Month: September 2012

little Robin was today. Cherub had let him know in advance that Mr. Scrubber would be weeding on the rockery today but what even Cherub didnt know was that while weeding Nr Scrubber came across an -yes you know-an normous rock! Not alone that but another one beside it.

years ago when mr scrubber moved in a big machine had pushed a lot of rocks together ,the foundation for his rockery. So when this one was found it had to be excavated followed by the other and so Mr robin had a great time, especially as Mr Scrubber had to infill with fresh soil the excavated holes!!!

Cherub of course was a big help and we both decided on the placing of the new rocks relevant to their size and weight! Hope you like them!

We planted up our bog garden in October 2010 – It has really come on this year -probably something to do with all the rain we had all Summer

Aster time in the garden,

and don’t you just love them.

Well I do ;-))

This fern is sterile and therefore is part of the original plant that was found in Wales by Richard Kayse in 1668. Probably one of the oldest plants around now.

…..flowers on my cautleya spicata which I grew from seed. It is in a pot so not as big and tall as it should be but as I dont have the right spot for them I shall have to leave them there until I get space! I feel a winter project coming on:)

 Imitation is the finest form of flattery………..

Managed to sneak an hour or so in Botanic Gardens yesterday. They have a sculpture exhibition on so you are likely to stumble across art in many locations.

Leaving to head back to car, there was an exhibit where a motor car had been transformed with a grass roof and planting under bonnet and from windows.

It brought a smile to face

Last evening, we spotted in Kilmainham possibly the source of the idea for the artist – in a driveway 

Art reflecting real life……

 a very cool and strong breeze blowing here today. i have been busy lately with washing pots, nearly there now, didnt realise i used so many pots this year but i did. once they are done i want to start organising whats coming in for winter especially the dark leaved dahlias and the fuchsias etc and plant bulbs.

i havent forgotten about the front wall project or stubbery, once i have all the stuff ticked off my list i will do it at my pearl during good autumn weather, have till next spring so no rush. 

i have a bed of cabbage to blanch and freeze and manure to put on vacant veg beds, a list as long as my arm but it keeps me occupied.

the last pic on this journal is my first hellenium from seed been watching it for ages i had actually forgotten where i put them thrilled to bits.

my hollyhocks have little or no rust this year despite the wet summer we had. and the red hot poker made a second appearance

A great plant to grow on top of a cave

I grew this from seed last year from seed I bought at chelsea the previous year and it did very well. However at the end of the season I discovered that the seeds were really sticky. all my clothes were covered with them and they got on to other things in the washing machine so I decided not to bother with it this year. But lo and behold it appeared anyway. Obviously it had clung on to something or was in the compost.

Sorry, I think the first photo is on its side.

On Friday, having taken the day off for my birthday, I headed off to the botanical gardens as soon as I had dropped my girls to school – 8:30 in the morning! Needless to say I was there quite early, just after opening time in fact. The weather did not look great at that point but I was determined this would not bother me and I set off with my big umbrella. I thought that in the worst case I could always just visit the glasshouses. There were a couple of fairly heavy showers at the start but the weather then cleared really nicely, and by mid morning there was a glorious sunshine all around. I still visited the glasshouses as I just love them, but also did a lot of walking around in all corners of the place. There is at the moment an exhibition called “Sculpture in context”, with pieces of art dotted all over the place, sometimes in very unlikely areas (such as around the base of trees, or the “planted” car that CorkTony posted about earlier). Having recently discovered an interest for aeonium plants, I really admired all the varieties of aeonium there, I did not count them but would say there were probably around 20 different ones, most of them really beautiful, especially the very large ones. I spent quite a bit of time around those in fact! It was lunchtime by the time I left (and the cafe was full so I ended up driving back home to Bray for lunch).

And today, following the advice of everybody on my last journal to visit June Blake’s garden, we all set off to visit it early in the afternoon. The weather was very mixed, but again, this was not going to deter us (or me at least !!) I must say I was totally amazed by the amount of different plants in the garden, and how beautiful they all were. I loved the “hot” bed, with the mix of red, orange, yellow flowers and plants, but it was such a treat to wander around and discover lovely plant after lovely plant everywhere. I don’t know how many times I went around the garden, and when we left I still felt I missed a lot! I even found a potentilla that I would really like to have in my garden (and I don’t like potentillas!). It’s called Gloire de Nancy. And the sedums! June came to talk to us at some point, showed us a few different plants and answered our questions. I got a sambucus and a sedum ‘Joyce Henderson’. I actually wanted to get the really dark red sedums (Jose Aubergine and another one the name of which I have forgotten), and she got me two cuttings, which was so kind! It was a lovely afternoon, and it is a garden I will definitely return to… As we got home early enough, I had some time to plant my purchases and do some more gardening. A lovely week-end all in all 🙂

Over twenty five years ago, Dublin 7 and Dublin 9 were my postal addresses for my college years.

Thr difference in temperature between the ‘mild’ temperate climate of those at Cork’s line of latitude and the more arctic temperatures getting off the train three hours later in Dublin is one of the lasting memories.

Another was the feeling of ‘what a concrete jungle’.

There did not appear to be many green areas and student allowance did not justify DART trips to take in some country-side. As a life-long centre city dweller, concrete jungles can be ok but one does need access to gree space and in Phibsboro area that was in short supply.

I frequently walked around the cemetry in Glasnevin before finding the Botanic Gardens and the tree hopping squirrels. Back then it was more for the open space and trees that would have brightened up my weekends.

So after a family visit to Ikea on Saturday morning, we were due to meet up with friends and I suggested that we meet at the Botanic Gardens – win win.

Two women to catch up on all the news . Four smallies to run and climb. Me somewhat free-er to stroll and view – win, win win

I didn’t get to see but a small fraction but it is a place that one could spend the day chilling out.

What a resource. And its free.

The sculpture exhibition was on and as well as the exhibition space, it was great to see the sculpture exhibits just popping up among the planting.

The glasshouse structures are amazing in themselves – let alone what is in them. The small waterfall was a bighit. The layout of looped intermingling circuits was also a hit to keep the boss amused.

Oh to have space to be able to group a number of same plants in a bed to create such an effect – the lotto did not come in so that dream continues

Oh to have the space that a bed can accomodate those in flower, those dying and those dead skeletons and still look good – that challenge remains

What a range of grasses – probably the best time to see them with all the seed heads – photos do not do justice to the sensation of running one’s hand through grasses or looking through waving grasses. I definitely need to read up on dividing and caring for my grasses.

Garden visiting and appreciation can be a selfish activity. I could have spent most of the day there – if I had a book for some change to read under a tree and a picnic/snack. If the trees and plants could have put up with my company for the day, I would have been very happy in their home.

As it was, as is regular on visits to Dublin, there were others to meet – another story or even another journal

Best lesson of day is that it is good to meet up with friends in gardens and parks

Managed to persuade my sister that it would be a good idea to meet up on Saturday at the Bulb and Plant Fair at Straffan.

RANT 1:

I have vented a few times regarding the charge for entering plant fairs. There was no fee here but a requested donation for a local charity. Would shopping centres survive if you had to pay to enter the premises to even see if you wanted to purchase. Is that not part of the success of urban shopping centres over city in that even the parking is free.END OF RANT

We first ended up at the Straffan Sports Day and were very surprised to see plenty people but no bulbs. So went onward and found the correct location.

What a entrance drive, lovely grounds.

We were there about three thirty on the Saturday (second of two days) and there were very few cars and not many other attendees when we got in.

The concept I thought was great: Plant fair; combined with other stalls selling clothing; hats; decent bric-a-brab. All combined with , what would normally cost €7.50, to visit the Steam Museum, appreciate the house and grounds, and walk the gardens

The reality fell short in a few aspects.

There were very few plant stalls – 7 I think – and no real bargain in sight.

RANT 2: I may be getting old and crotchedy but… We are in a depression, not even a recession. Many prices are heading south. Why is it that plant prices are rising or is it just the type of plant I am looking at has changed with my (ahem) slightly more delicate and informed planting palate.

I would have guessed that the norm last year was €5-6 for a normal sized pot. Now €7.95 is normal and there were a good few at €9.95 and these were not even ones that would rarely be seen.

I appreciate that stallholders have to pay for their pitch for the day but some discounted incentive would not go astray – three for 20 does not count when one of the plants is available in a Cork small nursery at €6.  END OF RANT

I did photo some plants to add to list of possibles – the phone now acting as a modern office on its own.

We did purchase a water butt – a converted old whisky barrel – and now need to decide if it will be a feature at front or rear of house as there are two different downpipes and so two different adaptors.

While brother-in-law brought the two smallies to view the steam meaeum exhibits, The women conversed and walked at their pace in the garden while I traipsed through the garden at my leisure.

What a facility to have a walled garden with the vety many different sections.

OK it is mid-September and many plants have gone over or are going over. It is definitely worth a visit earlier in year when flowers would be more bountiful.

The old aspect – cast iron water featutes, old pumphouse/glasshouse – I am a sucker every time so any comment cannot be treated as independent or unbiased. They were enjoyed.

There is a little tea room in the courtyard where the fair was and I got a lesson in pots. The pots were not big but each had three dirrerent plants and were overflowing with flowers. Now that is something to strive for. An ability to get grasses/plants combining well in size structure and in colour at same time is something to strive for – and somewhere to store the pots not yet ready….

As an aside any identification of the daisy type flower would be good. It had a strangly-fennelly type strands rather than leaves which hopefully can be seen in photo.

In the private garden of the main house, they had constructed a timber staircase around a large-tree upto a viewing platform – oh to have one of these – are we not all children at heart

So this was a refresher in the lesson for the day – one does not need to meet friends in their house, in a coffee shop or in a pub. It is perfectly acceptable to meet at a garden especially one that has more (such as steam museum and coffee shop at Lodge Park) to keep smallies and others not-so-plant-enthused occupied and amused.

At €7.50 per adult as normal charge I do think there is a challenge there to try to accommodate the family/friend gatherings but two rants in one journal is more than enough

Later on that night, we ambled on to Kilmainham, and to quote what the Examiner called the ‘best live performer’ on the planet, we do not know if we will be back so we will give it our best tonight. Leonard, at 77, has a few yeaars on me but I hope to be back to Park Lodge – probably earlier in the flowering season.

If we had arrived earlier, we would have stayed longer – recommendation enough

On Thursday, October 18th, Keith Wiley is giving a lecture at the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, at eight o’clock. The talk is being hosted by the Irish Garden Plant Society but non members would be very welcome.

I have put up two albums of gardens, The Garden House and Wildside in Devon. Keith was curator at The Garden House for a number of years before leaving that position to start his own garden and nursery, only a few miles down the road.  Paddy and myself visited both gardens in April 2009 and I have put up two albums to give a taste of the gardens. “Wildside” was only just started at that time.

Keith was also featured last year on the BBC’s “Garden Secrets” ,presented by Alan Titchmarsh, which looked back on the fashion in garden over four hundred years. 

The Garden House was a fabulously beautiful garden and Wildside was on the way to becoming one so I think his talk will be very interesting. We are travelling up from Waterford to hear it. 

Here is another beauty that looks good through the winter

just seen the add for berroca boost and thought could do with a packet of them to get me going, i went out this morning and done a bit of potting on wallflowers and sweet williams after 2 hours i got sick of it, plus becky is off sick with sinuses so i didnt want to leave her for too long.

we decided we would make a pot of soup, went out and picked the ingrediants leeks, celery, onion, potatoes, carrots and made a pot, just had a bowl and i have to say it was delicous yummy.

the leeks and celery are not as good as last year but they still did ok despite the rain and lack of sunshine didnt lack in taste.

the lack of enthusium is definately down to the weather,there’s a chill in the air. i am going to leave weeding and clearing for a couple of weeks and then i will plant the bulbs and weed and clear in one go. im not in my usual stride but for once i am not bothered as i have personal things i want to do for myself, i will do it if i feel like and if i dont i wont 

Dear friends!

Sorry for such long absence, this summer I haven’t write any post. I have one excuse, as you can see 🙂
Wish your gardens have a fabulous autumn!

……go on holiday?

Just back from 15 days in Greece and trying to get the garden into some kind of shape again. I think the wind and rain have taken their toll and the place looks really messy.

Holidays at this time of the year mean that some of the annuals like cosmos and sweet pea stop flowering earlier as they need deadheading every day. I had people coming in to water and someone doing two half days but it is still not enough.

May/June is another option but I find it a very busy time in the garden and really hard to get away.

Anyone got other ideas – the dead of winter perhaps???

You may have gathered from my comment on Rachel’s journal that the weather has been getting me down too!! But somehow knowing I am not alone in feeling this way encouraged me!! And like Rachel I’m fighting back!

This afternoon brought garden visitors from Yorkshire, England and a professional gardener at that!! By the time they left my ‘blues’ had lifted and I saw my garden in a whole new light! Its such a joy to share with other gardeners who dont mind at all spending time walking around a soggy garden in what felt like a November day! 

Just putting up some pictures taken while the sun got out between the showers!

… in getting the garden back in shape after the Bovine Invasion were taken yesterday and today.

Weeding was the first chore – the woodland areas were sadly neglected while the negotiations with the farmer were in progress. Filled three barrows full of weeds between the two days.

This morning 10 tons of gravel were delivered …. along with some weed-block.  More of this later.

Next was the difficult bit – how to get rid of the hoof marks all over the beds. Some of them were about 5 inches deep! They were scattered all over the planted areas and the paths were in a bad way too.

First I raked the paths and leveled them out as much as possible but I think some of that gravel may be called into play to sort them out properly.

Finally I tackled the first of the planted areas. The Hazel Grove was worst so I got cracking on that. The trusty cultivator was called into play and several hours later I can say I have at least ONE of my areas back in shape. and then, just to cheer me up, I spotted this little viola that self-seeded beneath the Hazels!

are flowering in our garden at the moment. I nipped out and took a photo of a few of the annual ones today. These were all dead easy to grow from seed. The blue one is a little shorty, grown in a pot and only 6″-8″ tall. The other two are in the ground, with the yellow one being a good 4ft and the pink one just over 2ft. Will post some pics of perennial species soon.

are both ‘a trifle indisposed’ nothing much but cant go out today to wheel barrowloads of clay into my new ‘rock pool’ in the rockery. So I wrote out a nice journal and sent it into the ether-its vanished and for once I didnt first do it in Word where I am this time!

Nothing much but I hope to be back into my stride on sat. However as every cloud has…. My silver lining today was the sight of a huge amount of new buds on a rose that had given its best all summer. I had cut off the old sprays to tidy it up and lo and behold! The promise of many more. It is heartening! It is an old rose that someone gave me a cutting of and has flowered well for the last twenty thirty years!

I like Autumn. The business of summer is over and things begin to emerge again-paths, rocks, edges, The urn I put in about two months ago had been completely overcome by ferns and bindweed and stuff but now like a ghost its emerging again and as I strimmed the path beside it it looks fine. Hazel and Elizabeth 11 thought I shouldn’t plant it just enjoy its lovely shape and I think they are right. ‘THINK SCRUBBER?’ ‘Know Hazel!’ I have two small pots of ivy inside it and the leaves trail very nicely so just that and no more.

My new Acer continues to delight and it is to have pink stems in spring! Wot larks. I put in five other acers about eight months ago and only later found out they were to be green whit and pink! The pink didn’t materialize to any great extent but the green and white leaves are lovely in the shade. One died but four survive. I find a good few of my admittedly cheap azaleas have bitten the dust-every second one but as I say they were very cheap so musnt complain, Some do some don’t.

The coprosma for example was on the to- be- dumped -shelf for two euro. I took three and they are fine. You win some. I love the Accidanthera or gladioulis something or other, And the perfume is powerful!No that was definitely not on the bargain bench. Anna bought it for me .

So even if I cant get digging today theres lots to see and maybe plan! Then again I could ring the Duke and have a natter!

Plenty of sunshine to day from early morning until about 4.30 p.m. It was cold enough early but temperature rose and it appeared warmer than it was in reality. I made good use of the fine day. Two flower beds were prepared, in what was part of the lawn. Some stones were removed and if Scrubber would like them they are his free! Eventually, some plants went in, a large Geum Mrs. Bradshaw which came from the rockery, too big for it and in the other bed went plants which came from seeds I got from a member in Johnstown. Plenty of insects enjoyed the flowers, Dahlias, Geraniums and large Daisies. Darkness is coming early now but it was a day I enjoyed.

Someone enquired about Mary’s white garden the other day. Now, I know Mary won’t go an take a set of photographs so I took some this afternoon. Obviously, there were other things in flower at other times during the summer but here is what it looked like today – a few views and some shots of the flowers open at the moment. 

Paddy

A slightly better day today and two more visitors in the garden!

Not much time to do any real gardening but took some cuttings of catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ and some of pink and red pelargoniums. Probaby too late but worth a try! 

Again took the camera out around the garden, its amazing how plants perk up with a couple of hours sunshine!

I’m dog walker in chief this week and so for the last couple of days I have taken the camera with me on our trips down the lane.

Just messing about really but there might be one or two photos which you like 🙂