Month: September 2012

Last week I transplanted the spring cabbage which I had raised from seed. I did the same last year and lost most of the plants to the pigeons. So I made these protective boxes to prevent a repeat.

I have also put some in the tunnel to make a comparison but I notice a different problem as when taking the picture I saw a lot of holes in the leaves. These are not due to slugs or birds, so what else I wonder?

The lettuce, by the way is for the birds in the aviary, canaries and zebra finch, they will have eaten all this by tomorrow. There are 24 of them.

This spring I did a short sowing in the tunnel of veg. I would plant later in the veg. garden. They all started off well and we had early, peas, runner beans, broad beans, carrots, white turnip and parsnip. The broad beans planted in the garden soon caught up and exceeded the growth of those in the tunnel. The big disappointment was the tomatoes. I’ve grown these from seed since 1966 trying out different types and growing methods. This year I bought seed from Aldi and they tuned out to be a miniature or bush variety’Trailing garden pearl’. I think the lack of sunshine and heat caused slow growth, poor pollenation and a ‘sick’ appearance. They were fed and doctored with care. Those that did ripen were very tasty and I’ve taken the fruit off the plant and put them in a sunny spot to ripen.

https://www.garden.ie/post.aspx?id=3621&idpost=34215

 Fool

Do you not remember the advice from school and college to ensure that you understood the task fully before commencing your answer – RTFQ

Eejit

It is so true that a fool and his money are easily parted – that fifteen yo-yo could have purchased three or four more plants – that Verbena…

Amadan

Even your six year old realises that none of sixth, seventh, thirteenth or fourteenth October are actually in SEPTEMBER

Silly Billy

You can try to convince yourself that it was a great nursery to visit and that you would not be in Dublin for either of the next two weekends and the cost of petrol is greater than 15 squid anyway, but you will be making a major assumption – making an ass (of) u (and) me

Twit

What is even worse is that if you had remembered the name of the one plant without label, you would not have needed to phone them today to ask what the plant was. So you would not have realised that they were closed on their ‘sale date’ – HA

Wake up and smell the flowers 

Simpleton

Please excuse my split personality taking their conversation to the internet………..

I am now going for a walk to find myself. If I return before I find me, keep me here, please

i havent really been on site this week, i got the cabbage blanched and a good start on the bulb planting, i have put them into pots in the tunnel til spring and like last year i will plant them out in spring. hopefully i can get it finished tomorrow. 

had a walk around the garden today and came across the first hellebore in the garden and the first carnation, have been watching these for ages to flower was delighted, there is loads more to flower so loads see yet.

the garden is full of gorgeous red leaves at the moment. the euonymus alatus compactus. will put up a small album of some plants looking good right now

Didn’t get out to the garden today until about 3.30, although Steve had more of an opportunity. Nowhere nearer ‘planting’ day. I hacked back the ivy on the dividing wall to the neighbours. Steve now has decided that the wall needs to be raised to take more soil (actually, I’m calling it ‘muck’ now). He will use boards to raise this. Another stumbling block, and another delay in my planting scheme. 

My garden is a mud bath right now. Didn’t get a chance to cut the grass as it is so wet and it was lashing here again this morning. And with both of us traipsing muck all over the place, it has now blackened. My hands are tied. Muck in the dining room, good job it’s floorboards. Muck all the way up the stairs. I want an outdoor toilet now. Spades, forks, trowels, mucky boots all lying up against the patio door. No point in putting them away at this stage. Otherwise things may be put on the long finger AGAIN.

Every day I go out, my silver birch is at a more horizontal position. Don’t want to lose this. Affixed a proper stake yesterday but obviously not secure enough. So sorted that out finally today.

Rant over.

On a more positive note though, I managed to cut back my climbing rose, still to be cleaned up. Might as well add to the mess. Ooooh, I did say ‘rant over’.

Tomorrow’s another day.

Certain people who I won’t name were supposed to be visiting Bay Garden today…… It was raining in Laois this morning but the forecast was that the rain was to clear so i decided to keep the appointment to see this renowned garden and headed off at about 12.15 to make the rendevous. The rain had stopped by then and the sky was beginning to brighten so I was full of optimism that I would be spending the afternoon in a lovely garden in congenial company! Alack and Alas! I was more than half way there when I got a text crying off because of a little bit of rain! I ask you!

Anyway, I continued on my way and was not disappointed by this truly special garden. I had looked at their website but was quite unprepared for what I found there. i suppose because I was seeing it on my own I had no distractions and took my time seeing the many interesting plants and exploring the interesting layout of the garden.

I was struck most of all by the really effective close planting and have got lots of inspiration for filling the gaps in my own garden, not to mention new areas to be covered in the future! I loved the boardwalk and summerhouse. This is how I originally wanted to do my own boardwalk but Brendan was nervous of people falling off the edges so we opted for a “safer” design!

The part that surprised me most was the Barn Garden – described as 

“The most recent addition. Inspired by European perennial planting, the naturalistic beds blend into the surrounding cornfields.”

I am not a great fan of Prairie Planting so was not expecting much from this part of the garden but as i was drawn in by the delightful meandering paths I was totally enchanted! So much colour! So many textures! As interpreted in this garden I can finally see why people get so excited about prairie style planting! 

Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet the owners of this great garden as they were away but I was well looked after by Michelle, and spent a really enjoyable afternoon there – and guess what? not a drop of rain! Unfortunately the sun waited until I was on the way home to come out so the photos are a little dark … and I hope the Sugar Babies managed to stay nice and dry !!!!!

Because the summers are often cold and rainy in Germany we decided to buy a glass pavilion kit last October to make the most of German summers. We found a round pavilion which can rotate on its axis. It’s made out of two half circular walls, each covering 180 degrees. The two walls can be moved around on two concentric circular tracks, each with the capacity to rotate 360 degrees. In this way we are prepared for all weather conditions.

 We have had also some dreadful weather here this year but in this way we are  prepared if you intend to visit us on your next trip to Germany.

On the way to the pavilion with Irish coffees and some pieces of apple pie.

just been told i have diabetes which has totally knocked me sideways.i have tried to keep positive but struggled. hopefully monday i will go out and do a bit. i will have to be more sensible about what i can do and not going without food all day, which is what i used  to do only living on a banana when i was making the beds earlier in the summer. 

i want to get some alliums and dafs and maybe some tulips, i have ear marked tuesday for getting some bits and pieces. i sent for some seeds of primulas from plant world cant wait will put up the names when i get them as there are a few that i cant remember the names of this is keeping me going have any of you dealt with this company?

To day was great, no rain, some sun and good temperature. Several things were done: strawberries transplanted into a piece of ground which was dug last week. This area was under onions early in the year. Another piece of ground beside it was dug and considering the weather forecast, it should be in good condition by Monday. One rose bed got some edging. a hole was dug for one of the roses in front. The soil will be moved to another part of the garden. Finally, five roses which were in the ground since September last, were lifted,  potted and watered. Next week, they will be planted out. I was pleased with the roots. 

i put this up before but i think its an amazing plant and i am sold on it totally.

-Don’t laff! Two people have advised him to do so, three if one includes Dooley! It will be entitled,  ‘Gardening in all Humility’ and in the planning section there will be one word banned-that is ‘AND ’- as in ‘Today I shall go and weed the rockery and…’. No ‘Today I shall go and weed the Rockery’ That’s it. Because ‘Ands’ get one into complications and its to be a simple book. E.g. the first chapter might be entitled ‘I  too have mixed up Docks and dahlias’ and this would encourage people to do what they can-without ands.

All this played on what passes for my mind today as I planned to weed the rockery and—. Just before I began I thought I would strim a little bit left over from last time and ended up strimming a bank, another bank, the terraces, some of the Scrub, Elizabeth’s corner and under all the hedges! Strim ran out and I had to go into town to buy some. In the book Ill tell people to have everything ready before they begin!

Then I remembered Elizabeth 11 ie. (The second Elizabeth to visit my Garden).Both Elizabeths are wonderful people of course. –suggested that I make an archway between the big junipers/cypresses on the left on the way in ‘to make it an inviting way in’. So out came the loppers and shears and Elizabeth 11’s arch came into being.

Then?  Oh yes the Rockery. Back and spent the rest of the time getting about three what I call rock pools (no water) cleared of acres of creeper, bindweed, old day lilies that never did well, Vetch, forget me nots and acres of Herb Robert. There were two full tarpaulin loads went down to the Scrub and six o clock saw me with about 1/8^th of the rockery cleaned. So much for ‘and’! However tomorrow is another day so ill probably finish it and…

Two different flowers on the one plant.  I like it.

Clara called in over the weekend, always great to see her and as Aoife says she’s always in great form and laughing.

I was presented with a teracotta head planter, and to boot it was one I had my eye on as I had seen it around different places.

Well, you should have seen me here yesterday. Carrying it here, there and everywhere about the place.

I even have a perfect grass that will go in it,

but where to put it? that is the question.

Clare, many thanks.

PS we’ll make a gardener of Greg yet !!!!

This aeonium was not looking too good a few months back, after an attack by some tiny insects and winter spent outside, but it recovered really well after a little TLC. It looks much better now!

you volunteer to wash a few teddies for the shoebox charity 🙂 We round these up from people attics, garden fetes and charity shops then give them a whirl in the washing machine to make them nice and fresh. If you have any spare soft toys or small toys I’ll bet your local shoebox team would love to hear from you!

Don’t half sound posh ……………….

but it is far from it.

Last January I picked up lots of Cyclamen plants, a tray of four plants was 50c. GracedieuLass suggested they would do well in a dry spot.

So I planted them along the crazy paving beside the Laylandii hedge in Angela’s corner. They seem to like the  spot as the first flowers are appearing and lots of buds are showing also.

Hopefully they will spread over time.

Thanks Mary for the suggestion.

I love cacti so decided to try and grow them from seed. I sowed them a good few weeks ago, and the germination takes something from a few days to a few hundred days according to the package! Anyway, a few of them started growing and seem to be doing reasonably welll, I’ll see if more appear. Im not too sure when I should take the little seedlings and put them in their own pot, if anybody has got experience on this, I’m happy to hear! The photos are not great as they are still tiny and my camera does not work on such close close-ups! 

Hi all. I grew this Brugmansia from seed last year and planned to put it in the Poison Garden this summer. As summer never came it was kept indoors and is now showing me it’s appreciation for that! 

We are running out of space in our glasshouse. I think it’s nearly time to be bringing in our citrus trees…….may have to rethink and reorganise.

Hydrangea ‘Vanille Fraise’ bought in Johnstown in Jan, Keego (Mary) told me it was a good one on Jimi Blakes recommendation so I trusted her even though it was my first time meeting her, I am glad I did trust her, it has a lovely white head which apparently changes to deep red with age which I am looking forward to seeing!!  The plant is only small yet but has lots of promise…………..

Well home today from 4 days in Co. Clare, what a beautiful County. Can’t get over that I have had to water the pots as the Clare weather was not so clement as here though yesterday was wonderful.  We stayed at Spanish point where the waves rush in and it is fantastic. Oh Scrubber how you would love the rocks so gorgeous !  Did all the touristy things though must admit I chickened half way into the Ailwee caves it was so bloomin dark and roof so low so out I came to wide open spaces.  We went to Caher bridge gardens where Carl spent over 2 hours showing us around and explaining all about it, wonderful garden so different in many ways. And all the walls and features he built himself not to mention having to bring in all the soil in the garden as it is basically stone/rock.  I am so glad to have been there , and  Carl kindly gave me pieces of two hardy Geraniums that I  had wanted for a while and some other treasures. I will put up  some photos later .  Then on the way home I called to Cuan Muire to pick up some plants Deborah had put aside for me. It is a lovely place with a shop that is impossible to resist so some fairies and toadstools were added to my plant collection.  I got Kniphofia John Benary  that I wanted and also Clematic tanguitica I had been looking for, Achillea Red Velvet , Primula beesianana, couple of Cyclamen, and of course the Calycanthus.  I know that there were other plants that I will regret leaving behind but  I had to get back on the road again and head for home.  So it was a lovely break with a very close friend and tomorrow I collect Meg and Maisie from their hols. and the family will be complete . Then back to endless weeding but some planting as well.  Oh there was a film crew staying in the Hotel making a film called The Yank and we got friendly with some of them , most interesting but I did resist taking a starring role!!!!

In spite of the poor summer with its low light and above average rainfall i have an abundant crop of rose hips this year. They are the size of small tomatoes. They really stand out in the sunlight (when it happens)

I posted a photo of this a few weeks back, an did not get an answer, some suggestions alright.

So if anyone can help now as the flower buds are appearing, I would be very thankful.

When taking photos yesterday I saw a gigantic caterpillar, it was the scariest one I have ever seen, it was about 4inches long and looked really wierd, has anyone else ever seen one like him???

~The only good thing about him was that he was munching on weeds so I thought maybe he is a good guy

We got  gift of a rhodo in March. it flowered soon after.

When out watering last evening, I noticed that it is starting to flower again.

Is tis normal?

Is this official recognition that the summer was actually winter?

Had a bad fall last week so no gardening done but having a look at what I have and have to do .

I need to move a few things as all are in the wrong place , as some are getting bigger than I thought so I am taking down what I have to move and to where , great weather for gardening from a distance but nearly there and will be ready soon with the help of Hubby who has been great …. but no Fran he will not be a Gardener.

Happy  gardening in this lovely weather.

i swore i would’nt buy anymore bulbs but that failed badly, i just couldnt resist them in lidl and horkans and dunnes, they are hidden in the bottom of the wardrobe until i am ready to plant them. 

i had only planned on getting a blueberry bush which i did pick up and planted it as soon as i got home and watered it with rain water.