Rachel's Journal

Sounds like a great day Rachel.

You'll need to get Jurgita to knit you a pair of Vermillion socks to match your new gardening coat though.  ;o)

Pity i missed it, but there is always a next time. Joann mentioned a visit ito Woodville gardens in galway on feb 26th i think,so i hope to point my mer mer in that direction....:-)

I'm afraid the earlier part of the day was not as planned for me. Just after entering the garden we met Paul Cutler who is head gardener at Altamont. I had a book to give Paul and he and I share an interest in snowdrops, particularly in Irish snowdrops and have been trying to establish a collection at Altamont over the last few years. Paul took me on a speedy tour of some of the Irish snowdrops to show me how they were going. Then I set off in pursuit of the group, around the lake, down the glen, along the riverbank and up the 100 steps, only to find them back up at the house as they hadn't gone down to the river at all. Anyway it was a good step out for me.

We spent some time in the garden centre but were disappointed that there were no hellebores on display, bought a few things and moved on to lunch which I enjoyed very much - the food was fine but the chat and laugh was great.  

Mary and I went back to the gardens after lunch for a run around and a another visit to the garden centre because we saw that Guy de Schriver - Field of Blooms, near Nenagh, - was delivering plants. 

We got a nice double very clear white hellebore and an Irish snowdrop which I had been looking for - a large G. elwesii.

Great to meet everybody, lovely to have the chat and good company as we went around the garden.

Mary says to thank Rachel for the lovely orchid - it will be well cared for. She also says to remind Rachel to drop down before all the snowdrops are gone here.

Paddy 

Oh, Oh, Oh, a bank card - not sure if it was a credit card or what - was foung in the gardens at Altamont today and I was asked if it  might be one of our group. 

 The name on the card was "Phelan".

It is being held at the gardens so if relevant contact them.  

Paddy 

Sounds like you had a good time, Rachel, and in good company.

Sorry I missed it, you got a lovely day even if cold.

Lovely to meet you and the group Rachel, we had a most enjoyable day.  I'll post a journal and photos shortly.

Lord Paddy you are one fit man to do that round at speed. And how thoughtless of that bunch not to realise that Paul would of course relish the opportunity to meet and catch up with  a real live irish Galantophile! You couldnt possibly waste yur time on idle gossip or sock matching-lovely though they were! Ye all seem to have had a ball. So glad ye had. So sorry i missed it.

I really enjoyed the day, thank you one and all.

Sounds like you all had a really 'fun' day.

By the way, that card must be mine. The full name is 'Phelan like spending'. I hope it's ready for me tomorrow!!! 

Thank you Fran

I could do with those socks,iv got terrible chilblains!

Tina apparently you should pee on them, the clilblains not the socks.  I was really envious of the socks as my tootsies were freezing.  Thanks all for making it a lovely day.

Yes, Anne, I have also heard of urine as a treatment for chilblains. A friend of mine years ago had them on her fingers. She was in an awful state and so young. So she started peeing on them, and there was a remarkable improvement over about 4 weeks.

Rachel so glad for those socks we will never need to p... on our toes they are so cozy . We had a lovely day with a lovely lot of people once again .

I ruined the socks Jurga knit for me. I put them into the washing machine and they shrunk!!!

Tina, "Daktarin" cream is really good for chilblans

Rachel sounds like a fab day - I need to move ........

Rachel sounds like a fab day - I need to move ........

I could have done with a pair of those sock my feet were freezing good to see everyone today :-)

Bill you may be pleased to know John told us at lunch he had bought a hornbeam on your advice and he was delighted with it. 

Sound you had great day,and lucky you,you had sun!

  Poor Paddy,I remember them 100 steps :)))

Anne did he really? when did I do that I wonder??  would have had to have been on the site? strange one?

No I think Bill when ye were walking through the 'beech walk' and he told us he'd lost some eucalyptus you must have suggested it, or else at the plant sales area when we were looking at the trees.  He's delighted with it anyway and got a good specimen.  I wish I'd know myself that the trees on sale would be so good, I might have had a little list.  As it was I was delighted with the one purchase I made; a good sized fastigate yew for 12.50.

Ah right thanks Anne I think he admired beech but ground was too wet for beech so suggested hornbeam instead.  Did'nt buy anything as I had to rush off maybe I need to go down again :-)

Thats v interesting thanks Bill, my ground is very wet also, maybe I should look out for hornbeam too, I didn't know it would be suitable.