Dick's Journal

Pruned a lot of the santolina which was affected by the frost. Some of it survived. It was time consuming but worth it. The amount of plant wich survived is smsll but I am pleased that some of it is there. The woody portion left, i am not sure it it survives but I am givinf it its chance. as I have a lot of bedding plants (half hardy) they can go in to the empty space. By teatime the place for same was ready. When I went out at 7.30 p.m. it began to rain so no more could be done in the garden. I quickly took the clothes off the line , came in and left the watering of bedding plants to nature. 

No gardening done to day except watering plants in greenhouse. Was at the Hurling Club where juveniles were training. Afternoon, watched Cork v Tipp. hurling match. Enjoyed it as I have Cork blood. After tea, went for a walk around the garden and noticed a lot of weeds have come up probably due to the rain. So plenty of weeding to morrow.

Saturday, 29, all bedding plants (half hardy) moved to front facing North as no worry any more about frost. French marigolds planted out plus  lupins from Una; some tulips removed to make way for Summer bedding. Flower beds and boxes prepared for flowers. Hedging in front trimmed. Roses are coming on, including the bedding roses, look very healthy with no sign of black spot probably due to spraying with Dithane. Rain very welcome, more to come so no need of watering except indoor plants including tomatoes. Did not travel to Kilkenny Show, more content with getting the garden in order. Eventually driven in 7.30 - 8 p.m. due to rain.

Work done to day was in the back garden. A piece of ground near the greenhouse was chosen for the runner beans. Twelve plants which were well advanced were planted having dug the ground and given it some garden compost. Plants were put in groups of three and bamboo canes planted in the ground to give the wigwam effect, tying the canes at the top with leaves of Phormium. There are about seven plants left. This work was done in the afternoon as I had been at the Country Market in the morning and sold, would you believe, one tomato plant. Una had sent me some tickets for the show in Kilkenny and members of the Country Market were pleased to have them. Only other work was watering the plants in the greenhouse. After tea, I had a meeting so work was limited. 

While we all enjoy the sun, we all welcome the rain after a while. No carrying watering cans and even though the hose can be a help, the water will not get to much of our vegetable garden and as regards our front garden including the lawn. Surely during the past six months the low rainfall must be a record. Think of the fact that May is almost over and how little rain we have had and contrast it with last year when we had what one might call A Madam Butterfly month, One Fine Day. It also reminds us that the plants within the house need watering as we might be inclined to forget that the interior is there as well. Of course we had some of the warmest weather for May this year, we were loth to plant out the bedding plants for fear the frost might do harm. Last year, I don't think we got frost in May at all, one good point. No doubt people were saying that the things they said about the greenhouse effect or global warming were surely a myth, something for the fairies, but this year, what a difference. Of course some people will now say "This is the end of the Summer. I don't think so. I feel we will have plenty of sunshine again. I feel amused when the weather forecast comes on-that we don't get enough Vitamen D and advertise this Super Milk. Surely with all of the sunshine whether cold or warm we can build up plenty of this vitamen. Now we can get at things within, things which were neglected while we had the sunshine.

This morning the postman instead of simply dropping in a few letters, he rang the bell. He had two parcels, one with magazines (Wellie will be getting some next Wednesday) I had guessed what was there. What was in the other one? Plants from a certain Una, lupins and marigolds. Thanks very much Una. They were so well wrapped up that no damage could be done to them. They are in, at the moment, after several hours outside. They will go out in the morning. the bedding plants I grew from seed are staying out to night despite the fact that the temperature will be low. I notice that Rachel has brought in the plants but I think my plants have really been hardened. About half of my geraniums are out the front on boxes and despite the fact that they are at the north side of the house I trust that surely in the last week of May, they will be safe. Apart from watering plants in the greenhouse, the only plant that got water was the periwinkle. The place is so dry and sunny that it needs it. Some potting on took place of plants in small pots and one could see that bigger pots were needed. Weather is still quite good, wind from the North but light. I noticed for some time that a Santolina (lavender cotton) was another plant that was affected by the frost early in the year so to day the secateurs was brought out and part of the plant removed. A small portion is quite healthy looking. Some trimming was done to Kerria in the front. It stood up to the frost very well. This was done with hedge clippers. I have two pairs and while both were able to trim some shrubs neither could cut the grass that was left after yesterday so the two were taken away to be sharpened. Some roses are about to open, a moss rose which I got from a former colleague, another from Co. Waterford and a shrub rose Abraham Darby. It is too early to photograph them at the moment. I will show them later. There is a beautiful scent from them when in bloom. Another feature was weeding and removing Forget me not which comes up every year. I planted it only once. It seeds itself. Removing it gives me room to put some of the Summer bedding. 

Very little done in the garden to day. The morning was taken up with other items and also in the afternoon. Some grass at the side of the road was cut with hedge clippers as it was too high for the mower. It is the first time, would you believe, that it was cut this year. when watering the plants in the greenhouse, I noticed another tomato plant with fruit so another feed. Temperature a bit low to day, the first time in a week that it was warmer inside and I believe it will get cooler outside over the next few days. Good to hear that the rain is on the way as watering everything is out. One item which needs water and gets it every day is a periwinkle which I got from Wellie. The pieces of topiery which survived the pruning have not been trimmed. Asters in the greenhouse which went down late are coming on. To morrow, I will have to pot on again. Lots of people are offering me more flower pots while at the moment quite a lot of my own are becoming available again as I remove the geraniums (pelergoniums). The result is that these will be used with plants in the greenhouse while the small one get a break again. No sign of the Passiflora seedlings appearing, Coleus a little better but have a long way to go at the moment.

First thing was getting bigger pots for the tomatoes which had shown the fruits, filling the pots, inserting the plants and giving them a feed. This and watering the plants finished the morning session. In the afternoon, went to the Hurling Club and had a look at the beds which were not looking good the previous occasion. The use of Roundup on the previous occasion, helped to make it easy to do some work on the beds. However, more Roundup would be required. Geraniums which are now looking good, some in bloom were planted in window boxes at the Club house. Returned home and brought out some geraniums to the front where they were planted in boxes and watered. these boxes had tulips early on. Session three, beginning about 7 p.m. Some weeding was carried out in the front. Much more weeding has to be done. By the end of the week the annuals Antirrhinum, Opportunities, sorry Petunies and French Marigolds should be planted. By 8.30 p.m. it was a case of going to the shop to get bread and after this my work in the garden ended until to morrow. It was quite warm here to day. I would think that Cloncaw found it different in Monaghan. Jecinta may be pleased to find that I did not use the secateurs in my garden although I did use same at the Club. Martin, you told me not to cut the leaves of the Phormium. Well to day, I pulled away some of the affected leaves. Some came with me, others refused. I will get at them again.

No work done in the garden to day except watering tomatoes and other plants in the greenhouse. Having watered the tomatoes, I noticed two tomato plants which had fruit. They are F1 hybrids which went down later than the Alicante, even the ones in the growbags. These two are in small pots and I wil DV put them in big pots tomorrow. I noticed a message from chilipepper that he had fruits. Perhaps I had them at the same time. So it is now time to feed same.

Finished work in the garden at 8.15 p.m. and then got working at vacuum cleaning, so now at 8. 50 p.m. sitting down at the computer. Who could be thinking of staying inside on such a beautiful day, surely the best day for a long time. Think of last year when there was so much rain and so little sun at this time. Quite a lot was removed from the Phormium. about two thirds left and as well as the one third which was hit by the arctic weather back in January other withered leaved were removed. Ivy was cut away from a nearby Cordyline. Prunings from the sides of the drive (most of them) were taken and if one were around one might ask, looking at the mounds of prunings "Where did they come from?" some burnt leaves removed from a Yucca and it definitely looks much better now. Tomato plants required more water than usual. Bedding plants are looking very good but considering the weather forecast that from Monday onward the temperature will be down again I am in no hurry to plant them. Only the geraniums (pelergoniums) will be going into the beds and pots in the front which is facing mainly North the direction from which the wind will be coming. Some roses are about to open, not the ones in the beds but shrub roses like Abraham Darby very fragrant. One rose, a climbing type Madame Gregoire Staechelin seems to be lost. It was a once only flowering type but when I looked at it recently it seemed dead. I cut it down to the ground hoping that it might survive but I am afraid I am afraid. 

Isnt it great to be out in the garden in this weather? The house seems to be only for sleeping and eating. The drive is really passible but while some of the topiary is gone not all is gone. I will have to trim two whitethorns which are not an obstacle. The pity is that from October to April the foliage is gone. One piece of topiary was cotoniaster which is evergreen and that had to go. The mowing of the lawn yesterday was such that there was more grass than normal. The front garden looks fairly good now. The phormium was partly damaged by the cold weather and to day I got at it to cut back the burnt leaves. Time ran out for me so I will have to get at it again. More than half of it is sound. Edges of the three rose beds were trimmed to day following the mowing yesterday. I hope to do some shredding to morrow. Phormium (part of)  was like this at the time of the bad frost. The part shown is now being pruned back.

To day was a real Summer's day and one to be outside as much as possible. My drive needed attention for some time. I believe people felt that they had a problem getting in and out without rubbing against the shrubs at the two sides. In some cases, I had been doing a bit of topiary to add to the appearance of the drive but others seemed to think otherwise. So equipped with loppers, secateurs, hedge clippers and a few saws, I got at the same shrubs which seemed to create no problem in the past. It used to be just the hedge clippers and a hedge trimmer operated by battery. Now while the hedge trimmer is as good as new, the battery has refused to work even after plugging it in to the power. Well there can be no complaints now although the finishing touches have to be given to it. One of the evergreen shrubs which gives a beautiful scent at this time will have to be pruned back. It is thorny and has a small yellow flower. Perhaps somebody could identify it. when I planted it there it was quite small and I would never dream it would create a problem.

A great day for the garden. Pruning away the dead wood takes up a lot of time but is some cases young shoots are appearing quickly. To day, I saw the first flowers on Helianthemum, looking forward to seeing many. Brooms are looking good. this evening for the first time, I have left out the bedding plants and going by the weather forecast hope to plant as many as possible. Saturday is the best day for me and the garden and this week I was able to get the work done which I did not get done last week. The Passiflora seeds are sown and I look forward to getting the plants  flowering again. No sign of life on the old Passion Flower. Geraniums which were looking poor are looking good due to the sun and watering.  Some gladioli which had not been planted in beds but were left on a  flower pot in the open over the last month were sorted out. More than half had shown shoots and were put into pots where they will be left to flower later on. A wild fuchsia which originated in the Nagle Mountains, Co Cork, were pruned to day and I look forward to getting flowers whereas cultivated fuchsias seem to have failed due to the frost. They normally stand up to the winter.

In the morning, 10 a.m. to noon I was at my usual stand in Askea Country Market with my plants, tomatoes, Aloe Vera, rhubarb. In the afternoon, asters were potted up, some more pruning of senecio. New shoots are coming on in same but I wonder how I can get all the material from these plants shredded. Seeds of Passiflora are now soaking having put them in warm water as was suggested.  Thanks Liga. To morrow they will be sown and although the winter is a long way away, I plan to keep some indoors either in the house or greenhouse. coleus is coming on. I hope to get the Poor Man's Orchid if it is available in Carlow.

To day I went to Woodies to buy compost. I had run out of it. When I was passing the seed stand, what did I see but a packet of Passion Flower, Passiflora Caerulea the variety which can grow outside in our climate. There was quite a comment on this plant being lost during the cold spell. I have not given up on the plant I have although there seems to be no new life coming. I will plant the seeds to morrow DV.

Very little done in the garden yesterday due to other comitments. Unlike last week I was able to see the new programme on gardening, Super Garden. I was disappointed with its content. Slightly better than what we had before this, I Want a Garden, but nothing like the programmes we had in the past like Gerry Daly's Room Outside. Gerry made it possible for people to learn the basics about gardening and with very little expense. Just look at the amount spent by one person on one garden. It would seem that we were not in a recession as we are at the moment. There are many people who have big mortgages and would like to be able to set up a garden as cheaply as possible. I remember when my house was built in 1977, I was getting getting plants from relations and friends and buying seeds. My father RIP and I, between us, put down the lawn now 1/4 acre using seed. What did we see last night, prepared sods, as we had in I want a garden, definitely not down to earth in both senses. No matter how much I know about gardening, I would like to learn more. I am no wiser about gardening now as a result of this programme.

All of the morning was taken up with other events  and it was about 2.15 p.m. by the time I got to the garden. I was listening to Liveline about the departure of the head shops which was a blessing and yet many of the plants we grow contain some of these drugs. I noticed in the greenhouse that the Coleus is appearing for the first time. Rachel is well ahead of me there. These plants take a while to germinate and they need the sunlight to do so unlike many others. Later I began pruning. I have a variety of Cotoniaster which grows so fast that it tends to crowd other shrubs, in this case Hydrangias. At one stage I moved into the house to escape the rain even though it was light but later moved out to do some more pruning here until the rain came again. The positive side of this is that we need the rain and people in Met Eireann have been telling us that it is on the way  and we hear falling slowly, not only is the rain coming but milder weather. I thought yesterday, that it was quite cold for the second week of May. To day was a bit milder and less need to cover up. Senecio which was pruned is showing life again but in the case of others I will have to wait and see if life is there. 

To day Sunday, having put out the bedding plants, I headed for Clane (Co. Kildare) another First Holy Communion, met a lot of my relations and told them about the Garden Club. One niece, it was her house, we had a look at the computer and got the webside open. She has a very big garden. She either has joined or will do so. She was really busy as it was her daughter who received. She has quite a lot of plants and animals that she plans to use the name Joanofarc. Watch out for her profile. Another relation Ann showed a great interest in same She loves gardening but is scared of animals. I got back at about 6.45 p.m. and got my plants in for another night. 

To day even though it was a lovely day for gardening, very little was done due to being in Kildare for my grandnephew Rory having his First Holy Communion. After Mass we had a great get together and my niece and Godchild, Josefa was there. You may note that she gave me the present of the Acer Crimson Queen. She  Rory's aunt and Godmother. My sister Nora who is very keen on gardening was there. She is Josefa's mother and has asked Gerry questions on gardening when the programme "Ask about Gardening" was on the radio on Saturdays. I left Kildare at about 4.55 p.m. and got back to put in the bedding plants and water most of the plants. The first of my cacti was in bloom to day and I can expect a continuation of this for some time. While in Kildare, I told them all about the Garden Club and the great pleasure I get from it so there may be a few new members. Having spoken so much about it, one nephew stated that I must be employed in promoting same. 

Attended the Country Market 10a.m. to midday was fairly successful with my sales from the garden and greenhouse. Afternoon was taken up mainly with pruning. The job of removing dead wood is almost complete. some plants are showing life while others are still dormant or dead. The bedding plants which are still indoor at night and out during the day have made great progress but I am in no hurry to put them out on a permanent basis. The temperatures next week will still be quite low for May. The wind is still coming mainly from the north and am more concerned about the low temperture than the ash from Iceland.

Periwinkle from Wellie planted. It is already flowering. I have never had one of these before an am looking forward to seeing what it is like. The rest of the grass cuttings taken to compost heap, Began cutting up the prunings of Senecio. Young shoots are already visible. Used the hedge clippers to remove grass from edges of rose beds. Bedding plants taken as the temperature is to be low to night. Finished at 8.30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The morning was wet so I worked in the greenhouse, having taken out the bedding plants. Some potting up was done with nicotiana and potting on of beefsteak tomatoes which were near being pot bound. In the afternoon some grass cut previous day was taken to the compost heap. Comitments other than gardening followed and bedding plants were taken in although they could have been left outside. I will watch out for the weather forecast and see if I can put the plants in a permanent place, in the ground or in pots and boxes. I left the house at about 6.45 p.m. to attend a meeting in Baltinglass where I met Wellie and after the meeting we exchanged plants. 

Wallflowers sown, photos of shrub and flowers and mowing of the lawn. Things are beginning to look good now.

A lovely sunny day. Started pruning of a griselinia hedge on Saturday and continued with same to day until I got to the end The new secateurs made the work easy but some branches were too much to prune with same so the loppers were brought out. I may have to get a saw to finish the job. A large amount of the dead wood is gone. I will get the shredder to the prunings and put the product in the compost heap. While working on the griselinia, I saw a Hipericum Hidcote near by and the secateurs did a neat job on it. This material removed from same should also be shredded. 

Eventually, in the evening, it cleared and the first thing was to put away the bedding plants. Next I attacked the griselinia which had been hit by the frost. I know that the damage was done in January when the temperature went so low but it was only in April that I noticed the change. With the new secateurs, I made a charge on it and got about half of the work done. Much of the shrub is sound and I believe it will survive. The new felco secateurs made the job easy although the branches were wet and so keeping dry was not easy. Eventually I retired to the house. I noticed that the parsnips had come on well. 

The day began reasonably good with a little sunshine at mid day. Then as I was planning to get a lot of work in the garden, down came the rain. A good day for growth, the grass in the lawn, the shrubs (perhaps they may revive at this stage), the roses, some of them have shown a change in colour. I feel it is due to spraying of cereals in the field adjacent to me. The bedding plants are out and thriving but very little work for me to do. Normally Saturday is a busy day for me in the garden. Yesterday I slipped a number of geraniums. They were very leggy. Perhaps this will help them.