Last Post 383 days 18 hours ago
31 May 2012 12:27:21
At about 10.30 a.m. a former colleague Colette arrived. She had told me that she now has a polytunnel. I had promised her some tomato plants. It wasn't the best time to call as it was raining, the first time since the good warm weather arrived. When she was here before it was a lovely sunny day. We had a good chat over a cup of tea and then we moved to the greenhouse to collect the plants. She was pleased with the grapes which were very different from what they were when she was here before. She was the same person who gave me my first lessons on computers. She is very interested in gardening and has decided to join garden.ie.
30 May 2012 20:59:33
Abraham Darby
This rose is more open than the one displayed earlier. It is very scented. It is a shrub rose and unlike the bush roses does not give many flowers. However while the flowers are there they are really good.
28 May 2012 21:01:14
Tomato First Fruit
I was surprised this evening to notice the first fruits.
27 May 2012 19:46:35
Fern
Here is a fern given to me by Martin at Johnstown, in January. It has grown quite a bit since. Thanks Martin.
27 May 2012 14:17:54
Schizanthus
This is the first time I have grown the Poor Man's Orchid. I have not been successful with the other orchids but the flowers are appearing all the time here.
26 May 2012 17:55:23
Hollyhocks
They tell you that butter and other fats will give you plenty vitamin D. They also tell you that you can buy Vitamin D tablets but of course with the sunshine we had to day and some preceding days, you can synthesize it yourself. I must say that I had plenty solar radiation to do day. Quite a lot of weeds were removed to day, by physical means and probably chemical means will be used later. In the meantime, plenty Pelargoniums are entering the ground and a bit of digging done but perhaps it is not the best weather for the same digging. Nevertheless ground must be made available. The Hollyhocks shown should be planted while the good weather lasts.
25 May 2012 21:53:17
Not as much time available to get the full amount of sun, nevertheless I got plenty. Due to Country Market in the morning, a meeting in Tullow at 2 p.m. and another meeting 8 to 9 p.m. I didnt get as much work done. At about 3 p.m. I was free to get at the garden. A certain part was chosen to plant Pelargoniums. Some Forget me not was removed as well as ivy and the plants put in. To morrow I hope to have plenty time for the garden. Driving to and from Tullow the thermometer was reading 24 degrees most of the way. I had been thinking of going to Altamount after Tullow but had not brought the camera and was anxious to get some work done in the garden. Although to day was supposed to be ahead of yesterday for temperature, I did not think it to be so as there was a breeze. I wonder how the people in Clare and Kerry found it at 28 C. Sorry no photos to day.
24 May 2012 20:59:40
Euphorbia
Yesterday was pleasant, sunny, warm, but not a patch on to day. I really enjoyed it. And how was I attired, one might say more appropriate to the beach than the garden! I will leave that to your imagination. I had planned to mow the front lawn 1/4 acre but due to the dew (what idiom is that) I had to wait so I attacked the heathers which were not looking good. Quite a lot of vetches have been growing through in this area. After lunch, I bought some petrol for the lawn mower and how the price has gone up, the easy way for the government to get revinue. Well to make a long story short I got at the lawn only to be delayed as I had a visitor, a man who did some repair to the house after the awful December 2010. Back to the lawn, finished the mowing and due to the way I was dressed, I enjoyed the work. Then picked up the grass and into the campost heap. Some more weeding and watering followed. While weeding I came across this Euphorbia. I didn't realise it was there. I believe I got it from Rachel or am I correct?
23 May 2012 22:38:35
This evening on Nationwide we had news from Carlow, Laois and Clare. The one which would interest many is the one from Laois, in the North of the County. I wasn't expecting it so I gave no notice. This garden is only beginning and should take a few generations before it is complete. I don't think I will be there when it is complete. Isn't it great that we have got somereports from gardens in this programme. Super Garden how are you?
23 May 2012 12:47:30
Peanut Cactus
This is described as Chamaecereus silvestrii or simply Peanut Cactus. I have a multitude of these and they never fail. They spend most if not all of their time in the greenhouse. Unlike the Epiphyllum which is a forest cactus. this type is a desert cactus.
22 May 2012 22:47:00
Rockery
Work in the garden was limited to day. I was tied up with others up to lunch time. In the afternoon some work was carried out. More of the plants are out including runner beans and Ricinus. The greenhouse is now showing more space. Some of these should be planted to morrow. Begonias were planted out. The ground is now ready for the runner beans. The rockery is now showing more colour in particular Mrs. Bradshaw Geum. While the Hydrangeas were burnt not so long ago, they are coming back. Also I showed an Epiphyllum Cactus, there are more in bloom now as well as peanut cacti.
21 May 2012 20:32:10
Dahlias Planted
While most of May was not so enjoyable, we can feel that Summer is here. I made quite a bit of progress in the garden to day. First I went to the Hurling Club where gardening had been neglected for some time. Window boses were the main target. Daffodil bulbs were removed and Pelargoniums put in their place. Returned to my own garden. Dahlias which were in pots up to now and were at the back of the house facing South were taken to the front and planted out. Wallflowers and Forget me Nots were removed and Pelargoniums and Schizanthus put in their place. Some Schizanthus or Poor Mans Orchids are still not planted out. Plenty of forget me nots still in bloom but some had to be removed to make way for the Summer bedding. The back lawn was mown and trimmed, looking a bit more respectable now. Quite a lot of the Summer plants are out for good now as the weather forecast tells us that winds will be from the South and then East not from the North as we had for some time. The Hellebores which were planted after the parent plant was divided some time ago, are doing well. One may think that the Dahlias are varigated. No they are simply green.
20 May 2012 21:01:24
Well I am sure you all noticed a change in the weather to day. The sun was shining and the temperature was up. It was difficult to imagine after the miserable day we had yesterday that it would be like this to day. i went to the hurling field to see the boys training and meet other members of the Club. How delightful. However I had decided to travel to dublin for a meeting. the venue was where I met Líga. Fortunately I didnt do the driving. Josie or as she is known in Garden.ie Butterfly angel did it. Wellie was to travel as well but was unable to make it. While the meeting was important, imagine what it would be like sitting out in the garden. Isn't it great that we are in for good sunny warm weather at last. Martin will probably have his togs out now.
19 May 2012 18:57:59
Begonias
These Begonias have survived since last year. Weather forecast shows a fairly low temperature to night so in they go until morning. However the temperature will be rising over the next few days so very soon they will be out and ready to be planted out. Isn't it interesting that Begonia is an anagram of a big one?
18 May 2012 17:55:50
Dahlias
These Dahlias have been out day and night for some time to harden. The forecast seems good, the likelihood is that we may not get frost over the next few days and we are told that the temperature is going to rise so I am looking forward to planting them out some time next week.
16 May 2012 19:32:12
Don't miss it. it relates to gardening.
16 May 2012 14:12:21
rose
This is the one that failed yesterday regarding planting. Note the flower, a bit early. There are more to go down, three will be the total to replace failures. All were from cuttings.
15 May 2012 22:55:17
Cactus
To day like so many other days was very mixed. I was tied up until lunch time. Then when I decided to get at the garden we had a shower so in goes Dick and looks for something to do inside. I was out again, inspecting the rose beds and I must say that this area is one that is doing well. As I mentioned before, I had some roses that I got rooted from cuttings about September 2010. After a year, they were potted. To day I felt that one at least should be planted. Out I went with the spade and barrow, not the river which flows through Carlow, dug a hole and removed a lot of soil where one rose had failed. This soil was taken elsewhere, as Gerry had pointed, a newly planted rose should not have the same soil that was around the one taken out. A rose bush was brought out and just as I was about to plant it and of course get fresh soil for it, another shower comes down. The planting had to be abandoned until to morrow and I hope to get the rose down and perhaps one or two more. Meanwhile some indoor plants are doing well like the cactus shown.
14 May 2012 20:49:02
Rose
This rose was growing in Clane when I visited my niece Joan on Sunday 12 th. Can anybody tell the name? Early for this date. Unlike Martin, no prize.
13 May 2012 19:47:30
Sara and Dick
Sara Anne Dempsey received her first Holy Communion to day in Clane Church. Her mother who is my niece is a member of Garden.ie (joankeaneydempsey). I left my home at about 9.30 p.m. After a stay in Joan's house, returned and got back by 6.10 p.m. I saw some of Joan's work and between her husband Noel and three young children, she has done great work as regards gardening and dogs as well as other animals such as horses and sheep. I don't know how she keeps going.
12 May 2012 15:49:14
Edelweiss
What is the connection? Wellie and Butterfly angel excluded. The clue: the picture was taken to day.
12 May 2012 12:40:12
Angie, if your peacock laid an egg in my garden, which of us would be entitled to the egg?
12 May 2012 12:37:39
Mirabilis
This is my Mirabilis jelapa. I had it in the greenhouse for months. It had been a case recently of in at night and out by day.
11 May 2012 23:33:49
Very little done to day. I attended the Country Market as usual and just sold two tomato plants. I tried later to do some gardening, to do a bit of weeding but we had some heavy showers even though one might expect it would remain fine. Some Pelergoniums which had for some time been out at night were selected the previous day and to day these cuttings were potted. I was hoping that all tender plants would stay out for the night but the weather forecast told me that the plants should go in as the temperature would be down to one or two degrees. Earlier on, the bedding plants and later some Dahlias were brought in and the heat turned on. What of the Hydrangeas which were burnt earlier? I will have to wait until to morrow. I have runner beans in the greenhouse well advanced and I will have to wait a bit longer before I plant them out. I can remember other years when early in May I had planted out the bedding plants into boxes at the back of the house, facing the South and then at the end of the month moved them to the front but I am afraid I will have to wait longer this year.
09 May 2012 12:53:35
Una & Jim
Two of my former colleagues arrived this morning, Una and Jim. We had a great chat about the place where we worked and many others. i supplied them with tomato plants as usual. They sampled my grapes and could not understand that they were sweet. They left about12.30 p.m.
08 May 2012 22:43:18
Ladybird on Lavender
To day was pleasant enough although due to other activities i got very little done in the garden. I went to the front garden to have a look at the plants. apart from the damage done to the Hydrangeas, and I am optimistic about them, I noticed that plants generally, on account of the rain had done well. Looking at some Lavender, I noticed a ladybird. I have noticed quite a lot of these friendly insects this year more than other recent years. Perhaps there should be much less greenflies as a result. Is it due to the mild Winter we had that they have survived?
07 May 2012 20:20:11
Geum Mrs. Bradshaw
We have had one week of May now and apart from two days, can you call it May. One day we think of frost, then rain and then frost again. I mentioned the Hydrangeas. I looked at all in the front, the ones established in the ground for years. All were affected by what I thought was a very harmless frost on Saturday night. Hopefully they will be ok if it does not get worse. To day, one might thinking of going out into the garden and then down comes the rain. We had thunder and lightening in the afternoon. In the evening about 7, I was able to get out and bring in the grass I mowed on Saturday. The compost heap is getting a bit big to put any more on it so very soon a new heap will be on the agenda. The rockery is doing well, probably due to the rain. There are I think three Geums Mrs. Bradshaw which I bought in Woodies some months ago and the flowers are now opening. They should look good although they could be a bit big for the rockery.
06 May 2012 19:57:14
Hydrangeas burnt
Last night, Met Éireann forecast a temperature of 2 degrees so I felt that Dahlias, Pelargoniums and Fuchsias could be left outside, at least they were at the back of the house, the South side. This morning at about 8.40 I noticed a little frost on the grass mown on Saturday evening and on the car. Right through the day, the plants left outside at the back were apparently safe. However at about 7.30 p.m. when I went out the front, I noticed something unusual with one Hydrangea, yes some leaves were almost black and lying down. Then I had a look at the other Hydrangeas. Alas, they were also burnt. Now I have observed in the past where Hydrangeas were affected by the frost in April but never in May. Nevertheless I hope they will recover. The Hydrangeas at the back which are for Elizabeth were not affected at all by the frost.
06 May 2012 14:29:36
Climbing Rose
This was taken to day 6 May, long before it should open
05 May 2012 20:24:46
Grapes
Until and including last year, the grapes I have had were very small. Now in May, they are bigger than they were in August last year. By the way I have only grapes while Jacinta has bananas!
05 May 2012 20:06:12
Front Garden after Mowing
Somewhat cool and cloudy at first but later plenty of sun, I retired from the garden at about 7.50 p.m. First the third rose bed was finished weeding and trimmed, Shurbs were trimmed with the hedge trimmer and then the lawn mower came out. while all of the grass was not taken to the compost heap, only some of it, I felt that enough was done and was pleased with what was done.
03 May 2012 19:21:26
Another fine day, perhaps not as warm as yesterday but enjoyable. After the rain in April and the first day of May and then the rise in temperature with the sun shining there was plenty of growth, in particular the weeds. The three rose beds were to be tackled but only one complete and some work done in the second one. Bed No. 1 looks good with edges done, weeds removed with hoe and plenty of buds to be seen. Bed No. 2 some edging but no weeding done in the bed. I should finish that to morrow. Some Siberian Wallflower seed sown. Carrots have appeared. This was the second time I had Pelargoniums out at night. They have improved as they had not been watered earlier in the year. I am afraid the temperature is going to fall again. Will it mean all of the plants have to go in again?
02 May 2012 12:44:37
This morning, I felt it in my bones that there would be a bit of summer to day. Starting off it was mild and cloudy. Then approaching mid day out came the sun. One could feel the warmth so certain clothes had to be discarded. All of the Pelargoniums are out, so also Dahlias and plenty of bedding plants. A good bit of watering and I am sure they are making great progress. The Antirrhinums which survived the winter were planted out at the right time as they got plenty of rain. Blooms on the rose bushes are well advanced. The grapes are bigger than ever and I should have a great crop ie if the wasps don't attack them as before. I believe to morrow is going to be another good day so enjoy it while it lasts.
01 May 2012 17:32:02
COMHAIRLE DON DUINE ÓG
A dhuine atá i dtús do shaoil,
Mo theagasc go cruinn beir leat,
An té dá dtáinig ciall le haois
Cuir-se gach ní ’na chead.
Ná santaigh ráite baois’,
Ná an dream a mbíd acu;
Sula dtiocfaidh iomad de d’aois
Bíodh aithne ar Chríost agat.
Ná caith do shaol díomhaoin,
Is ná lig an tslí thar ceal;
Óir an tslat nuair a chruann le haois,
Is deacair a shníomh ’na gad.
I d’óige oscail do mheabhair,
Is bailigh an fhoghlaim leat;
Óir an glór nach dtuigeann an ceann,
Is cuma é ann nó as.
Bailigh glan-eolas go cruinn,
Is coinnigh gach ní ’na cheart,
An glór a bhogann an croí
’Sé a thaitníonn le Rí na bhFeart.
01 May 2012 15:53:57
One might expect to have the sun to day considering the day we have. I believe farthar North it has appeared but here in Carlow not so, plenty of rain but not cold like we had earlier especially Sunday. Temperature up a few degrees but still below normal. In some ports of the country, they would describe it a a soft day. Pelargoniums are out in the rain and if the temperature is not to fall as low as other occasions, they will stay out to night. grass is growing but what chance we have to use the mower. I was hoping to use some tools in the flower beds but finished up using the vacuum cleaner inside. I suppose it was needed. The antirrhinums which i mentioned yesterday (from last year) and were planted out (from gravel near the house will benefit from the rain to day. but as the fellow said there will be dust seen on the road yet.