Last Post 1114 days 12 hours ago
31 May 2010 20:09:52
The Orchard
Orchard walls can tame the universe;
Greenhouse, barrows, ragged sheds are shrines
Where gardeners' ritual controls - Adam's Curse
Forgotten. But when swallows trace
Invisible skeins upon a water-coloured sky,
Man's husbandry must know its place.
Men bent to labour on familiar soil
Are quick to sense a change of wind or cloud
Which brings them ill or good. By constant toil
Life gives a heady strength, like wine.
The intellect is never still, but restless
In abstractions. Lovers ever pine
For consummation - puppets in a play,
Ignore inevitable wind to see
It bear Spring and blossom away.
Swallows stroke the darkening sky
With dipping strides. The gardener, looking up,
Sees into the heart of life, with his unclouded eye.
I found a book of poems in this old house when we moved in and loved this one. I thought it a good tribute to Rita, as although I didn't know her well, I get the feeling she saw into the heart of life and I believe she also had an unclouded eye.
24 May 2010 11:45:15
Cottagey garden
Here is my cottagey border which I'm pretty happy with at the moment. It has primulas, aquilegias, brunnera, dicentra and astilbe and sedum coming on in the background. At least one area of the garden is performing! My camera has passed on and I never knew how dependant I was on it. This was taken with my daughters phone, but its not the same. I really miss it. :- (
18 May 2010 09:40:08
Bloom discounts
Hey Everybody! If you are thinking of booking tickets to Bloom online here is a promotion code that could get you in for as little as €13 - just put this code into the promotion code box FTW10 . Theres also a promotion with An post - if you pay 2 bills at the same time you get a 2 for 1 voucher. Now I just have to decide which day(S) to go!
15 May 2010 19:36:30
Bluebells at Ardgillan
When I moved in to this house I was delighted to see lots of bluebells and lily-of-the-valley coming up in my new garden. But I'm afraid the bluebells are the wrong ones. They are not the ones I was hoping for. This may sound silly - aren't all bluebells the same? Well no actually, there are the native ones and then there are the imposters which look fine until you see one beside a native one. The native ones,
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, are much more delicate and all the bells hang on one side of the stalk. The imposter - the spanish bluebell,
Hyacinthoides hispanica and its offspring that hybridise with the native bluebell, are more robust and along with people taking bluebells from the wild, are in danger of wiping out our little native treasures. Anyway, I'll enjoy my 'garden' bluebells for now. I don't mean to sound xenophobic here but if I were to plant bluebells I'd make sure they were the the
non-scripta type and not the Spanish ones.
14 May 2010 11:02:13
Lissadell, Sligo
Bord Bia are organising a free gardening event this weekend in Sligo featuring Dermot O'Neill and Garden.ie member Ciaran Burke -
Its Garden Time Sunday May 16th, Radisson Hotel, Rosses Point, Sligo from 1pm - 5.30pm
RTE presenter and gardening guru Dermot O'Neill will be travelling to Sligo as part of a free gardening workshop being organised by Connacht Gold DIY & Garden and Bord Bia. 'It's Garden Time' is being held in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Sligo on Sunday, 16th May and will feature two presentations from Dermot, expert advice from Ciaran Burke, founder of The Garden School, demonstrations and Q&A sessions. Doors to the event will open at lpm and it will be free of charge to the public, who will also have the chance to enter a prize draw and go home with a fabulous goodie bag. Refreshments will also be served on the day
1.00 Doors open and supplier exhibits
2.00 Dermot O'Neill speaks on topical gardening issues
2.45 Damien Conlon (Horticulturist) of Connacht Gold's Garden Centres
3.00 Ciaran Burke Lecturer from the Garden School - "Grow your own"
3.30 Refreshments
3.45 Dermot O'Neill - on roses
4.30 Questions and answers session with Dermot O'Neill and Ciaran Burke
5.00 Raffle Draw
• Refreshments served
• Raffle on day
• Demonstrations on lawnmowers and gardening equipment
• Garden advice centre with Connacht Gold Horticulturists and garden suppliers
In association with Bord Bia.
12 May 2010 23:39:18
A different approach to gardening
This lady will be speaking at Bloom and if you would like to find out more about her you should read the landscaper Peter Donegan's blog from a few months back. She has written a book called 'Gardening Nude', the title of which may raise a few eyebrows but I think it refers more to gardening being such a personal thing. I think its about going back to basics and breaking down barriers, and opening up to the community. I haven't read it yet - I'm looking forward to reading it though.
http://blog.doneganlandscaping.com/2009/11/30/gardening-nude-a-book-review/
12 May 2010 23:19:14
http://bloominthepark.com/stages/
Stages & Timetables
Woodie's GARDEN EXPERT STAGE
Thursday, 3rd June
11.00 - 11.20 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg of Woodies
11. 30 - 12.15 Shawna Lee Coronado Glenisk
12.30 - 13.00 Perennials Paddy Gleeson of Woodies
13.15 - 14.00 Gerry Daly On Gardening Gerry Daly
14.15- 15.30 FLOWER ARRANGING Maurice Wynn TBC
15.25 - 15.45 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg of Woodies
16.00 - 16.45 We've no more space but we're still going to buy more plants" James Alexander Sinclair
17.00 - 17.30 Shawna Lee Coronado Glenisk
Friday, 4th June
10.15 - 10.45 Shawna Lee Coronado Glenisk
11.00 - 11.45 We've no more space but we're still going to buy more plants" James Alexander Sinclair
12.00 - 12.45 Dermot O' Neill Dermot O'Neill
13.00 - 13.45 Gerry Daly on Gardening Gerry Daly
14.00 - 14.45 FLOWER ARRANGING Maurice Wynn TBC
15.00 - 15.45 Dermot O'Neill Dermot O'Neill
16.00 - 16.30 GARDEN DESIGN - "Ask the Experts" Charied by Gerry Daly GLDA (Garden Landscape Designers Association)
16.45 - 17.15 Perennials Paddy Gleeson of Woodies
17.30 - 17.50 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
Saturday 5th June
10.15 - 10.35 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg of Woodies
10.45 - 11.15 Shawna Lee Coronado Glenisk
11.30 - 12.00 Perennials Paddy Gleeson of Woodies
12.15 - 13.00 Dermot O'Neill Dermot O'Neill
13.15 - 14.00 FLOWER ARRANGING Maurice Wynn TBC
14.15 - 15.00 GARDEN DESIGN - "Ask the Experts" Charied by Gerry Daly GLDA (Garden Landscape Designers Association)
15.15 - 16.00 Dermot O'Neill Dermot O'Neill
16.15 - 16.35 Shawna Lee Coronado Glenisk
16.50 - 17.45 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
Sunday 6th June
10.15 - 10.35 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
11.00- 11.45 Shawna Lee Coronado
12.00 - 12.30 Perennials Paddy Gleeson of Woodies
12.45 - 13.30 GIY - Together we Grow" - Michael Kelly GIY Ireland
13.45 - 14.30 FLOWER ARRANGING Maurice Wynn TBC
14.45 - 15.00 Shawna Lee Coronado
15.15 - 16.00 Gerry Daly
16.15 - 16.35 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
16.45- 17.30 GARDEN DESIGN - "Ask the Experts" Charied by Gerry Daly GLDA (Garden Landscape Designers Association)
Monday, 7th June
10.15 - 10.35 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
10.45 - 11.30 Shawna Lee Coronado
11.45 - 12.30 Gerry Daly on Gardening Gerry Daly
12.45 - 13.15 Perennials Paddy Gleeson
13.30 - 14.15 GIY - Together we Grow" - Michael Kelly GIY Ireland
14.30 - 15.00 Shawna Lee Coronado
15.15 - 16.00 GARDEN DESIGN - "Ask the Experts" Charied by Gerry Daly GLDA (Garden Landscape Designers Association)
16.10 - 16.30 DIY for Gardeners Les Swarbrigg
NB: The above times are correct at time of print but maybe subject to change
Chef's Summer Kitchen
Thursday, 3rd June 2010
12:45-13:30 Neven Maguire McNean House and Bistro, Blacklion, Co. Cavan
14:15 - 15:00 Cooks Academy
15:45 - 16:30 Peter Merrigan Avoca Café
Friday, 4th June 2010
11:30 - 12:15 Sheila Kelly Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
13:00 - 13:45 Darina Allen Ballymaloe Cookery School
14:30 - 15:15 Raymond McArdle Head Chef, Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
16:15 - 17:00 Sheila Kelly Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
Saturday, 5th June 2010
11:00 - 11:45 Maire Dufficy Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
12:30 - 13:15 Jenny Bristow
14:00 - 14:45 Donal Skehan Good Mood Food
15:45 - 16:30 Maire Dufficy Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
Sunday, 6th June 2010
11:00 - 11:45 Catherine Fulvio Ballyknocken House
12:30 - 13:15 Cooks Academy
14:00 - 14:45 Catherine Fulvio Ballyknocken House
15:45 - 16:30 Cooks Academy
Monday, 7th June 2010
11:00 - 11:45 Maire Dufficy Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
12:30 - 13:15 Neven Maguire McNean House and Bistro, Blacklion, Co. Cavan
14:00 - 14:45 Maire Dufficy Bord Bia Regional Food Advisor
15:45 - 16.30 Cooks Academy
10 May 2010 11:02:58
A worm in a knot
What if you were a worm and managed to tie yourself in a knot?
I'm sure many of us have felt like this at some point and it seems whatever way we wriggle we manage to get ourselves deeper into trouble, the knot tightens, you don't know which way is up and it seems hopeless. Then along comes a friend who sticks a twig through the knot, gives you some wriggle room so that you can help yourself to get free and get back to doing what you do best - getting stuck into the soil and just getting on with it!
10 May 2010 00:04:28
Crinum powellii (from the web)
Totally exhausted after today but enjoying seeing how everyone got on at the plant fair. One thing I had in mind to get today were lillies and I got just what I was looking for at Terra Nova. Crinum powellii, a lily I wasn't familiar with but am loving the sound of, and a few other lilies that will be a surprise as I don't know what colour they are. I also picked up a copy of the Limerick garden Plants Group book which I am looking forward to getting in to. Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Asphodeline lutea, Dodonaea, tiger lillies and Phlomis russeliana more or less complete my booty today. Plus the plants Rachel kindly gave me - looking forward to seeing how I get on with them.
After the plant fair we went to my old garden in Westmeath to cut the grass and do a bit of a tidy up before we get the place rented. It was bittersweet being back there - I had just missed the Magnolia in flower and the Winston Churchill daffs were just going over, but overall it seemed to be doing fine without me! The apple trees were covered with blossom - hopefully there will be somebody there to pick the apples when they are ready. I did dig up a few more things to help fill out the new garden like some foxglove seedlings, a japanese bucker fern and, I know its a risk to be moving roses but I also dug up a 'Swan lake' as I bought it bareroot last year and just stuck it into the border where it was never meant to stay.
Anyway I'm impressed with everybody's haul today but we have yet to see what Headgardener came home with - 3 trips to the car - is that the record? Or was it more? Glad that there was something for everyone, even those of us who are not easily impressed!
09 May 2010 08:35:05
Thompson and Morgan Veg seeds
There is 50% off T&M veg seeds until tonight for anyone who still wants to order some. A few things are out of stock but there is particularly good value with peas and beans - you could stock up for next year if you are really organised! You have to order by tonight though. I'm definitely going to order some more salad seeds.
Looking forward to seeing a few members in Celbridge today. Looks like it is going to be a fabulous day.
07 May 2010 12:21:48
Papyrus rooting
I went to a meeting the other day about a proposed Community Garden in Skerries. It is a very exciting prospect to be involved in but it is in its early stages and there is nothing definite yet - there is a very exciting possibility of a site but as it is not confirmed I'd best keep stum for now. But the meeting was at one of the commitee members houses and she had some fabulous papyrus in a pot in the conservtory. She said it roots really easily - all you do is break off one of the stems and stick it upside down in water and roots and new shoots will grow from where the leaves join the stem. So I was delighted when she gave me a handful that she had started off which I now have rooting in the kithen in a jam jar. Can't wait to get it potted up.
07 May 2010 00:24:32
Nightie-night
Just got a book from the library today called 'A Gardener's Nightcap' and the first passage is - 'And then to bed.....thinking of seed-sowing and pruning and mulching, and slug hunting, and this year's done, and next year's doing, and all the other garden preoccupations that obtrude themselves so pleasantly before a gardener sleeps....'
I don't know that I'll be having sweet dreams about slug-hunting but I am enjoying the book. Things are finally starting to take off in the new garden, and funnily enough I haven't seen a slug since I got here, possibly thanks to the resident blackbird. I may finally be able to grow hostas! One of the first things I planted was an Auricula Nadine gave me and it is looking gorgeous now. The flowers are beautiful, as if they are dressed in velvet and waiting for an invitation to Spider's ball!
05 May 2010 10:06:05
What came out of the washing
I came in from the line yesteday and dumped the washing on the back of the computer chair and then sat down to catch up on a few journals. I was happily reading away for about half and hour when suddenly I heard this buzzing from behind me and out crawled this massive bee. I'm wondering if it is a queen bee as I have never seen one so big. Anyway, I put a vase over it and a sheet of paper over the top and sent it on its merry way.
03 May 2010 21:17:13
How not to lose your gloves
Wouldn't it be nice to have a nice exotic palm tree like this to hang the gardening gloves on? Had a lovely afternoon today at Ardgillan. We should consider it for a Garden.ie get - together sometime, perhaps over the summer when the rose garden is in full bloom. The gardens never disappoint me - I really love the herb garden, its such a release. There is a great range of plants of interest in the walled garden and there is always something in flower.
I haven't had a lot of time for gardening or garden.ie-ing lately but I certainly haven't hung up my gloves!