Aconitum napellus has bloomed in the nick of time: the first Priory frost can only be a few days away.
oooOOOooo
I’m flying off to Spain for a few days paddling, frolicking and general misbehaviour. But before I go, I’ll just mention that the Royal Horticultural Society is holding a new blogging competition. Four judges have selected ten finalists from 320 entries but the overall winner will be chosen by public vote. You can see the finalists and vote for your favourite entry HERE.
(I wouldn’t mind at all if you chose to vote for my entry, ‘Poppies on the Downs‘). Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 20th October. Good luck to all the entrants.
(I’ve received some queries regarding the voting system on the RHS site and a couple of messages from readers who haven’t been able to vote. If you have any problems, you can bypass the vote buttons altogether and simply email blogscompetition@rhs.org.uk with the title of your nomination in the subject line).
The Anxious Gardener 
Congratulations!
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Thanks Linda.
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You won as well you should. Congratulations!
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Thanks Allen.
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Well done David! Looks like you beat me.
I expect you’ll crack open the Rioja to celebrate x
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Thanks very much Celia. You must be physic. I did indeed open a bottle of Rioja immediately on getting home – the only bottle I bought home from Spain. Perhaps I shall see you at Chelsea? D
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Pretty aconitum; I love the dark ones. Have a great break, and hope you come home to some exciting news 😉 I do so love your poppy shots. You should enter one in the rhs photographic competition too…
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Thanks Sara. Exciting news duly delivered. Not sure my nerves can handle another competition at the moment but I will have a look. Dave
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Love it David! Have a wonderful time in Spain and good luck on your blog!
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Thanks Boys, both your good wishes seem to have come true. Dave
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Love the aconitum, I had ‘Newry Blue’ in my last garden but left before it got properly into its stride. If plants have strides. Surely even triffids didn’t have strides, as such… Good luck in the competition, and have a wonderful holiday.
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Hi Janet, ents most certainly stride but then one might argue that they don’t actually exist. If one were being pedantic. Triffids sort of glided about didn’t they? I can’t seem to remember but then I don’t suppose it is terribly important either way. Thanks for your best wishes. D
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Have a lovely vacation, Dave! Enjoy frolicking and misbehaving to your heart’s content. I have already voted for the AG and wish you the best of luck in the contest. Or is this the kind of situation where we tell you to break a leg instead? (Or someone else’s leg?) Not up on these fine points of blogging protocol.
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Fine points of protocol or not Stacy, whatever you did seemed to have worked. Oh, and I had a lovely holiday too. A last blast of hot strong sunlight until next year. Dave
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You can see why it’s called Monkshood can’t you. And you’re right it does look malevolent. Good luck in the comp.
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Hi Elaine, I started growing aconitum as a slug resistant alternative to delphiniums – even they don’t seem to touch it. D
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So far I’ve read half the other finalist and at the moment I’ll vote for you! Why wouldn’t I, I love reading your posts. Enjoy your holidays, Christina
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Thanks Christina – I did enjoy my break. I was very lazy. I took my camera all the way to Murcia and didn’t use it once! Dave
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