27 February 2009 16:06:18
Little gardener
Had fun yesterday sowing seeds with the kids. The 3 of them planted their own sunflower seeds so we can have a competition to see who can grow the tallest one. The youngest just turned 2 and got a nice wheelbarrow, shovel, rake and watering can as a present so he will be a big help! He liked sowing seeds but wanted to put them all in the same pot. He also liked pulling out the lables so we'll probably have a bit of rearranging to do once things begin to sprout!
25 February 2009 16:58:48
Snowdrops naturalising
The snowdrops that I thought hadn't taken at all are now putting on a good show and have actually increased in number. Hopefully they will continue to bulk up and I can spread them around the garden.
25 February 2009 16:55:55
Winter flowering honeysuckle
I planted this hoping to be blown away by the scent as it is supposed to have a powerful fragrance. But so far I am only getting a faint sweet smell when I am up very close. It is nice to see flowers at this time of year though and they are quite delicate. Maybe when it matures it will have more flowers and the scent will be more obvious - fingers crossed.
25 February 2009 16:35:00
Is that a hedgehog? Oh no its just holly!
I got two little hedgehog holly plants a while ago with the plan to make an unusual archway out of them. They are very slow growing so I'm still waiting for my arch but the leaves offer great amusement in the meantime with all the spikes, and I really like the variegated leaves.
16 February 2009 16:13:45
More snowdrops
This one has two green markings on the inner petals. I'm not sure where it came from, it doesn't look like
Glanthus nivalis to me.
16 February 2009 16:01:39
Double the pleasure!
Here is one of the double snowdrops that came from my Granny's garden. As it turns out quite a few of them flowered this year so they seem to be settling in after all! I'd love to know the proper name for them.
16 February 2009 15:40:47
White lilac
I picked up a lovely while flowered lilac in the garden centre and got my other half to dig a hole for it and help plant it on Valentines Day. How romantic! I'm hoping to have bunches to pick for years to come, or even better - bunches picked for me! It doesn't look like much right now but I hope to have flowers this year, even if you're not supposed to let lilacs flower the first year they are planted, I just couldn't bring myself to cut the flower buds off.
16 February 2009 10:37:44
Feel the magic!
I've been wishing to visit Brigit's garden in Galway for a long time and finally got the chance this weekend. The timing was perfect as St. Brigit's day is not long passed and the saint has great significance in the gardens. The sign on the way into the gardens says "Discover the magic" and indeed it is hard to put in to words how magical the atmosphere of the place is. It is very special, my spirit feels refreshed. The little ones absolutely loved it and really enjoyed discovering the different gardens, climbing the grassy hills, having a go on the basket swings and examining the sculptures. The little stone house in the centre of the four seasonal gardens really captured their imagination. I can't wait to go back when the trees are in leaf and the flowers are blooming. (More photos on my photo page)
11 February 2009 00:17:46
The crumbling but evocative Walled garden
We went for a walk in Derrycassin forest in the snow over the weekend. In the middle of the forest are the remains of an old walled garden, now taken over by nature. It was so still and magical...until a hare darted out of the undergrowth and frightened the life out of me!