Johndamian's Garden

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My house is built on one third of an acre facing the sea which is about 600 meters away.. In the front a lawn sweeps down to the road with no wall or hedge in the way. At the back there are three areas....a steep bank of red sandstone clay and rock on which I have managed to establish through trial and error a variety of hardy shrubs, including Senecio, Veronica, Escallonia, Potentilla, Rock Rose, Mahonia Japonica, Cotoneaster, Privet, Olearia and many others. Above the bank I have another "Lawn" which is really a mown piece of field behind a beech hedge,but is very private and is where we like to sit or the children to camp. To the side of this is my vegetable and fruit plot. This is in the early stages of development as I have just recently retired but I plan to have strawberries, Gooseberries, blackcurrants, loganberries, raspberries and apples as well as peas, beans,potatoes and some brassicas. The most prominent feature of the garden is not my doing.I am lucky enough to back on to a public woodland with access and have a huge oak tree leaning over the garden and a collection of fine pine tress with a rookery....very noisy at times but great company. We built the house 15 years ago but it is only recently that I have found time to really concentrate on the garden and I am enjoying it so much.

Journal

May 14th 2010.

14 May 2010 20:38:52

Sorry that I have not been in touch. I have been dipping in from time to time to see what Gerry's advice is and to see what you are all doing. I adopted two little pups and they have been keeping me occupied and destroying the garden but I think I have them under control now. At six months of age I can't expect too much.

My school garden project has been a great success so far. I will take some pictures over the weekend and explain what we are doing. The parents have entered into the spirit of the thing and are giving their children real encouragement as well as starting little plots in their own gardens.

Diana 14 May 2010 22:17:10

What a great thing to do for the children. Hopefully it will give them the love of gardening for life. I know it did me. It was a few more years ago than I care to remember but the teachers name was Mr. Richardson and he was terrific. Hopefully your pupils will remember you in years to come with the same thankfulness.

Johnplotman 15 May 2010 08:39:54

You will have all those young school children,good gardeners John.I had a small girl of six years of age down doing some sowing earlier in the week.You may have them already John,but if not what i let a group of young gardeners [relations] do was to start some carrots called Rainbow.They will come up in different colours.Great to encourage young children to gardening.Good luck again.

Johndamian 15 May 2010 21:35:18

Thank you both for your encouraging comments. I never heard of rainbow carrots. They are bound to cause a stir. I will look for them on Monday.

unagrant 17 May 2010 11:01:30

It's a lovely idea for the school. Good luck with it all.

November 2nd.

02 November 2009 14:00:03

a challenging site.

We got the small plot tilled before the rain came this morning. So the daffs will go in at the next chance. The bigger plot is very narrow and long with two ESB poles that will not be moved. I suppose they present an opportunity for climbing plants....?

fran m 02 November 2009 14:52:18

John, if the veg are going into the above site, put wires accross the ESB poles and grow peas or beans on themm

Dahlia 02 November 2009 19:31:06

Thats a brill idea Fran, i wonder is it allowed, eventhough i see a lot of climbers trained on poles.it would be a great way on saving space as the plot looks small.

Johnplotman 02 November 2009 20:19:17

Along with what Fran says John,maybe around the pole you could also try a wigwam of bamboo canes for either of those veg mentioned,and maybe a light piece of timber on the railings in places to allow you support more of the bamboos along the way for some tomatoes.

Johndamian 03 November 2009 11:23:46

I think you are all correct about using the poles for growing vegetables . At least they will not get as tall as a clematis or similar climber . Im reluctant to use the railings as there is a public footpath outside and I would like to keep things out of arms reach but tomatoes would be lovely. The plot is small Dahlia. It is only 2meters-80 cm wide but it is 18 meters long.

Mairin 26 December 2009 17:49:11

Clever idea about the veg. But be careful as the ESB are a bit pricky about people near "their property".

November 1st.

01 November 2009 23:26:17
One of my infrequent entries. Haven't even visited the site for days....Halloween, Children home from college, visitors etc. I have been asked by my local primary school to help get them started with their first school garden. We have dug over a nice sized plot near the front of the school and tomorrow I will be arriving with compost and we will dig it in. Then later in the week all the children will plant their own daffodil bulbs and look forward to a lovely show in Spring. The staff have set aside a long narrow plot for vegetable and fruit growing. This we will have to work and feed to have it ready for the new year. They have requested raised beds for each of the four classroom units. There will also be room for Herbs and annuals. I am going to give the children a selection of crops to choose from before making up a plan. Has anyone any idea of the best veg and fruit to grow, taking into account that we need to see some results before the end of June and . Also are there crops I should avoid, I am already ruling out plants with sharp thorns. I will take some pictures tomorrow.

Joybells 02 November 2009 01:01:44

Johndamien, Radish and 'cut and come again' lettuce would be quick and succesful for children to grow. Beetroot and strawberry plants, peas and dwarf runner beans...all quick and easy...sounds like a brilliant project...best of luck!

Cloncaw 02 November 2009 01:03:24

What a great idea to get children into growing their own,understanding where their food comes from, learning so much about nature and gaining life skills.

Jacinta 02 November 2009 07:39:11

Great stuff John. That should you keep you out of trouble for a while, ha ha.

Johndamian 02 November 2009 11:38:18

A parent met me at the school this morning and said he would drop in, a load of farmyard manure later in the week. O Lord! what have I left myself in for?

Gismo1981 02 November 2009 13:44:54

Great idea a lot of the schools in Laois are invovled in the Green Schools and have garden areas. I think its a great learning experience for them :O)

Dahlia 02 November 2009 16:27:29

John thats a great gift to get, but i can see where you are coming from, good luck, the children are very fortunate to have you teach them these lifeskills. They will remember the practical learning longer.

Rachel 02 November 2009 17:37:05

Great stuff, John. I've had some involvement with the local school's growing project. Second and third class have grown vegetables for two years running in raised beds. I think you already have the suggestions for what to grow. However, I would also recommend pumpkins, provided someone will come and water over the summer. It's nice for the kids to have something to look forward to in their plot when they come back in September. Our local school kids garden in pairs. It's so funny to see kids actually fight over peas when normally parents can't get anything green into them : ) Best of luck. Oh, and don't foget to keep back-up plants to surreptitiously replace the ones that die!

Johndamian 02 November 2009 19:50:14

Thanks for the suggestions. The back up plants could be vital. I have noted Joybells' list . We will have to contend with two ESB poles in the garden. I presume we can grow runner beans on them or perhaps Clematis.

October 15th. 09.

15 October 2009 12:28:45

My brother gave me a present of some Bergenia Cordifolia on Tuesday (He was tidying up his garden). I planted them yesterday. I love those big leaves and the pink flowers are very welcome in spring. I planted a cherry (Stella) and a plum (Victoria) this morning along with a few additions to my soft fruit patch...more blackcurrants and gooseberries. This weather is wonderful and I am trying not to waste any opportunity without overdoing things. I used to have a lovely clump of Stachys "Lambs ears" but for the last two years it has looked ugly. I have cut it down and fed it but it looks neglected. Perhaps I will dig it all up...divide and replant in a different area.Any suggestions?

Krista 15 October 2009 12:46:05

I've got some fresh Stachys from cuttings this year. My daughter calls it "rabbits years" and strokes it everytime she sees it(she's almost 3). It roots and grows incredibly fast so I would suggest to take some cuttings and by next spring you will have young beautiful plants to plant out. I think old stachys always looks a bit shabby.

Mairin 16 October 2009 00:38:15

I agree with Krista - those cuttings would grow practically anywhere.

Jacinta 16 October 2009 23:05:49

Did you get those fruit bushes in Aldi, John. I sent my Dad to get them for me while I was in work and they were all gone. I was looking for the Stella cherry. Ah well, maybe next year.

october 1st 2009

01 October 2009 21:40:23
Today I dug over the ground on which the peas and beans grew this year. I may put the potatoes there in the Spring. Some of the strawberry plants are fruiting again. An indian summer indeed.

sparrow 01 October 2009 21:50:56

Welcome to the gardens.ie site. Had a look at your photos. Your garden is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing more photos.

spider 01 October 2009 22:05:04

Welcome to garden.ie. looking forward to seeing more of your garden endeavours during the year

Jacinta 01 October 2009 22:28:46

Welcome to Garden.ie John. I love your sumac in your 'untidy corner'. If thats untidy, I must never let you see my 'tidy'.

Joybells 02 October 2009 00:02:02

Welcome, John, love 'the bank' and the strawberries in Oct. are'nt half bad either!

Clara 02 October 2009 07:14:49

WELCOME ,JOHN TO GARDEN.IE LOVE YOUR PHOTOS.

Johnplotman 03 October 2009 00:09:23

Welcome,to the garden.ie club John.

Gismo1981 12 October 2009 23:41:33

welcome, lovely pictures :O)

Clara 13 October 2009 00:20:33

Thank you John for inviting me as one of your Garden.ie friends hope you enjoy this site as much as we all do and get so much from it happy gardening

Rachel 15 October 2009 11:50:23

Super photos, John. I've just looked at the first 10 in your autumn album come in. Your bank looks so inviting in autumn, just as good as in summer but different. Love the echium too - I suppose it's quite mild where you live!

And welcome to the site.

Myrtle 15 October 2009 12:22:34

Beautiful photos and a really lovely garden. Enjoy the site

Johndamian 14 May 2010 20:29:03

May 14th. 2010

I have not gone away. I have been dipping into the site frequently to see what Gerry's advice is and to see what you all are doing. Sorry for not communicating. The school garden project is a great success so far and this was the hardest season as it had to be transformed from a dry ,rocky, rubble filled plot into something that would encourage one to plant vegetables. I'll get some photos in the next day or so to show you. I adopted two little puppies in January and they have been taking up a lot of my time. Added to that I have had to be sensible about what I can grow and where, just for the first year. I think that they are under some sort of control now but at almost 6 months, I can't expect too much from them.