Last Post 291 days 17 hours ago
31 July 2012 15:35:06
Not the Last Rose
Well to day is according to the Celtic tradition the last day of Summer. June and July were wet months but nevertheless my roses have stood up to all the rain we have had. A few, just a few, were not good but by and large (I don't like using the term as it is grammatically incorrect, a preposition and an adjective joined by a conjunction) the roses have been and are still great. About June 1 and perhaps a bit earlier Dick was feeling that there was something wrong with the roses but in reality they were just late. As well as that, this is the first year for some time that I didn't spray them for black spot. Now some like Iceberg, Just Joey, Evelyn Fison and a few more were not affected adversely by same although some were. Thet are bigger than normal. I don't know why as I am not an authority on roses or any flowers to be candid but that is the position. I do give some attention to them even though there are about 100 of them. Deadheading is almost a daily exercise and a bit of Summer pruning as well. They were pruned early, in January, something I would never consider up to about three years ago, kept free of weeds, which I cannot say about everything in the garden and given a good feeding. They also get some garden compost from time to time. Well Tom Moore gave us "The Last Rose of Summer" According to the length of the days it is the last day of Summer and it does not appear as Summer to day. You only go out when you want to drive into town etc. but it is not the Last Rose of Summer, when you look at these God given roses.
29 July 2012 19:23:47
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
These roses are very fragrant.
28 July 2012 18:51:02
Cacti
These cacti were given to me by Agnes, a member of Askea Country Market, last week. There were several cacti in each pot, some big, some small. They were separated and repotted. What is visible is not the total. There are 18 others all small ones so they will be repotted as well.
28 July 2012 13:06:30
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Roses are doing very well at present.
27 July 2012 23:04:40
After plenty of vigour yesterday in the garden, to day was generally quiet. I had been to the Country Market with items like Hydrangeas slipped a month ago, rhubarb and Aloe Vera. It was very quiet there and no sales. After that a meeting in Tullow and a brief period in the garden. Most of the work was deadheading roses and some weeding in the rockery. In the evening, I had another meeting so very little gardening. The Hydrangeas which I slipped in June and are now rooted, were put out to harden but were brought in about 10.30 p.m. It was quite chilly at the time, unlike other nights this week. Isn't it great that we have had so little rain recently. I got the Irish Garden by post to day and look forward to reading it, especially Rachel's article on orchids.
26 July 2012 21:06:21
Monday was a great day. The one aim was to mow the grass in the front lawn. I got two thirds done but needed some cooling down after that much. Normally there would be no problem getting it all cut but as there had been rain at a time when the job was to be done it had to be left there. As I said I needed cooling down as I had a meeting in Paulstown. I would probably finish the job on Tuesday, but the grass was wet on Tuesday and there was little or no drying. Then on Wednesday, I had to travel to Dublin and when I got back, it was too late. I was determined to finish the job on Thursday. Then a phone call came about 11 a.m. to do meals on wheels (normally I do this only on Tuesdays). Eventually on Thursday afternoon, I attacked the one third of the lawn. It was tough going, as it had not been mown for some time. A coffee break at about 3.15 p.m. and out again to finish the job. At last at about 5 p.m. all of the grass was cut. Of course it was a very warm day so it was necessary on account of the day we had and also the hard going to be properly attired. My energy was low at this stage so no more strenuous work for a while, so I got at other jobs as I cooled down. Then after tea, about 7 p.m. I began to bring the grass along to the compost heap. Normally there would be about 20 box fulls of grass in all but now I has 24 box fulls from the one third of the lawn. At last it was all in and I can relax having got the job done. While the going was hard, I enjoyed it but hope that I wont have the same job to do again. By the way I notice that our friend in Loughrea has a sit on mower. Mine on the other hand while operated by petrol is a push type.
22 July 2012 20:33:05
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
The pink Hydrangea is more saturated than the ones that cover a large amount of ground.
The white Hydrangea, I got cuttings not so long ago and they are now in bloom. It took some time before the flowers were worth viewing.
22 July 2012 20:24:45
Rose Iceberg
This rose, one of the few white roses I have is now opening.
21 July 2012 15:45:39
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
I showed these roses from cuttings a few days ago. They are still not a year in the ground but look at the flowers now.
20 July 2012 22:30:12
Despite all of the rain we have had, bush fruit, roses, and shrubs are all doing well. In fact I would say that only for the rain in June and early July, things would be much worse. Hydrangeas are top class now and worth looking at. The same can be said of Hypericums and roses. I can now say that the size of the roses is incredible. Grapes in the greenhouse are such that they are getting sweeter every day. When HeadGardener and later Ladygardener and Noelle came one had to look for the good ones. Now there is no need, they are nearly ripe although a bit small. I suppose next year DV they will be bigger. I was at the Country Market to day and custom was much better than on previous occasions. I sold 4 lb of gooseberries, one bunch of rhubarb and one Hydrangea, now rooted. It was slipped about a month ago. I have rooted twenty Hydrangeas and I slipped another five over the last few days. The rest of the gooseberries are fairly ripe and now more for desert than for jam. I started in the afternoon at the picking of blackcurrants. There are plenty of them at the moment unlike last year when the birds, mainly blackbirds devoured them all. So despite the rain, I am very pleased with my produce. Of course it is still difficult to control the weeds.
19 July 2012 14:43:59
David Austin
First year with this one. No it was not propagated from a cutting. My niece Esther gave it to me as a present.
18 July 2012 20:02:11
Roses Rooting
These roses were introduced from cuttings last September. There are five plants there, four are certain. There are already three flowers and three rose buds . I should be lifting the plants in about two months time.
15 July 2012 20:34:06
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Roses are in good shape perhaps a bit late but doing well.
14 July 2012 21:33:00
To day was enjoyable, fine generally even though a bit cool for mid July. I spent some time pruning Cotoneastors which tend to grow quite a lot at this time. about half of the Philadelphus was pruned, the dead flowers removed, more vetches removed ( never had so much ). While I missed the Cork v Wexford game, I watched the Limerick v Clare game. A really enjoyable game of hurling and the two sides which produced me have qualified. To morrow, I am looking forward to the Munster Hurling Final Waterford v Tipp. I will be shouting for Waterford although the Decies will have their hands full.
I watched the Munster Senior Hurling final on TV. It was great. While Waterford, the side I cheered on lost, they were good and still in it. To morrow we will see the draw and may the best team win.
13 July 2012 16:58:52
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
You may remember in May when one Saturday night we got frost and the following day these shrubs were a sorry sight. Thanks to the rain in June and early July they are transformed.
12 July 2012 15:29:59
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
After the very cold December 2010, it seemed that it would never be seen again but after several months in 2011 it was visible again. Look at it now, as good as ever. I have several of these shrubs in the garden all taken as cuttings from the parent plant, which was only a cutting when i got it. I have taken cuttings galore from these shrubs for many people. This is a good time to take cuttings. I have noted that Rachel had the same experience, seemed dead and now as good as ever.
10 July 2012 15:41:08
Solanum
I got this plant from Bill, the day he called. It has just begun flowering. (Have I got the spelling right?) Thanks Bill.
To day it was cool in the morning about 14 degrees. Abour 2 p.m. out came the sun and out went Dick to avail of the solar radiation. I took five cuttings of Hypericum hidcote, which is really good now unlike this time last year when it had hardly recovered from the year before. Roses were deadheaded and a photo was taken of Solanum. Before long, I had to move as fast as possible to avoid a heavy shower.
09 July 2012 17:56:45
What a lovely day Saturday was. I was in my element enjoying the sun and air and hoping that it would continue but it wasn't to be that way. Nevertheless I got a lot of work done in the garden, front and back. The onion bed needed weeding and that was done, then more gooseberries picked then at the front, there was an area where hogweed, blackthorn and many others were noticed and as some were removed good looking plants like Hydrangeas became visible. On Sunday I enjoyed the matches on TV, Cork ve Clare and especially Galway v Kilkenny. To day i had planned to get at the garden as it was promising but then down came the rain. I topped and tailed 4 lbs of gooseberries and potted the rest of the Hydrangeas. Now I have 20 potted and by the end of the month, they should be 100%. I notice that Sunday next is the 15 th St. Swithen's Day so we should watch out.
07 July 2012 20:22:36
Cerinthe Major
I got the seeds of this plant in January fro unagrant. Thanks very much Una. I planted it out probably a month ago. When Anne and Noelle were looking at the plants, they noticed these. I presume they will grow a bit more.
06 July 2012 21:51:05
Once more we had a great TV programme this evening showing gardens in so many parts of the country - the Lough Derg area on the Shannon, Baltimore, Donegal and Laois. It was really enjoyable.I didn't know that it was coming on until it arrived. Well done RTÉ Cork. Shame on you Montrose!
06 July 2012 16:43:35
To day, I attended the Country Market. My stand passessed items like rhubarb, aloe vera and gooseberries. While rhubarb and aloe vera didn't sell, the three lbs of gooseberries went very quickly. I had 4 lbs picked for jam and this is the second making of gooseberry jam this year. The bushes have still quite a lot of fruit but no chance of picking them on account of the heavy rain. The result is the the jam is being made.
05 July 2012 19:28:53
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Click to zoom
Here are some of my roses.
05 July 2012 13:08:02
To day, I looked at my Hydrangeas and realised that they can be potted. By lunch time, half were potted. When potting I used potting compost with some garden soil. I got this tip from Gerry some time ago as weevils otherwise may attack the plants and there should be Nematoba in the soil and they would do the job on the larvae of the weevils. The other half had the plastic bags removed. The Hydrangeas which were potted are now in the cold propagator. I am more than pleased with the progress. So the members who have requested Hydrangeas from me should be able to get them in good shape very soon.
03 July 2012 17:22:39
Doubting Thomas's
A few days ago I showed a particular rose. Of course many would feel that you can blow up the image. Just to reveal that there may be a lot of doubting Thomas's around, I took the photo of this rose from the same bush. Notice my hand beside the rose. By the way to day is the feast of St. Thomas and the term Doubting Thomas arose over his doubt about 2000 years ago. I noticed by the way, a lovely rose called Graham Thomas.
02 July 2012 16:33:02
Climbing or Rambling Rose
This rose is giving great results this year. I don't know the name
02 July 2012 14:21:36
Hydrangea cuttings were taken in June. Now in the first week in July several are rooted. Twenty cuttings were taken. I expect all or nearly all to be rooted soon. I hope to take more Hydrangea cuttings within the next few days and also cuttings of other shrubs.