Last Post 3 days 10 hours ago
14 May 2013 23:21:10
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We have Communion on Saturday and have been busy trying to get the place in shape before the Big day so have not been on the site much. The weather has been very frustrating so much wind and rain but you get on with it - I took a few pictures and have put them in an album. Hope to have time next week to catch up with all the journals
04 May 2013 23:29:32
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Many of the IER'S who have been around a long time (you know who you are!!) will be aware of a SMALL project we embarked on a few years ago ( i say a few with tongue in cheek).
Potted history for newer ier's the project was putting in a number of ponds (5 in total) each one larger then the next on an island bed that was in the middle of our drive. The bed was originally planted with Christmas trees. The bed was on a slope and the idea was that one pond would flow into the next and so on. Once we had started putting in the ponds we very quickly realised we would have to take out all the trees. We then put a number of bog gardens in beside each pond. As the ground was not naturally wet we had to create bog gardens by using liner.
The next step in the process was to put a path in linking up the ponds with the bog garden. I am thrilled to report that this path has just been completed. All the work has been done by ourselves hence it has taken quite a long time, The path had to be cheap and so we used materials that we had availabe rather than buying paving slabs etc (which was the original pre recession idea).
I am very happy with the result. We have only one final thing to do in this area and that is to put in a seating area at the top of the bed as one of the best views is from this area. We have the table and seats but the ground needs to be dug, gravel put in and then we will use the same stones as we did in the path. So the project may have taken a few years but good things come to those who wait:)
30 April 2013 23:39:42
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These plants were happy to feel a bit of sun
29 April 2013 23:14:14
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I have a few Viburnums in the garden as they seem to do very well for me. This is one of my favoiurites. The scent from the white flowers is beautiful this time of year. The leaves are a lovely glossy green that turn to lovely hues in the Autumn.
Does anyone know which Viburnum this is?
28 April 2013 19:56:20
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This Auricula is definately having it's best year since I got it many years ago. I split it last year and made several bits of it and it (or the cold weather) I am not sure which has really done it some good. Loads of flowers on it this year. Can anyone tell me it's full name. It is a pretty common one I am fairly sure.
28 April 2013 19:20:16
Euphorbia Polychroma
I am not mad about yellow flowers normally but this one looked lovely in the sun shine yesterday. I was with Linda B when she recommended it to me at Johnston and I like it a lot thank you Linda
I wonder would anyone know where I could source 2 rustic Obelisk - You normally see them for sale at some of the shows I am trying to track down the name of anyone in Ireland who might sell them, any help appreciated,thanks
24 April 2013 23:06:09
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Had a quick walk around the garden this evening after work. It was wet but the growth even since the weekend is amazing. I read on someone's journal that there was not much slugs around well they must have all emigrated to Cavan because there was loads of the little blighters out this evening so be warned.
The primulas are starting to look good and I am really happy with the way this pulmonaria blue ensign has bulked up divided it last year and it has really done well since, the photo does not do it justice lovely intense blue with dark green leaves.
21 April 2013 18:57:34
salad leaves and Spring onions
My first salad of the season well chuffed - We have been buying salad leaves from the supermarket for the past few weeks no taste at all compared to these little leaves
20 April 2013 23:52:25
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Thank God a bit of growth finally in the garden.
Yesterday was bliss - It was Friday (my day off) the sun was shining (yipee) Kids were at school hubby at work and two or three uninterruped gardening hours.
Loads done loads to do but who cares when you get a day like this.
The heat on my back the birds singing the bees buzzing all is well in my world,
I hope you all managed to get a bit of time to enjoy your gardens.
On days like this it becomes so clear why gardening is our passion.
09 April 2013 23:09:07
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Like this one even before it opens
01 April 2013 23:06:19
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Whilst it is not weather for gardenig Gerry has been busy putting together a coldframe made from recycled materials that we had around the house. May not be as posh as Monty's but it will do the job just fine.
The top is made out of a an old shower door and a door from our old Kitchen. I reckon it will hold about 20 6 inch pots at one time so will give me extra space as it situated just outside the polytunnel door.
01 April 2013 22:35:00
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It is just too cold to do any gardening here - the East wind has been blowing for over three weeks now and growth is stagnent, We did wrap up yesterday after all the eggciting Easter Egg hunts were over and managed to get one of the flower beds mulched but it was freezing. I spent the rest of the time in the tunnell planting out some peas rocket radishes and mange tout. I also set more seed for the cottage garden, Cosmos, Cerinte, Calendula, love in a mist, ammi majis and larkspur- lots of old reliables which will give me loads of colour in the Beautiful Summer that we are going to have this year.
A lot of my daffodils are blind this year - I am putting it down to the weather as many of them were only planted last year so too soon to need to be divided, any body got any other ideas why this happens? Luckily in some parts of the garden they are looking a treat and keeping us all smiling during this tough Spring.
18 March 2013 21:18:58
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With the risk of boring you regular ier's I have loads (hundreds) of seedlings of what i call Airfield Poppies. These seeds were given to me by the head gardener at Airfield just before the garden closed down. Well I after having them in a brown envelope for many many months broadcast them in a small bed in the Tunnell and since then hundreds of seedlings emerged last year and again this year. I have been pawning them off on Garden.iers at any get together we have and as you Jackie have a new garden I thought you may be interested in some of them. They are mainly pink and purple with the odd lovely double thrown in - it is really pot luck. This will be the last offering as I am just going to have to put the rest of them on the compost heap( hate doing that:( Joan and Clare I know you already got some but if you want any more I can bring them on Friday. Any more for any more!!!
17 March 2013 00:22:41
I got a clematis Montana from Berni (yellowrose) at Johnstown I am going to plant this on a new south facing shed wall. What i was wondering is what could I plant with this to give additional interest once the clematis has finished flowering or will the montana swamp any other plants. The wall is about seven foot high and twelve foot across. Also i have had the clematis in the Tunnell in a pot since Johnstown can I just plant it out or does it need to be hardened off
14 March 2013 23:58:39
I know a lot of the IE'R visited this garden last Summer but unfortunately I could not make it that day. The garden opens for the month of March and I was thinking i might go to visit next Friday afternoon if anyone is interested in coming along. As you may know it is entry fee of €5. If no takers I will do the hard job for the sake of the group and report back.