Dahlias and Dogs

My neighbours from across the road, Allen and Vince, have a still-impressive display of dahlias and roses in their front garden.  I was just getting a few pictures of their flowers this afternoon when the gentlemen themselves drove up and caught me mid-shot.  They'd been out with their dogs, and while Allen marshalled them out of the back of the car, Vince ran indoors straight away to get me a bottle of his delicious home-grown apple juice as a gift.  He runs the allotments association in Chesham, and has very green fingers where fruit, veg and flowers are concerned.

These semi-cactus dahlias, with their spiky petals, can stand up well to the sort of weather we've been having recently.  Their star-like form means they're less prone to being weighed down by heavy rain, or blown about by strong wind, than other dahlia types.