Last Post 387 days 17 hours ago
29 April 2012 18:05:32
Filipendula
Just starting to take off - now if we had a bit of mild weather ! This grew more than 4ft last year looks like it has spread well as there are lots of bits of it coming up
28 April 2012 20:19:09
Acer name unknown
This is one I showed you last week but is closer up and I love the colour does anyone know the name of this one ?
28 April 2012 20:09:33
Acer Shiraswanun
I have had this a couple of years in a pot lovely but not doing very well might plant it out in the garden this year
28 April 2012 15:03:57
Who am I
Can anyone ID this for me ?
27 April 2012 19:51:41
Silene from Nuala (Atalainn)
I was delighted to get a visit yesterday from Nuala (Aka ATALAINN) and her Friend Paddy. They were in Cavan with there local drama group for finals and called to us before they started the long journey back to Clare. I had been anticipating the visit and had rested all morning in advance and had taken lots of painkillers so that i would be able to walk around the garden. Our two gardens could not be different in terms of the elements we have to deal with.Nuala's wind break which she had spent years growing was practically wiped out in the two bad Winters. Nuala is now starting again but in the mean time is encouraged to try some lower growing perennials and grasses. We had a great walk and talk about all things gardening among other things.
Nuala brought me the plant pictured above Silene which I was delighted to get she also brought me some Oxalis, Dianthus Russian Skies , Lychnis Dancing Ladies Mixead and Dahlia Bishop of Oxford. Gerry split the silene and planted it into our cottage garden added a bit of instant colour.
Paddy and Gerry in the mean time had their own walk and chat and then we all had a bit of lunch. It was great to spend the morning with such like minded people who we felt we had so much in common with. We managed to get a few bits out of the garden and tunnell for Nuala's garden and armed with some fresh eggs waved them off on their long journey back to Clare.
It really cheered me up no end having this visit and thanks to Nuala for calling. I look forward to the return journey to Doonbeg some time in the future.
25 April 2012 00:06:25
Reading material
As many of you know ( and are probabaly sick hearing about ) I have been out of action with my back for the past 6 weeks. I have not been able to do anything as I have to lie all the time and only walk for short periods no standing and no sitting. I am not one for watching telly unless the odd good drama, film or gardening program so if i did not have gardening as a hobby (obsession some in my house would say) I can confirm I would be a basket case by now.
A gardening friend of mine dropped me down old Gardens Illustrated magazines from 2004 to 2008 for March, April and May. She also gave me a lend of A "Beth Chatto" Book what a joy this lady is my wish is to visit her garden and nursery some day. Finally she lent me the Christopher Lloyd "Succession planting for Adventorous gardeners". Again this is very easy to read, some wonderful photography and lots of recommendations for good plants and planting combinations. Mind you would need a team of gardeners and a few Fergus Garrets to try and replicate what they do in Great Dixter.
So whilst the rest of you have been out there doing the real gardening I have been reading, dreaming, planning and plotting and making endless to do lists for my ever so patient other half. I can not say it has been fun but it has made the last 6 weeks bearable. And as for Garden.ie and you guys I have been logging in hourly and wishing for new journals and new albums to puruse. So I say again Thank God for gardening be it a hobby or an OBSESSION..!!
Finally I would like to thank you all for your messages of support and kind comments on my journal. The current state of play is that I had an epidural yesterday in the Sports Clinic in Santry 0nly the best for Donal OG and I .(Only the sports fans among you will understand this ). It is hoped that this will numb the pain and if not (and the consultant did not sound very hopeful) I will have to have an op to have part of the disc removed. I am however remaining positive and hopeful that I will get back to my beloved garden in the very near future.
24 April 2012 23:35:46
Elegant Lady
First one opened today I was hoping that they would have more of a pink tint at the edge as I had planted them in a ring with Purple Heuchera did not quite work out still nice and i like that I have a few new tulips coming now when a lot of the others are gone over.
24 April 2012 23:30:16
Tulip Ballerina I think
Like these and they come back every year.I hope they stand up to the wind and rain promised tomorrow Hopefully it will not come as bad as promised
24 April 2012 23:25:26
Tree Peony
I have had this tree peony for at least 5-6 years I got 2 flowers last year and three this year any advances on four for next year. I know there are loads of peonies but would anyone know the name of it so that I can update my plant list.
20 April 2012 11:12:13
To dig up split and replant Heleniums. With me been incapacitated this is one of the many jobs on our list that did not get done. Will they flower this year if they are disturbed now ?
18 April 2012 19:40:35
Leucothoe
I am sure I put this up last year as well so apologies for boring those regular contributors but for the newbies - tough hardy reliable evergreen - I have underplanted it here with saxifraga
18 April 2012 18:49:42
Red and yellow Tulips
Could be last glimpse of red and yellow tulips before weather takes it's toll on them (Nuala could be gone before next Thursday!!)
18 April 2012 18:38:44
Radishes and Rocket
But I can still grow Radishes and Rocket - Had some for lunch today lovely first harvest of the year for me.
17 April 2012 13:51:49
What am I ?
My Neighbour dropped this into me yesterday very kind but there is no label on it so I have no idea what it is I suspect it may be a house plant which are certainly not my forte !! It looks like a sedum in some respects I am sure it is very obvious but just not to me
16 April 2012 19:30:31
Acer in the sun
Took this picture on Saturday as I managed to get a stroll around the garden the colour of it does not come through as well as I would like but it is a truly beautiful colour. Still no gardening for me but every day in every way getting stronger and stronger !!
09 April 2012 22:45:21
Brunnera 'Jack Frost '
From my journal of the 27th March you will see that we have built 5 stone ponds. I am now looking for names of plants that we can grow between the stones to soften the effect,the plants will need to be ones that can survive with very little soil. We have already planted some sedums, saxifraga and low growing campanuala at the front of the ponds where there is a a thin strip of ground but I now want to set some in between the stones all suggestions or advice gratefully appreciated.
08 April 2012 18:27:30
Another Daffiodil but which one
As the previous journal would like to know the name of this one as welll as it stands up well and the hint of orange is pretty
08 April 2012 18:23:45
Late Daffodil
Now that the main flush of Daffodils are gone over the later ones are strutting their stuff this is one of my favourites and if anyone knows the name that would be great
08 April 2012 14:05:42
Yellow and Black grass
Think the zingy yellow and Black look nice together
07 April 2012 23:24:23
Who am I ?
This is Paris Quadrifolia ?? I doubt it I bought this at Birr last year from Deobrah and Martin and planted it in the Woodland bed and it has not been seen since then when I was wandering around today I spotted this in a completely different area any ideas ?
07 April 2012 23:12:44
Exohorda Korolkowii ' The bride'
Was allowed a hobble around the garden today short but very sweet - thought this shrub was looking really good
04 April 2012 00:36:38
A friend called to see me to day and she had a gardening query - she bought a lot of bulbs in the Autumn daffodils and tulips and for a variety of reasons she never got around to planting them she is wondering what she should do with them now any advice?
02 April 2012 22:58:32
Prunus Incisa Kojo No Mai
Bought this in Johnston in January at our get together - It is very small but if this is a taste of things to come then I am well happy with it and I love the name