Clematis (earnest markem....i think)..3rd Sept.'10

Mine too, and it was only planted last year, it has been the best performer for me by far, it has nearly gone now, but looked great while it was flowering. Have been looking at all your pictures - do you lift all your dahlias and store them or leave them in the ground? Love dahlias, had some in the garden, but didn't bother lifting them and last year lost them because of the very severe winter frosts. I know they soon die if the cold gets to them, but no where to store them, did try one year and they just went all mushy and died the same, am trying them in pots this year, so I can wrap them up and leave them in a more sheltered spot, just an experiment to see if I can keep them. Yours looks absolutely gorgeous. They are so vibrant and help keep the colour going in the garden for a long time. Think after seeing yours will have to try them in the garden again.

Hi Oliveoil....I never lifted my Dahlias, except the ones that i wanted to take spring cuttings from...So i lost quite a few last winter....I stored some potted tubers in an unheated shed, wrapped and lost those too...Because i had so many i stored some in my other shed which houses the boiler and because its warmish in there, they survived....so thats where they will be going this winter....The key is to make sure they are dry.....All mine are kept in pots of compost...DRY....Its the cold AND the wet that causes the problem.....I hope this helps...They are a member of the potato family and cant take frost....

thanks for that motinot - will give it a go next year.