Deefa Delphinium ...

It's an Alphabet thing ! A for ... apple, Deefa ... Delphinium ! Lots of bloggers are taking part in Alphabet Thursday, so I thought I would have a go ! If you pop across to http://www.jennymatlock.blogspot.co.uk/ you will be able to check out a variety of posts !

Delphiniums are the quintessential English cottage garden flower, beloved by all. There is something very about the Delphinium which evokes afternoon tea, and strawberries, and cricket matches on the green. It also evokes, for me, poorly staked plants flattened by rain and wind, and snapped flower stalks ! Because that is the English summer too !

Delphiniums are a perennial which are very easy to grow, and reliable 'doers' in the garden. I have grown a load of 'Pacific Giants' this year, and the rate of germination has been very high. I did use the propagator to germinate the seeds but a sunny windowsill would have served the purpose too.

I planted the seeds in March, and like all seeds this Spring, they were slow to germinate and even slower to grow !

Above is an experiment, comparing the growth between a tray of seedlings placed in the frost free conservatory, and a tray in the glorious warmth of the kitchen. It is clear which seedlings are happiest !

Getting bigger and more robust ! Spot the rogue Dahlia that has sneaked in there ...

The clumps of Delphiniums at the back of this border, behind the Hostas,  are  only in their second and third seasons respectively. They have put on tremendous bulk and height. The buds are forming and I can see which wonderful shade of blue they will be, when the buds open. Maybe tomorrow that will have happened ...