Month: September 2012

Leucothoe walteri ‘Rainbow’ is turning nicely now. Off next week so I hope to get this finally planted into my Acid Triangle that is no longer a triangle!!! It will look well with the foliage of the blueberries.

And if I don’t manage to get the new area planted up at the weekend, I can do it at my leisure when I’m off. No pressure. 

Gotcha!

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.

… 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!

I put up some new phtotos of my garden today…

Douentza, September 2012

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!

Not Ferns again I can hear you say.

But Martin and myself are on a mission here  LOL

This I think is my favorite (to date)  ;-))

Please tell me that the tall thin plant in the middle of this bad photo is Paradisea liliastrum?

The bud isn’t open yet.

Mary and Paddy gave me an enormous clump of this plant for my Open Day last August and I planted it here. I thought I had killed it.

I am really hoping that this is it!

Anyone for pomegranate?

Today was a lovely sunny day. I remembered what Jimi Blake had said to me about September having the best light for photos so out I went to the garden with the camera.

The first thing I noticed was that my Magnolia grandiflora is covered in buds. It took a very long time to establish but now it is beginning to look like a half decent tree.

As I walked about I realised that some areas needed weeding. It’s all very well not cutting back, deadheading or edging but you can’t really neglect the weeding or the whole place goes to pot! So out I went.

I decided the best thing was to weed the area near the greenhouse. It’s where I go regularly and it’s depressing to see weeds so I did that. While I was weeding I thought I might as well do the edges – it’s often the easiest way to weed up to the grass. Then, of course, I started cutting back, trimming hedges and doing all sorts!

The other area I prioritised was the nerine corner. I noticed nerines in bud this morning and it would be a terrible shame for them not to look their best. So I weeded that corner and edged it and trimmed. I have a whopping eight nerines in bud this year. And there are many more bulbs there that will flower next year. Maybe my nerine corner will live up to its name one day!

The chill of autumn is definitely in the air today and I have put the winter duvet on the bed. But I think this plant will not survive the winter despite its furry coat:)

This photos was taken at the end of August and it has put on more leaves since and looks great, just havnt taken a photo. I saved seeds before I cut off the flower stems so hopefully will have a plant next year too.

I reduced this poor, sad, sausage from €7.99 to 50c today, and bought it. It has lovely aromatic foliage. But if anyone has any experience on how it’s grown to perform at its best, I’d love to hear about it.

……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???

just because I love it.

Steve bought me 8 different varieties of Hippeastrums during the Tall Ships Festival in August. I potted up 4 of them on 5th September. One of them, which I suspect may be white, stands now at almost 17 inches, and has three flower stems. While I was out at work today, it has made up its mind that it may open within the next few days. Can’t wait to see this one.

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!

I wasn’t going to bother putting up photos from my Dargle Cottage visit but Mary’s last comments have motivated me to do so.

The reason why I wasn’t going to put the photos up was that I came away very deflated from the visit and I didn’t want to appear ungrateful to Jimi who was kind enough to invite me.

And the reason I was deflated was because I felt I could learn nothing from this garden.

Usually I learn something whenever I visit a garden, even gardens I don’t like. But, with Dargle Cottage, the emphasis was on architecture (of the hard, rather than plant,  type), impressive statues and ornaments and generally things that cost a whole lot of money.

The solutions employed to deal with the different levels, especially down the cliff face, were all beautifully implemented. The wrought metal work was fabulous and I had only ever seen an infinity swimming pool in magazines before last Sunday. But, of course, I could never copy any of that.

The summerhouse (one fo the few listed buildings from the 1970’s) was built under the premise that it should take up the least amount of garden space possible. It is suspended and only a fifth of it touches the ground. The summerhouse is guarded by a very beautiful and scary Queen Maeve, with elongated legs and a pert ass. And there was a suspension bridge too – great fun to cross, except for poor Jimi who is suffering from suspected Vertigo!

But the piece I felt the most affinity with was the waterfall by the house. It was clothed in a roaring-red Virginia creeper and it was just spectacular. I think Ali liked it too 🙂

There were some beautiful old trees too but, as the garden is currently only maintained by two gardeners, the herbaceous planting could have done with more attention.

It was all lovely but give me gardens that are about the plants in future please! I am just a humble gardener and not up to this sort of thing!

Dargle Cottage, Enniskerry

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 

Slipped on a step yesterday, pulled my neck some way and I’m like an old robot walking about the place.

Did take some photos of flowers still blooming in the garden, will add album. No names added as quite sore on neck to keep left arm up. Doing this one handed and have enough.

Lovely day, but a real chill in the wind.

I can’t seem to get motivated with the garden since my return! The weather and the long grass don’t help.

Should I continue to deadhead or let plants run to seed for collection? Should I bother to cut back and edge when autumn is coming on anyway? I’ve started shutting my greenhouse door at night now – keep the warmth in for the orchids.When will my orchids flower? So many questions, so little motivation!

I do have some nice things coming to flower in the greenhouse though.

I visited Dargle Cottage last Sunday. Must sort out the photos!

Here is another beauty that looks good through the winter

I didn’t manage to get anything done this evening. But Steve was home from work early and got more of yesterdays work done. Every little helps. Wow, I picked FIVE ripe tomatoes today. Things are looking up. 🙂 A bit of a nip in the air today.

This evenings sunset was really nice.

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

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