19 October 2009 15:23:47
A Trio of Autumn Trees
I thought I was doing well for autumn colour until I read Jane Power's piece in the paper on Saturday. Now there are another 10 trees and shrubs on my wish list!
When we first moved in we spent a fortune on 3 large trees to put along the road at the front of the house - a Sorbus 'Joseph Rock', a Lime and a beech. The Beech was chosen because there are a lot of Beech trees and hedges around us in this part of the country - in fact there are two huge beech trees, one on either side of the road, on the way into the village which have become known as 'the Arch'. There is also a large stand of Beeches beside the farmhouse across the road, the view of which was one of the reasons we bought the house in the first place.
I put up loads of photos of autum tints and if anyone would like to read the article I mention go to
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2009/1017/1224256495437.html
What a fabulous picture of the grasses and the Stag's Horn Sumach.
16 October 2009 16:30:08
Pink Aster 'Rosa Sieger'
I picked up another Aster at West Quarters garden in Longford and plan going back for some more - I also got the Crocosmia Emily McKenzie - I'm not a big fan of the orange crocosmia but this one has lovely dark markings inside and the flower is much bigger than the 'common or garden' one. Also got some White Eupatorium, Monarda and Serratulla which is a new one for me, and some carex 'forsted curls' which I'm hoping the kids will have fun with.
13 October 2009 18:38:42
Mystery plant
We visited Nadine recently and she asked if I knew what this shrub is - I've been searching the books but can't seem to find it. I thought it might have been Sea Buckthorn but it doesn't have any thorns. The leaves are a little like Willow but it has small orangy flowers. I then thought it was lobelia laxiflora angustifolia (meaning narrow leaved) but no! It is about 3 feet tall. Any ideas much appreciated.
12 October 2009 18:31:14
Eimhin's Aster
Here is a plant well worth making room for - it is an Aster and only starts to flower at the beginning of October, and continues into November. I don't know the precise name of the cultivar but we call it Eimhin's Aster (pronounced Aveen's!) as she picked it up at a stall about 5 years ago and we have been spreading it around ever since. It is so easy to divide if anyone would like some just let us know as we have a few clumps of it now.
07 October 2009 16:34:46
Wonderful Web
This cobweb appeared overnight on ClaireE's holly which is in a pot at the backdoor. The wonders of nature....
07 October 2009 08:30:23
The field behind the house at dawn
Ooooh its a chilly one this morning. Time to light the fire and start wearing two pairs of socks in the garden. Or even better - slipper socks, they make wellies so much more comfy!
05 October 2009 15:52:08
Sorbus 'Joseph Rock'
Here's another great tree for autumn interest - its a mountain ash or Sorbus, and has lovely yellow berries and good autumn colour. The berries don't last that long as the birds enjoy them, but they are lovely for a while. This one is planted in very poor soil so it has taken a while to get going but it looks happy enough now.
I love the view across the road to the farmhouse, which actually reminds me of my Grandmother's house in Co. Meath. Its a very pastoral scene with the sheep in the field in front.
02 October 2009 16:19:05
Cercidiphyllum japonicum or the Toffee Tree
Just in from a stroll around the garden after a shower and I am amazed at the smell coming from the Katsura tree. I had heard that it is supposed to smell of burnt sugar as the leaves colour and start to fall in autumn but I thought it was just a myth as I have had this for a few years now and never before have I got even a faint smell from it. But today I really got it - a gorgeous toffee smell that has put me in the mood for toffee apples! The leaves are heart shaped and turn a lovely buttery yellow at this time of year.