Month: March 2014

Big disaster yesterday!

Our cat, Hugo, managed to knock down the orchids on the kitchen window sill (about 8 big ones).

It’s the first time he’s ever done that and admittedly one big orchid was quite wobbly but I couldn’t believe it when I came in and saw the mess.

Amazingly none were broken!

Having an Open Day on Sunday, the 27th of April.

All forumites in Garden.ie are very welcome. Garden is 9 miles directly south of Limerick City, north west of Skule Hill. I hope you won’t be disappointed. The garden is smallish. (The pond is biggish.     )

Still trying to ID this plant.

I thought it was a Euphorbia bought at Mount Venus for some reason, I have gone through their plant list, nothing like it there. Going through all made plant lables recently helped in no way at all LOL

Thinking now, maybe someone gave me it. 

But I still have the idea it came from Mount Venus, so I will bring a piece of it up to them as soon as I can.

Thanks folks.

I’m waiting for Breakfast!!

Today I spent a fabulous afternoon with two really fantastic plantswomen, Assumpta Broomfield and Megan Morris. They were on a mission to visit the location of the original colonly of Galanthus ‘Emerald Isle’, a rather rare snowdrop that Megan discovered on a Co. Limerick farm almost 30 years ago. Assumpta had travelled from Co. Laois and Megan from Cappaquin in Waterford, as I said they were women on a mission. Luckily for me I’m local and I was asked to tag along. I’d been to see these snowdrops some years back, but Assumpta had only ever seen other peoples photos of them, so she was quite excited. She is currently lecturing on the origins of Irish snowdrops, so it is imperative that she gets to see them all with her own eyes. 

I’ve had one of those rare whirlwind days when so many things happen at once and I am only back in from a night on the town with my shoebox gang. Exhaustion has hit, but I didn’t want to go to bed without sharing a few pics of my day with Assumpta, Megan and Galanthus ‘Emerald Isle’

Gardens are not just about plants, in my opinion. I think that ornaments play a vital role here too, whether they evoke feelings of tranquility, nostalgia, tackiness or just pure fun. They basically reflect the gardeners personality. I’ve put up an album of a few that are dotted around my garden. One can never have enough.

Still working my way through the various borders as the weather allows. Nice bit done at this stage and it is great to see things making an appearance and the evenings staying that bit brighter.

I have put up some garden shots.

‘’I felt a bit sorry for you today Mr. Scrubber’’. ‘Did you, Cherub Cymbals? That was very kind of you. Was there a particular reason? (Lately Cherub Cymbals has become quite chatty. He usually waits until late evening when I am coming up from the scrub and even then it’s in a very quiet voice almost as if he doesn’t want Cherub Lute to overhear him.)

‘ Mr Scrubber, you lost that big branch and then that had to be cut up and you had your sore wrist and then you had to tidy up all the branches and there was a lot.’ Cherub Lute’s vice chimed in-a little sardonically perhaps? ‘And then you had to go to the Snowdrop Gala in Mrs Jupes, and down to Mr. Paddy’s talk and also all the way up to Burtown House’ ‘Yes ‘ continued Cherub Lute earnestly-not realising that Cherub Lute was being ironic ‘And you didn’t get out to garden because of the rain and the floods’. ‘And then when you did, Mr. Scrubber you weren’t gardening like say Mrs Rachel or Mrs Myrtle or Mrs Elizabeth or Mr. Fran or Mr. Rhody or Mr. Peter. You were shifting rocks and raking leaves’ this last again from Cherub Lute!

‘Well Cherub Cymbals thank you again but Jim helped me with the tree. –‘alot’ added Cherub Lute. ‘Yes’, I continued ‘and we were able to add a lovely edging to the path. And I was able to clear all the branches away quite easily. Also you may remember Jim cut down two old thorn trees for me and then that helped make a nice vista. (Snort from Cherub Lute, which was ignored). And I did fail to shift that huge rock in the path-had to refill the hole- but found another that could be shifted and it had a wonderful flat base which fitted the wall in Marian’s bed and put another large one at the end of the vista walk (fixing a strong gaze at Cherub Lute all the while). Remember we transplanted a few snowdrops in there to soften the edge. And then I was lucky enough to get some lovely large primula at a very good price in the Arboretum-and they filled the buxus boxes in the front and a few more down in the Scrub,so I suppose that would be proper gardening as Mrs Hazel does.’ Yes, Mr. Scrubber , but you had to spend nearly all day today putting those plastic flower pots into sacks!’ ‘Yes Cherub but now the place is clean and tidy and we wont have any of Mrs Elizabeth’s ‘squirrels’ around and since there are now only a few pots left something might get sown in them’ AND, I remembered ‘I did get quite a large section of the long border and eileen’s bed weeded’ .’So reallyCherub Cymbals there’s really no need to feel sorry for Mr. Scrubber. ‘Well what about your wrist then?’-Cherub Lute again. ‘Elastic bandage, tightly wrapped, worked wonders, wrist fine!’ ‘But it was nice of you both to ask.’

I didn’t mention the new quartz rock that my son in law kindly loaded into the car yesterday or the lovely demi -standard pink roses that found their way into the boot of my car when it was parked at  Glanbia. I had reassured Cherub Cymbals that although there was a lot of ‘housekeeping ’done over the past few weeks it hadn’t dulled my pleasure. And of course, every day there was the miracle of the snowdrops. So there really  was no need to feel sorry for Scrubber- though it did show a very thoughtful side to Cherub Cymbals!

These Ricinus Seedlings have just taken off, i only posted about these barely emerging 3 days ago. It’s insane how fast these are growing, i imagine i will have to pot on soon. Still mostly wet here altough i got some of the grass cut today but will do more tomorrow if it stays dry.

After coming home from a most enjoyable visit to Fran’s yesterday, I just had time to get out the camera and take a few more photos for the January-February and Garden Views albums before February ended.

Clare (Clara) gave me this lovely perennial iberis a year or so ago and it has settled well into the driveway border in the front garden and started to spread.  I forgot when I planted it that there were crocuses nearby, some of which it has now surrounded.  I like the accidental combination. 

After my few days away the garden had really taken off, loads of daffs of course, but other things too, Anemone blanda, Primula “Quaker Bonnets” and to my surprise even the Ceanothus!

When you want something done, you do it yourself. The blade part of the spade is now heating up on the open fire to burn out the remnants of the old, broken handle. Does Steve not realise that I wanted this, like, YESTERDAY!!!!!

This seems to have been planted in clumps in the woodland area in the park, it is a plant that I dont know at all but Fran had mentioned it recently. It seems like great groundcover if you have a large area. A lovely shaped leaf and now in flower.

well it was until around 3 when it got cooler and started to rain. but it didnt bother me as i was in the tunnel since 1, i got a tray in aldi and it got its road test and it was brill , must pick up another one on thursday, i couldnt be as naughty as i usually am as himself was with me and as it is the eyes went to the heavens when he saw the tray going in the trolley with the usuall what do you want that for. my reply was for the tunnel dear, enough said ha ha.

my primulas came from johnstown during the week so i potted them up and actually got two plants out of one so they only cost me 2 euro each now that is good maths as far as i am concerned. primula avoca, primula inishfree, primula claddagh. primula francisca 

i also got cuttings of cornus midwinter fire so these can root away now and i will have decent plants for this time next year. i also want to take cuttings of my hebes for extra plants for next year, might get this done tomorrow 

i repotted all my primuals that i grew ast year from seed so they can take off and then will be put into the new area, repotted the following primulas primula pulverulenta, primula alpicola alba and the dark blue, primula bessiana, primula viallii ( just in case you hadnt noticed i am a primula addict), these were all grown last year from seed also repotted lobelia cardinalis, and callistemon red and yellow all grown from seed last year, just have a small bit to do, plus pot up a few other bits that i got in aldi last week. came across a pot that was infested with vinewevil yuck, i will have to treat all my pots in case the eggs are  in the compost and didnt spot them, that is the first job tomorrow i have the stuff and it worked on my cordylines late last year. then i can concentrate on doing some outdoor work if the weather allows ie prunning and tiding borders, alot to be done if the weather decides to settle down for a while 

No gardening done today, which is a shame given the weather we had, but it was a very busy Saturday. At some point this morning when I was coming into the house I noticed that a lot of primulas in the front garden are in flower or about to flower, including the Polyanthus Gold Laced, so grabbed the camera for a few quick pictures.

I planted some primulas into that bed a few years ago, and they are very happy there, so much so that they multiplied quite a bit. The only one that is keeping very compact is the Gold Laced (even though I wouldn’t mind it multiplying a bit 🙂 I discovered one that I didn’t know I had, and cannot remember having planted there, so I’m confused. When they self-seed, can they grow a different colour? That one is of a lovely pale pink with a yellow heart, very delicate colour (first picture). I will try and take a better picture when more flowers are open.

Sorry about all of the primula journals or photos of primulas, I think that I am a bit obessed with them! I forget a little about them during the summer, but really love to see them appear with spring. Perhaps it’s a reminder of my childhood, when I used to pick up loads and loads of wild primulas in fields and on grassy banks around my house.

Great day here in the Capital. At 5.00am this morning I was sowing Cabbage ‘Red Mammoth’ seeds, Watermelons, and radishes with a difference. They look like long white carrots. Haven’t grown these before but I have the seed a couple of years so hopefully they will germinate, and actually thrive.

At one stage today I was out there without my fleece. Got to work immediately hacking away to neaten all (well, most of) my edges. My edges are encroaching on the existing lawn. And with the North-facing border I had to be careful to actually leave enough space for the lawn-mower to fit through. This new border, at its widest point, measures about 12 ft. Music to my ears. And I have lots more to plant there too. When the weather warms up a bit more I will sow grass seed where the muck was thrown over the existing lawn.

Basically that was the sum content of my days work outdoors. But the place looks soooo much better. Now I’m NOT ashamed to post a few photos of my garden. Mind you, if I had a spade it would make life a lot easier. So much more work to be done, but that’s for another day (maybe tomorrow).

A good start to March. Cheers, everyone!

Two lectures that maybe of interest to members on the site that are living  within a reasonable distance from Waterford.

5th March, 2014.

Anne McKeon from Barna Co. Galway, a garden designer will give a talk entitled ‘Planning and Planting your Garden’. Anne also runs a garden design school and on a visit last year to Galway members of Waterford Garden Plant Society were lucky enough to visit Ann’s beautiful garden.

2nd April, 2014.

The ever popular Deborah Begley from Co Limerick (Garden.ie. member) returns to the club with a new talk entitled ‘Gardening with Sensational Plants’. A glimps into the weird and wonderful world of a plantaholic. Deborah will have plants for sale from her nursery, Terra Nova Plants.

Meetings take place at St Joseph and Benildus Parish Centre, Newtown, Waterford at eight o’clock. Large car park behind the hall. Members free and non- members five euro.

These are the last two talks until autumn but lots of Spring/ Summer garden visits over the next few months starting with a visit to Co. Wexford on 27th April taking in   Kilmurry Nursery, Gorey.  

I will try and put up the last few later sorry but it keeps telling me there is an error. 

of yesterday, weatherwise ;-))

I know I go on about it all the time, but I love the shadows created by sun and bare trees that move accross the garden at this time of year.

Two of the plants in the Japanese planter seem to be struggling a bit. A little surprised at this as they are a moss like plant, Sagina, and I thought the winter we just had would have suited them. I’ll just have to wait and see.

Others have still to reappear, but the one I’m really happy to see is ok is the miniture, Larch ‘grey pearl’ buds are swelling and about to bust open.

Have a good one folks.

Finally I got my wall finished. My brilliant other half, Jimmy, was out there doing this thing and getting it all sorted. It’s great to have that bit of privacy back again plus loads more planting space. 

I had the little ladies here yesterday and Thursday so didn’t get much done. I’m hoping to get out today and attack the bed in these photos. I’ve lots of plants waiting in the wings ready for planting. So now it’s a case of what goes where and how things will look together. 

Im really looking forward to planting up all those plants I bought in Lidl for €1.29 ( and one or two more yesterday ssshhhhh).  I love this time of year and the days are definitely stretching out. You can see a huge improvement in the mornings too. 

Have a great day whatever you get up to 🙂 

Got these little hostas in Aldi last week and potted them up as soon as I got them home. They are almost lookng like they have been growing all summer with the growth they’ve put on in just one week.

Happy March to all!