  I noticed that very quickly the flowers began to turn brown around the edges and die before they fully came out.  I deadheaded them hoping for a quick recovery.

Now look at what has happened.  Very strange salmon coloured flowers with a few red ones.  I wonder why just buying two random plants has resulted in some bizarre happening.  I wonder if some sort of cross pollination has gone on.  Any thoughts?

Happy Days

I contacted the local garden centre to find out if there were any job vacancies.  I had a quick response to my inquiry and was told that if I took in my CV they would keep my details on file should a vacancy arise.  Yeh right.

Anyway, I took myself up to the nursery to buy some pelargoniums and plant food.  The pelargoniums (or geraniums as they like to call them) were housed in a very hot greenhouse.  In fact it was so hot I could hardly breathe and I was thankful that there hadn't been any job available to me!   I don't think I would have lasted more than a day. The pelargoniums looked sparse and unloved and I couldn't find any that I was drawn to.

There was a welcome cool breeze out in main nursery and I found a bench of perky looking dahlias.  There were big flouncy ones and cute pom poms but I was drawn to one in particular called 'Happy Days'.  This plant was lemon with dark foliage and the name resonated with me.  Happy days, happy days, happy days........

I picked up Happy Days and headed for the counter where a chinless man pushed his trolley in front of me with his purchases.  Brash and loud he took a call on his mobile whilst the cashier waited for payment.  I stood observing, unnoticed.

I forgot the plant food.