Periwinkle's Journal

Dry river bed.

Dry river bed.

and in Donegal!

I haven't been on this site much in the past few weeks. Like parents of children who are too quiet, you suspect that I'm "up to something"!

Well, you would be right! You all know that I have a very wet area in the Lower Garden, in particular the area that I refer to as the Outer Circle. Most of the winter this area has been water-logged. I just had to do something about it as I was in danger of loosing plants, So over many days, I dug a deep channel along the lowest area and between the plants. Then I filled it with gravel and stones. The soil that I took out was spread along the "banks" of this. This evening I planted up the "banks" with primulas and astilbes. Most of the plants in this area are suitable for moist soil. they include Hostas, candlabra primulas, Arums, Day Lillies, Camassia, lobelia, irises etc. and azaleas and rhododendron and cornus.

Plants and Plans!

Yesterday I planted in some of the bulbs/tubers that I had received from Heritage Bulbs last week: Dodecatheons, Peonia "Dutchesse de Nemours" and Tritelia laxa "Queen Fabiola". I still have some Begonias and a Lily from H B to plant up.

Today, not much gardening done; just a bit of titivating and planning! Had to learn the lesson (AGAIN!!) that one should always stick to the original Plan!! A few weeks ago I altered the layout of part of the Lower Garden (Thankfully, a small area) but have never felt happy about it! Today I moved back to the original Design - now that is a rather fancy name for something in my head!!! But once I returned to 'Plan A' I knew it was the one I should stick with!

Oh dear! Will I ever learn????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely weekend!

One of the many different dafs. in bloom.

Good company, beautiful weather and time in the garden all combine to guarantee a lovely weekend!! And that is just what I had!!.

Dublin visitors bearing gifts of plants including Dahlias, Hostas, Oriental Poppies- all will find a home here!

Most of Saturday was spent in the garden. I had planted in my two Silver Birch trees and Ron very kindly drove the stakes home for me! Timber from two large fir trees that had been cut down the week before was all wheeled into the shed.

The bench that I had places in the Outer Circle was moved to a new and more secluded spot -there were many positionings before a final decision was reached!! Couldnt be done without help and I'm delighted with the result!

Some plants were then moved around - again!!  In between all that, "Tea and Cake" was enjoyed sitting on the bench in lovely sunshine!  A delightful Patrick's Day!!

Great Saturday for the garden!

Great Saturday for the garden!

And I made the most of it!

Divided Drumstick Primulas, and Hostas and moved some of each to the new border in the Lower Garden.

Some of you may remember a journal I put up (15th September'11) about a primula with a dark, brown/red flower that had appeared in the Outer Circle. Well today I noticed that it had formed a nice clump, so I dug it up and divided it and replanted the now seven plants in the new border. Also see a couple of seedlings coming up too. It will be really interesting to see what colour the flowers will be this year!!. This is a primula that I didnt plant.

Then I potted up some Sweet Williams.

Im a tired, but happy bunny!

First!

Lower Garden.

Now, I know that those of you who garden in the dry and sunny south have cut your grass before now! But, here in the wet Noth-west only those with webbed feet would be out there!!

BUT!! this morning was beautiful and the past couple of days have not been bad either, so, as I didn't leave for work until 10.30am I got the mower out and 'topped' the grass in the Lower Garden. Now some of it was still too wet so the Outer Circle had to be left, but just taking the top off really tidied up the place and lifted my spirits too!

I took a picture of the Lower Garden  afterwards, looking from east to west, and you can see the new border along the fence (left of picture) that I started working on way back in September and then had to leave as it got too wet. Much more to do in digging and planting there but it is taking shape. The grass "path" leads into my mini "woodland" ! Really it can only be seen in my mind's eye yet but a few years growth will help, me hopes!!

First!