Enormous tree dahlias, 3 or 4m high, are dwarfing the garden and opening their soft lilac blooms until severe frost arrives. One clump can be out of proportion – very easily – to the rest of the garden, particularly as the eye takes in its almost bamboo-like perennial nature, so different to woody shrubs and trees. Mine create a huge circle and going inside I feel embraced by the garden; when the flowers are over I am thinking about spray-painting the upright leafless stalks – blue. My own `Blue Poles’; if it is not beautiful then at least it will be a lot of fun.