Month: September 2012
NUI Maynooth History Forum are holding their first history conference in NUI Maynooth on Saturday 29 September on the topic of “The social transformation of nineteenth- century Ireland”. The venue is the John Hume Building on the North Campus and registration starts at 9.15 am. Cost is €25 to include a sandwich lunch. The conference will cover such topics as “politics and economics”, “communications and administration”, and “religion and education” with three short lectures in each module. All are welcome and the conference will be of interest to all you amateur and professional historians. See you there!
I will be giving one of the papers and there is the garden among Pugin’s buildings to visit.
I think the new plant in the garden always make me happy… but this one its not mine is my son’s birthday present from dear neighbour. He likes to see how much the plants grow compare his hight and plant’s…. well the Sacred Bamboo is going to grow up to 8 ft….
happy gardening to you.
i love the flavour of these alpine strawberries, the trick is to get them before the birds!
this photo was taken today on my phone, the plant is producing a second flush of
strawberries as you can see at the bottom of the pic, well done that plant.
I was given this plant today. The donor didn’t know what it was and had just potted up a seedling (or maybe a sucker). All I know is that it’s an outdoor plant. The colour may or may not be due to the season. He had another which had more green. Any ideas?
Also I bought a lemon grass plant last week at Mt Congreve. It was only 1.50 (Andy) so I said I’d take a chance on it. I only know lemon grass from Thai food and even a little nibble on the leaf is evocative of the yummiest of dishes. It looks though just like normal grass. How do people normally grow this? – please don’t say a pot as my dogs have enormous fun with pots.
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 🙂
I move this house plant outside each Summer.
Spotted a few flowers opening the other day,
one plant that is confused about what time of the year it is LOL
Boy, are my blueberries ripening fast and furious. Picking at least two breakfast bowlfuls every day. And the foliage is now changing to a gorgeous shade. They don’t seem to be bothered by birds at all this year, which can only be good for me!
by the thoughtfulness and generosity of people on this site.
Earlier this week I went to hear Deborah speak at a local garden club. No sooner was I in the door when Martin popped up out of his chair and said ‘Hosta, I have a fern for you’ . Never one to refuse plants I was delighted to get it and Martin told me it was one of only four from a batch of spores he had germinated himself.
Now, any of you who have been lucky enough to hear Deborah speak will be aware that you have to pay attention in order to win one of her prizes on offer. She always has a little quiz and as she says herself ‘you snooze, you lose’
I was able to answer one of the questions and got a lovely little parcel. This turned out to be a very useful pair of gloves. They will be put to good use I’m sure.
The talk and slide show were excellent as always, both insightful and light humoured.
It was lovely to see you both again and a big ‘thank you’ for the goodies 🙂
There are only a few Thursdays left in the open season at Mount Congreve. At this time of year the walled garden is the attraction though the woodland is still wonderful for a walk.
I have put up an album from a visit at the start of this month.
Mary.
Rachel, you gave me seeds of this plant but the label has faded in the seed tray and my I can’t remember which ones they are — somehow Agastache is in my mind .
If you can identify them I would be delighted ……..
Many thanks 🙂
A great plant to grow on top of a cave
To day was a special day for me. I had got a nice bit of work done in the garden yesterday and after that to day, I still have a lot of energy. Not a pleasant day to be outside to day but I really enjoyed the Camogie finals on TV. Both the junior, which finished in a draw and the senior which was won by the Model County against my favourite county, were thrilling. I have seen hurling matches, played by men, of course which would not compete with them. So I say well done Mná na hÉireann. People living in the Model County, such as Rachel, Bill, Liz, Pat, Linda and others must be pleased, although not all are natives of same. I hope to be back at the garden to morrow if the weather permits. I suppose if it is fine, I could get at the rockery, where everything grew to such an extent that some of the smaller plants were close on being smothered. Some of them, I would say are not suited to a rockery at all and of course the amount of rain we got during the growing season was abnormal. Sorry I have no photos to day, will try to make up for it.
No gardening done today. Instead we both spent the day shovelling at least a ton of muck/soil, and lovely soil it is too, behind the cave. It also had to be tamped down to reduce any air pockets. Not exactly a warm day, and very windy. But all the exertion had us in a permanent sweat. The level of soil is now half way up around the cave, and very close to my new planting opportunities. Hopefully we’ll get more done tomorrow evening. Plenty of beer breaks for Steve, to keep him motivated. Things are definitely on ‘the up’.
The pond itself may take a while yet, but at least the planting can get done before the colder months approach. It was such a pleasure to have finally finished my weekends in work until next year, so I could help Steve out with this mammoth project that he has undertaken. Will put up an album after dinner.
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
I was away for a few weeks on holiday, I know… my life is a holiday. I thought I would do some catching up and trim the edges of the beds today they are in a state, looked out and ..no not today..Why not you say…water is for washing or swimming and rain is for the flowers. Will watch the match and cheer on Wexford. By the way the Hibiscus is looking good this year.
Went to Straffan yesterday afternoon
(Pardon the pun but….) Splashed out on a water butt.
Maybe its appearance was the main selling point.
Maybe ability to place pots on top
But the smell from it definitely helped swing it
That said, the reused water tanks in the gardens at Straffan would be hard to beat
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……
I was just checking something in the diary on the laptop when I got a nice surprise.
Somehow, (age related I’m sure) I had gotten it into my mind that the Chris Bradshaw lecture I have a ticket for was in November.
It is on Wednesday 10 Oct. I am then off for 4 days and starting the Plantsperson Couse at Killmacuragh on the Saturday.
Sitting here on a wet Sunday morning about to head out to work, the step is a lot lighter with this in my mind.
Have a good one if the weather lets you ;-))
Well, aren’t I glad that Steve turned our Green Bin into a water butt last year. There has been so much rain that I have only ever had to use the outdoor tap and hose a handful of times . But at other times, this is what I have been using. It hasn’t frightened off any slugs or snails, though.
Today I went back to Heywood – this time with my visitng son Gerard. We again strolled in the lovely woodland created in the 17th century taking a different route to the one I explored with Elizabeth a week or so ago. Gerard spotted these strange trees where branches seem to be growing in to their neighbouring trunks. Does anyone have an explanation why this happens? Is the the hand of man intervening or do they just do this by themselves?
I’m really getting great enjoyment from visiting my local garden spots this year and appreciating their beauty.
I had to pass the rods through the back of the cave so Steve could guide them into the bored holes. The dark shadow in the photo is Steve’s backside overhead, sitting on the outside of the fibreglass cave! 🙂
And the ‘Eye in the Sky’ hovered above, just in case there was an emergency air-lift needed.
…..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:)
We were slow to get started this morning as I was having a rare lie-in. But when we did, we overcame a major step.
Steve bored holes into the two outside garden walls, and behind the back of the cave. These were for the purpose of inserting tie-rods, or anchors to stabilize and secure the cave. He drilled into the wall a couple of inches and filled with Hilti Hy 170, which is a chemical cement. The rod had to go through the cave wall to the other side and into the boundary wall. This was allowed to set, at all three points of the cave. When it was set, Steve was only then able to tighten the nuts to make it all hard and fast. Tomorrow will see the first load of soil being placed over the cave for planting. And Steve can continue to apply further layers of fibreglass underneath, to give added strength. True to his word, “It will be completed by the end of September” ie. tomorrow!!!!!!
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.
Aster time in the garden,
and don’t you just love them.
Well I do ;-))
