Month: September 2012
There’s a distinct chill in the air this morning.
I hope to overwinter this eucomis bicolour but not sure whether I should remove all compost and dry store, or leave it in its pot and bring into the greenhouse. All advice welcome.
ANother day of stocktake, but as a result I get tomorrow off. Wahoo!
Friday last was a day off, the sun was shining and the kids were in School so I decided very last minute that I would take a trip to the Botanic Gardens. It was mainly the grass garden that I wanted to see and I was not disappointed. It is the perfect time to see it with all the grasses in flower Molinas, Stipas, Carex and Miscantus. I have always thought the idea of a whole grass bed would be a bit boring but it was beautiful all the different colours, textures and heights well worth a visit if you get a chance.There is also an outdoor sculpture exhibition ongoing there at the moment so another reason to visit.
With a few hours still to myself I decided following a recommendation from Nuala that I would visit Ratoath Garden centre which was kinda of on the route home. It is a lovely garden centre jam packed with very healthy plants and very knowledgable staff. They as Nuala said have a lovely garden planted up which gives lots of ideas of planting combinations. Of course I could not leave without a few plants and I am really pleased with what I got
Hydrangea Aspera Macrophyllla,Viburnum Rhytidophyllum,Verbena Rigida Polaris, and Eupatorium Baby Joe
Really enjoyable day.
Well ok, it’s not actually in France, but Rachels fancy holiday is making my 3 day trip north look a bit tame 😉 Any northern gardeners recognise this place? As an aside, if anybody is interested I’m giving a talk in Kanturk, Co. Cork this Wednesday. “Terra Nova – Full of Little Surprises & Deboradations” This is my forth time talking to the Kanturk club and yet I remember thinking that I made a very poor impression on them the first time! I’ll be giving this talk to the Tuam Flower and Garden Club and the Irish Garden Plant Society in Belfast laterin the year.
I have this plant a few years growing in a pot, it completely dies down in winter. I have no idea where I got it from or what it is called. On the open day nobody knew what it was either. This is what it looks like right now, I love the colour of the stems.
Summer drawing to a close has its compensations when the plumbago flowers open. I love it for its strong blue flowers and later as the leaves turn gold and red. The photo doesn’t really do it justice.
One of my all time favourites.
Also known as, Dwarf Wintercreeper.
I spotted this plant in Altemont a few weeks back. I was taken by it’s tight/dense growing habit.
I’m wondering if anyone out there, has this plant growing in their gardens and could tell me a little more about it.
I have done some googling, but would like to hear from the real experts, so to speak.
Many thanks as always.
Coming in at number four in my seven best French gardens, is Le Parc Oriental in Maulévrier. This Japanese Garden, the largest in Europe, made me realise that I had never seen an authentic Japanese garden before.
Created in the late 1800’s, Le Parc Oriental is acknowledged by Japanese experts and loved by whoever visits. A most impressive garden with extensive topiary, buildings and ornaments.
We visited during the day and then returned at sundown for an extra treat. By lamp light, we followed trails, listening to Haiku poetry and appreciating the many reflections in the expansive lake.
The boys got the most fun out of watching a group of people, on the other side of the lake, make their lanterns dance, and then we sent them our best choreographed response. And Zak, the ingenious, even managed to set his foot on fire with the paper lantern. We Irish have our own special skills!
I have been fiddling around with my sons new camera with his permission….. I took this Dahlia yesterday as it is the last one to open.
I was upstairs and Greg shouted up to me to tell me there was a Squirrel on the wall so I got my sons camera and took a few photos of the cheeky guy who was on the ivy by the time I was ready so I took a few photos very quickley and when I uploaded them and had a look this was one of the shots …. of course it made me laugh as my camera would not have got such a shot.
This is one of my favourites. Always a great show!
Was travelling to Limerick on Saturday and we made a slight detour to see this garden. I knew I wouldnt be seeing it at its best but someone else had put up a journal and photos of this garden earlier this year and I was interested in seeing it for myself.
I thought I was going to miss meeting the owner, Arthur Shackelton, as he told me when I rang that he had to go to a meeting and we could leave the money in the box, but he arrived back just before we were about to leave, so I was able to ask him about a couple of plants. He very kindly gave me a cutting of a salvia which I hadnt seen before so I will be hoping that will grow.
I will try to visit this garden in June or July when it will be at its peak, but I really enjoyed it on a beautiful sunny and warm morning when the bees were really having a feast, so peaceful…… enjoying it by ourselves, I could have sat there for the day:)
I will put up an album.
Michelle, the picture you put up in your journal is of a leaf bud rather than seeds. I have put up a couple of photos of what the seed would look like after the flowers have faded. They are similar to ivy seed heads only bigger.
Hope this helps 🙂
Le Potager Extraordinaire, as implied by its name, is basically a vegetable garden but has expanded and now takes on a whole educational element.
It showcases unusual plants and their uses, in ornamental settings, and is famous for its large number of pumpkin varieties and gourds, some of exceptional size.
This was my third visit to this garden and it has improved since I was last here. It is well worth a visit if you are anywhere nearby.
Its the arrowhead-shaped leaves on this Sagittaria latifolia that drew me to this plant from the beginning.
i was told rachel that you may know about fatsias. i found this bud on the fatsia the other day and i was just wondering if that is a bud and or are they seed pods? if any one else can tell me this i would be delighted as i would love to try to grow them from seed if possible. the only website i found was an american one that was more of a site like this than an information site any help or info would be greatly appreciated
Well, I was soooo envious of Myrtle a couple of weeks ago when I saw her Eccremocarpus in full flower outside, up against a wall. Mine was/is flowering in the greenhouse alright. But not the one planted in a big pot with a climbing rose outside. Well, that was……until today! Love it!
This is Clematis heracleifolia ‘New Love’ which is herbaceous and nicely scented. Being blue of course makes it even nicer 🙂
Thrilled with this Hedychium ‘Assam Orange’ which I only have since May and as you can see is in full flower. Will make sure to put it in the glasshouse for the winter.
In work early this morning for the stocktake. But got back home earlier than expected. Cleaned up the honeysuckle and jasmine from yesterday, and spent a good bit of time cutting back and bagging. Noticed my gorgeous blue hibiscus about to flower. Oooh, can’t wait for that. Didn’t think it was going to come back.
Weeded the gravel under the pergola, and the gravel area in front of the greenhouse. Emptied baskets and planters of summer bedding. Tidied up the yard area. When Steve had the cave in the middle of the garden, I had less places to put these pots so they all ended up in the yard and I had to pick my way very gingerly to the outside tap. All sorted now. During the week I had neglected watering stuff outside, so I gave everything a good soak finally. Hazel’s willow was looking a bit on the dry side, but having left the hose on it for 5 full minutes, it made a miraculous comeback.
I only put this Canna out yesterday. But the wind is starting now so it’s back in. Won’t get out to the garden at all tomorrow as I’m on a 13hr shift.
I grew Cosmos ‘candy stripe’ from saved seed this year, really pleased with the results despite the year that was in it.
I had a few plants over and planted them here and there around the garden.
One was planted beside the Eupatorium,(by accident) and the contrast works really well. The photo does not do justice to the way the combination looks and works together.
But I am making a note to surround the Eupatoriun with Cosmos next year.
Sooo, for those following my rating of seven French gardens, in sixth place is Jardin des Plantes, Coutances.
The Jardin des Plantes in Coutances was originally a private garden but is now municipal. The planting of annual borders was exquisite.
At first I was excited, exhilarated and inspired, planning what I might do in my own Annual Border next year. Then I came to compare the specifics, the likes of Tithonia, Cleome or Ricinus…
There is no comparison between the level of growth they get from annuals in France and what we can get in Ireland. I feel compelled to give up altogether on my Annuals Border.
A beautiful garden, well worth visiting.
Having done very nicely from the bargain bench in the Glanbia Garden centre kilmeaden on friday, solanum and grasses and alpines I genuinely meant just to look around Johnstown as we had to go to naas on Sat. After a nice cup of tea and a cake I went around the plants. Then I thought i might just get a small packet of St Patrick’s day daffs, some aconites and possibly a small whipchord hebe. But then i saw them Gladioli Callianthus (used to be called Acidanthera murielae) and i was smitten! beautiful arching elegant white purple centered flowers on large elegant green stems-and the perfume, across between Sweet Pea and Lily, a little stronger than the first and not as pungent as the second. Daffs and aconites etc. faded immediately!
And then a lovely white Liriope was quite near them. Anna saw i was smitten and encouraged me ‘Get two! Ill make you a present!’. I ended up getting two Gladioli Call. and one Liriope! Its funny how easily one can be bowled over. We managed to get them home without breaking the stems and I know where they are going. Apparently they are a bit tender. A lovely present!
Oh Can someone tell me please. I bought two Clematis in Aldi recently and they flowered well. Now the heads are gone and the seedhead tassels are left. They were trained up on a cane. Does anyone know what I do next-do I wait for the leaves to wither and then cut them back to the ground? The labels say Summer clematis Lightly prune in early spring and another says prune if needed after flowering. Are they deciduous. Excuse my abysmal ignorance of clematis!
Butterflys are loving my sedums.
And a rose just for its colour
love seen them around and with a load of buddleias and sedums there are aload of them around and even come in to visit regularly there isnt too many days that i dont have to go around with a tea towel to bring one outside again. while i was out yesturday eve in the front garden there was three on a sedum and three near beckys bedroom window tried to get a photo but only captured one butterfly.
a bit dreary here today, have loads of clothes to dry as soon as i put them out it made a huge shower, sods law.
in a previous journal i asked for help with a fatsia would really appreciate it
Here come seven journals on seven different French gardens.
Of the seven gardens we visited in France, I have given them all my own personal rating. Number one, being the best, and this one, Jardin des Plantes in Nantes, coming seventh.
The Jardin des Plantes in Nantes, home of the bizarre interspecific hybrid, the Fatshedera, came well recommended. From my point of view it was a cross between a park and a Botanic Garden.
It is a beautiful space, much used by inhabitants of the large town of Nantes, with a lot of green areas for relaxing and strolling, a kids’ play area, a swimming pool and even a restaurant!
On the other hand it had some an interesting collection of Aralia, a bog planting of Sarracenia and educational displays of plants, according to medicinal use, for ‘amateurs des plantes’ (who were allowed walk on the grass to see them).
There were glorious old greenhouses too – two earmarked for restoration. The succulent greenhouse was open to the public at pre-specified times (not when I was there). I found a smaller orchid greenhouse and peered under the shutters to see a burgeoning, well-cared-for collection but it was not open to the public :'(
In my opinion, and with my cultural expectations, this garden was too many things to too many people. But, if I lived in Nantes, I’m sure I’d visit every day.
This area of the garden has been doing well this year, probably because of all the rain?!! I had a couple of ferns planted just before the two harsh winters of 2009 and 2010 and they never really took off until this year, and I even thought I had lost them at some point, but now they seem to have recovered well. I love the different shades or green, with a bit of colour also with the Japanese painted fern and Koidzumi’s wood fern.
