Dick's Journal

Perhaps Violeta, Jurga, Liga can tell me about this fungus, photo taken this morning. It grows from the base of a tree. Is it edible? Now that the autumn is on the way perhaps we will encounter more. By the way it has no connection with the dolphin in Kerry!

With all the jokes we had about bees (and I am serious at this stage) has any of our group taken an interest in bees? When I moved into my present site 1977, I had been thinking about same. I remember my grandfather keeping bees. He could do what he wanted with them. When he died 1943, and I was too young at the time to have any great interest in them, the bees departed. I have heard that people who keep bees live to a good age. The grandfather was 83 at the time and then it was considered a great age.

Attended to day, sold two Hydrangeas@ €3 and Coleus @ €2. Business is beginning to improve again.

You may remember that last year(actually 7 August) wasps invaded my greenhouse and attacked my grapes. I was told to locate the nest. Well to day at about 3 p.m. I noticed wasps hovering over an opening in a flower bed near the gate quite some distance from the greenhouse which is at the back of the house. Well I had the aerosol, Wasps Nest Destroyer Foam and by 3.15 p.m. the nest had got the worst of it. By the way I hope that Martin does not consider it as cruelty to animals. I was back again at about 8.15 p.m. to give another dose of foam.

This foxglove supplied by Una in March at Johnstown. Have not had ones as purple as this for some time.

Arrived this morning. It seems that there is plenty to read in it. We have Deborah's article, Will have to read that when I have more time  and of course Rachel's article, so down to earth!! True I have heard some complaining about soil: "Where will I get a load of top soil" etc Rachel's blue Hydrangeas and my pink ones which she saw last year. She spoke about stony soil in her area, she should see the amount of stones, removed from mine and still plenty there. My father RIP told me of a man who believed that stones grow! Well I don't know if that theory could be proven but I never stop taking stones out.

Yesterday I finished removing the tree which came down last August. Now it is removed fully from the rockery. I got at the mowing of the lawn but the rain stopped the operation. To day was so different. I finished the lawn properly attired as the temperature was high and while mowing and removing grass cuttings to the compost heap enjoyed the radiation of the sun. I don't know what temperature it was at that time but going to a meeting to start at 8 p.m. the temperature was 23 degrees. I also sprayed part of the driveway and should finish it to morrow. Sorry no photos to day, maybe to morrow. The Hydrangeas rooted are at the front of the house, facing mainly north so no danger of scorching.

These Hydrangeas were slipped in June. Now they are well rooted. Two were sold at Askea Country Market on Friday. Two have been booked by Liga and Hazel. Other hydrangeas were slipped this month (July) and should be ready next month.

Nothing done in garden on Saturday despite it being a great day, reason outing to Roscrea and Aghaboe. An enjoyable day, then Sunday, down tools, watched hurling match, Waterford v Galway. Monday , got down to work, had plenty things in mind, work on tree which came down last August. After much effort moved it out of the way to complete rockery. Then got at the lawn until the rain came and had to call it a day.

Called to askea Country market as usual on Fridays. Sold Coleus @2, two Hydrangeas @3 and rhubarb @1. Sales had been very poor for some time. This was a big improvement. The two Hydrangeas I sold were this years. They were slipped in June and now are well rooted.

To day the plastic bags were removed from most of the slipped Hydrangeas and Hypericums. In the case of the Hydrangeas, there were three plants in each large pot. They were separated and put into slightly smaller pots. All are well rooted. The medium for the plants now was potting compost with a small quantity of garden soil. I have learned that the garden soil helps as it may contain Nematoda, worms which will control vine weevil. I had three large pots with three plants in each plus one with one plant. I will get at the Hypericums later.

Propagation of some plants from cuttings can be quite easy. I find that with Hydrangeas, Hypericums and some others, summer cuttings can be propagated easily. I find that June and July are good months for this type of propagation. The semi hard cuttings are used. You can take a cutting with a sharp secateurs and put it in a plastic bag until you are ready to do the rest of the work. Take a flower pot, put in some moss peat or potting compost to which some sharp sand was added. Below the node, where the leaf comes out cut here and dip it in rooting powder. Put the cutting deeply in the compost, firm it and make sure it is moist. Put a plastic bag around it and close it using a rubber band. Then place the pot in an area where it is warm but no direct sunlight. I normally have it indoor but it could be placed outdoor out of the direct sun. Leave it there until it is rooted. The length of time taken varies according to the plant. I find that Hydrangeas root in about a month, others take later. This is summer type of propagation. Some plants will propagate in autumn or winter but here you use hardwood cutting and it is usually put into the ground. It usually takes longer.

Early on in the day it was promising, sun came out and some work was done, trimming the hedge at the side of the drive, then mowing grass at the side of the road, then feeling that it was going to be warm, I came in and answered the phone. Then the change came, it began to rain so all to be done was internal. I am pleased that of the Hydrangeas I slipped about a month ago a definite three are rooted. Other Hydrangeas are going to take a bit more time. Hypericums slipped at the same time look ok. They will be given more time.

I have been feeding the small birds- robins, sparrows, chaffinches, blue tits for some time mainly with bird seed. I find them friendly, they only eat what I give them and something they would get from the soil. The robins I find them great, when I dig a bit of ground they go for things like wireworms. Now in recent times pigeons have invaded the place. They have eradicated the black currants, red currants and some cabbage an lettuce, not only that but the bird seed I have put out for the small birds. as a result, the bird tray is invaded when I put seed on it. The only place where they don't have access is a small bird box and i have been concentrating on that for some time. Now the tits and sparrows have no trouble here but slightly bigger, the robins have difficulty in getting food.

Some of the leaves from the Phormium were taken away to the compost heap, the rest to day. Now there is plenty of space surrounding the phormium which is making good progress every day. Some of you remember that last August a variegated poplar fairly close to the house came down one afternoon. I have built a rockery in its place and now there is room to complete the rockery. A large geranium which is now taking up almost half of the rockery is choking some plants, a black grass which I bought and a Saxifrage which I got from Myrtle. The Saxifrage was moved into the new part of the rockery making sure there was plenty soil going with it and watering it. Some Ajuga identified last year by Rachel was moved in. A photo of one of the lilies was taken. I was bought at Bloom last year.

This morning I pruned the branches that gave flowers this summer. It was one of the best years yet.

Nothing to do with the song and no sign of these insects. The seed was free when in the spring I bought seeds in Woodies, one packet free with two packets of seeds. Now they are in bloom and they tell you on the packet that they attract wild life.

Raining most of the day. I had gooseberries topped and tailed. On other days being out most of the time, the berries were put away in the fridge but to day, the garden being out, I got at the berries and made more jam. I am sure that things will grow even better with this rain. The place was parched and watering would be limited. I have made three lots of jam and there is a bucket full still there picked but needing topping and tailing. The beet root reported recently by Dave & Maggie looks good. My own should be ok after this rain.

This Phormium seemed dead, really dead, I have been removing the leaves for months. Not so long ago, I noticed a few new green leaves so I continued at the job. A lot of the time yesterday was spent pulling as many leaves as possible and to day, here we are. Like the Hypericum it is really alive.

This is now in bloom fir the first time. I did not label it when planting.  If it is Freesia it is the first time it has bloomed for me. I planted in the area reclaimed which last year had items like briars and blackthorn.

What a lovely day? Most of the debris in the front is moved. Edges of the three rose beds  and hoeing surface of beds. Roses are looking good. Pictures of roses in Photos. Hypericums making great progress, Hydrangeas changing colour, Philadelphus beginning to fade, soon it will be pruned, grapes in greenhouse beginning to turn sweet, gooseberries doing same.

The area reclaimed last year having removed blackthorn, blackberry etc. and dead wood many plants had been introduced including Mirabilis Jalapa  and miniature roses but so many weeds grew. However most of them were annuals so that area is looking better now. Carrot seed sown perhaps a bit late but will let it have its chance. The front lawn was mown, 1/4 acre and large number of prunings moved to a place where they will be kept until I can dispose of them either by burning or some other way. Roses looking really good (will take a photo to morrow). Hypericum which  was given up as lost doing well. Country market in the morning, sold nothing despite people asked to spend, spend, spend! The drive needs to be sprayed for weeds, probably to morrow. Mirabilis Jalapa has made some progress but very slowly. The miniature roses had been taken from the front early in the year and are now in bloom.