30 December 2008 23:57:07
Poppies amongst other things in the homemade greenhouse
These are perennial poppies grown from seed set in July. I got the seed from Deborah at Terra Nova when we visited her beautiful garden in July this year. They are in the homemade greenhouse. They are looking a bit wilted on this very cold day. It will be interesting to see how they will progress
29 December 2008 20:26:11
Viburnum covered in frost.
Everywhere was white with frost this morning so I had to get the camera out. Its a magical garden scene.
28 December 2008 13:23:08
Performing kitty!
Anytime I am in the garden the cats are mostly there but when I am going around the garden with the camera the cats will always give a performance! Kitty is in the weeping willow this time. The ginger cat is nearby also but I couldn't include him in the shot.
26 December 2008 19:43:36
Looking for the wren!
My two gardening friends chasing each other in the corkscrew willow. These branches are lovely dried and placed in a large vase.
24 December 2008 11:09:12
Sarcococca
I took this photo this morning. I got this shrub years ago after I heard a talk by Charlie Wilkins from Cork. He was right, imagine a shrub that would be in flower on Christmas Eve and have a beautiful frangrance. I cut a branch and brought it into the kitchen and even though the flowers are tiny it smells lovely. The flowers are then followed by black fruits.
22 December 2008 14:25:55
Good gardening books
This 'Expert' series of books I have found to be the best from the beginning. They tell you every thing you need to know for beginners and 'expert' gardeners. When I get a new plant I check these books to find out what conditions the plant needs. I always keep the 'Tree and Shrub Expert' handy to remind me the correct time of the year to prune the different shrubs.
22 December 2008 13:59:47
Drying teasels for decoration
These common teasels are very tall and very attractive to bees. When they are dried they look very effective sprayed ghostly white. silver or gold. Mind the prickles though!
18 December 2008 21:24:22
Arum italicum 'Pictum'
Some of the days this time of the year can be very dreary. So I took some photos of plants around the garden that might lift the day.
15 December 2008 23:26:47
Schlumbergera
Its lovely to see any plant flowering in December. This one is always guaranteed to please and it is so easy to look after. It just gets a bit of water when it looks really dry.
15 December 2008 09:43:05
The last rose bud
This picture was taken on Saturday 13 December. I can't decide whether to cut it to dry or put it in a vase. Ernest has a lovely smell and dosen't go to mush in the rain,but has only an average resistance to disease. I mostly like to keep disease resistant roses as I don't have the time to spray them. I do have Albertine and New Dawn which would break your heart with blackspot.
11 December 2008 23:01:03
Dried Rose buds
I love to get Roses in the winter but I also like to cut a few buds for drying at the end of the season. They dry quite easily hung up in the kitchen. I decided I would make a picture out of these Rose buds.
10 December 2008 21:47:59
Fatsia in flower on 10 December
This Fatsia was only a slip two years ago. Today I saw its first flower , the first time I have ever seen a Fatsia flower and I am wondering will I get the black fruits that normally follow.
07 December 2008 22:48:35
Evergreen christmas arrangement
Christmas is fast approaching. I love all the evergreens in the garden at the moment. This is an arrangement using bits from the garden. I think a few deep red carnations would really look nice in it. Sometimes it hard to get them at this time.
02 December 2008 22:12:56
Dried Chinese Lanterns
This is the Physalis I had drying on top of the kitchen cupboard (journal 9th October). They are papery to touch and will keep their colour for years.
01 December 2008 22:14:16
Cotoneaster
The weather is turning frosty and windy. I have pine needles all over the place after the wind. The frost may have turned these berries sweet for the birds so I'm glad I got this photo before they are all eaten.