Crossword Genius

Sail had been placed over the garden flowers (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dahlias

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the garden flowers' is the definition.
'dahlias' can be an answer for 'flowers' (dahlia is a kind of flower). I'm not sure about the 'the garden' bit.

'sail had been placed' is the wordplay.
'been placed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'sail'+'had'='sailhad'
'sailhad' is an anagram of 'DAHLIAS'.

'over' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dahlias that I've seen before include "'Hid, alas, among the flowers (7)'" , "Flowers for Shia lad" , "Tuberous Mexican flowers" , "I had Al's fowers" , "bloomers" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app