Last Post 1300 days 19 hours ago
29 October 2009 11:01:51
Changing colours
Don't look like I will get much done in garden today. Am taking pictures of the Sumac as it changes colour, this one I took yesterday with morning dew still on it.
29 October 2009 07:43:21
I missed out on yesteday's great weather due to family comments (baa humbug..) HAHA, so was really glad to hear that today was to be as good, light mist in the west.... did they leave out the east coat, if that's mist, I'm a Superstar.... ok no comments on that. On another note, made the Ballyknocken Relish that was in the Garden mag, whow..... it is good, and will only get hotter, I may have gone a little heavy on some of the seasoning, but it is good. Have a good day, whatever your doing. Aee Up, heavy rain has just stopped, maybe I was to quick to blame.
28 October 2009 20:12:28
In full bloom
My Kaffir lilies are doing really well and putting on a great show. One question I have, do these normally grow at an angle of about 20-25 degrees? Or is it as a result of this boarder been badly overcrowed during the summer. When I replanted this bed a few weeks ago, I did not move them as they were just about to flower.
27 October 2009 21:01:53
I am sure you have all done it, once you have been away for a few days, a week, a month you can't wait to have a look and walk around the garden. So that is what I did, but what a shock I was in for. At the edge of the gravel where the decking is, something had dug four big holes in under the decking. Even the layer of weed control had been pulled back. Something big had made these holes, I got down on my hands and knees, and fell back as something snarled and jumped out and was gone again as fast. This really freaked me out, so I went and got a rake and started to bang on the decking.
I could heard some kind of hissing/growling, suddenly a badger ran out, and stopped at the end of the garden and turned around. It was a fine animal, but started growling at me again. I went to chase it a bit more when there was more growling from behind me, as I turned around three more badgers had appeared. S--- this was to much, just then I felt something biting at my leg from behind, I shouted for Colin to get help.... I opened my eyes and jumped... it was 3.15 am and I was in bed. That Guinness in west is strong stuff. (could there be an add for the black stuff here do you think)
27 October 2009 20:28:06
What will it be?
While in Clare at the weekend we went of a walk along Quilty beach. We were the only two there, wild seas, strong wind, great for blowing the cobwebs away. Just as we were turning back, I spotted this piece of drift wood, it would have to be at the fardest point from the car. Don't know what I will make out of it but there are a few things coming to mind. Will leave in shed over winter to dry out, so will be next spring before I will have anything to show.
26 October 2009 21:53:10
In the recent weeks someone made a comment in relation to what would happen as the Winter sets in and that there would be a shortage of comments on the site. After been away for a few days, I was taken back at the number of entries made in 3 days and the mixture of content, taking into account the weather over the wekend there is a great mixture of topics been posted. I think things will quieten a little, but there will still be plenty been posted and discussed. It is up to us all to keep it going over the coming months.
23 October 2009 09:35:02
Just turning now.
Some weeks ago I made a comment on my Sumack, and the fact that others in the area had nearly there full Autumn colours on display. Those trees are now totally bare, while mine is just starting to turn. It must be to do with its position or soil condition, I am in Clare for the weekend, looking forword to seeing what a few days does to it. This is a great tree for its Autumn colour.
21 October 2009 21:28:14
This is the story of four people called:
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and,
Everybody was sure that Somebody could do it.
Anybody would have done it, but Nobody did it,
Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everbdy's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody
realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that, Everybody blamed Somebody when
Nobody did what Anybody could have
done !
18 October 2009 17:42:10
Rhodochiton protection
I got this Rhodochiton at the rare plant show in Belvadere recently. It is a tender plant but can take the winter in the dublin area, in a courtyard / sheltered site.
I am hoping the hedge, the trees on the embankment, closness to the sea will all help in its protection. I am also going to protect it with fleech for the worst of the winter. If I fix the fleech around the pot and then wrap fleech around the plant and around the post is that ok. I have never used garden fleech before, do I need to do any thing else?
18 October 2009 16:31:45
The ultimate question. Weeds, grass and moss in a cobblelock driveway, what is the best method of control, is it better to spray or use watering can, any really good product that someone has found that works well.
Any comments, welcome. Thanks in advance as always.
17 October 2009 22:10:03
Wind Chime
This is the wind chime I made a little while ago, the chimes themselves I bought in Farmleigh. Does anyone know where I could get more of them?
17 October 2009 19:25:18
Where does a day go
Wanted to sort out one of the beds in the front garden, couple of hours would sort it....should have known better. I ended up working the whole day on one bed. Started by raking out the leaves, was surprised at how big the ferns had got, decided to split them, when they were out, other plants looked to big, struggling, or just in the wrong place. So to hell with it, most things were taken out. Soil was really hard, had not been dug to this extent for years.
Climbers were cut back, looked at the wall, "must paint that some time". Door opened, 16 year old, still in dressing gown "morning dad need a hand" BINGO, so I removed the trellises, off the brackets, Labourer not the only one who thinks ahead..... So Colin painted the wall, not a bad job at all. Cut this, split that, moved the other, planted daffs, tidy up, day gone, but it does look good and have ideas for next years summer planting. Am going to run wires on top of the wall, I want the climbers to spread better. Will post photos shortly.
Out of all this I have some ferns, that need a good home if anyone is interested, I dont know names, when I get a chance I will look them up.
14 October 2009 20:04:12
Where my new gravel area has gone in at the side of the house, there is a large Ash tree on the boundry. In the distance past there was also a small wooden shed, now long gone. For years, after, we moved in all grass cuttings, leaves etc were put here, an unoffical compost heap. When the hedge grew and access to this spot decreased it was forgotten about.
The shed was removed some years ago, that is where the new hedge has now been planted. At the weekend I decided to pull ivy away from a mound at the back of the Ash tree, to try and keep it away from the new hedge. Knowing ground Ivy, I thought I had my work cut out. I was very surpised how easily the Ivy and roots pulled away totally. Beneath was a sight to behold. Beautiful Brown Gold. I then remembered my old compost heap. I would say there could be up to 20 bags of compost in it. There is some crap and stones etc. but I can take it out as I need it. Happy days.
I presume there is no problem in using it, it has impoved with age, just like myself..
13 October 2009 22:34:23
My mother had an old style Chrysanthemum in the garden years ago. It was 4 ft tall, lovely red/orange rustic colour, it woulld flower well into November/ December, real Autume colours. The only plants I can find are the small compact type. Does anyone know where these tall growing kinds be obtained.
12 October 2009 22:13:32
Site for raised bed
OK, I'm going for it. You all know I have a wilderness area and that I have started work on it. This is going to take some time, but I am going to put in a raised bed (12x8 appox) over the winter, and it will be ready for planting in the spring, going to start with salad items etc. big baby steps to start with. I need basic pointers, do i dig over the soil befor raised soil goes in, do you kill off grass and weeds first?
Simple pointers, the wood frame is no problem. Its the basic set up of soil and preparation I need help on.
10 October 2009 23:08:52
Rhodochiton
Today, I also go the arch finsihed. I got the second coat of stain on first thing and let it dry. I changed my mind on not planting the arch,us gardeners tend to change our mind quite a bit. So I planted a Rhodchiton that I got in at Belvadere. A strange thing brought it all together. I have an Easter Island Head, I had to move it out of the bed in the back this morning, I put it on the slabs beneath the arch. Coming out of the house sometime later, out of no where I remembered that my Dad told me he would love to see the statues on Easter Island. That was it sorted. Completely weird but it all feels so right. Will post photos tomorrow.
10 October 2009 20:59:15
The big replant
Great day to be in the garden, great Autume day. As I mentioned in another enrty the bed in the back garden was overplanted. It may not have looked it in the photos but it was, plants really fighting amonst themselves for space.
Cut back and split a lot of things prior to repositioning, I hope it is right this time, I have picked up a lot from looking at all the photos on the site. I hope to have extra plants for the wilderness area when it is ready. Should get this bed finished tomorrow, bulbs planted and all, I hope.
I have also completed and planted the arch, need some photos, so will have those tomorrow.
10 October 2009 08:23:43
Wow, that is some change from yesterday. One or two family things first thing, then start clearing, cutting back and moving some things in the back garden. Enjoy your day whatever you do I think it is going to be a good day.
09 October 2009 16:54:11
Hi to you all,
I logged onto the site today, from work, and received some messages that were sent as friends requests or as ''friends request replies'' to me. This is the first time that I saw them, there was also some private emails. This must go back to the email problem that I was having. So if I did not reply to any comments sent with friend requests, I am sorry, you now know why.
So please treat this as a Hello and great to meet you all.
Regrets again.
Fran
08 October 2009 21:18:06
Reading the journals over the last few days, i am amazed at the number of you sweeping and raking up leaves. Here in Shankill Co. Dublin (next stop Wicklow) the leaves are only starting to turn, very few on the ground (yet). It is surprising how many of you are nearly finished this stage of the gardening year and others are only barely started.
If any one loves racking leaves, I can keep you busy. I am at the end of a cul de sac, wind blows everything my way, road is planted with big leaf trees, great at any other time of the year.
06 October 2009 22:44:26
At the back of the wilderness area, under grass, weeds and brambles is possible 50 or more pieces of granite. If anyone is considering a rockery, or edging for beds, it is there for you. Once you can come and remove it yourself its there for the taking.
I would post a photo if I could see it, only I know its there, and will be uncovering it soon. :-)
06 October 2009 22:21:00
Does anyone have experience of the garden tours run by Bay Garden?
06 October 2009 14:24:00
Arch Finished
Slight break in rain gave me a chance to get top crossmembers fixed in place. The final coat of stain can wait till its dry again. All this wood and the wood in the raised bed was to be dumped by a brother in law. It was dirty, but a power wash and some time and stain and you get this. When brother in law sees this !!!!!!!!
06 October 2009 08:17:29
Could it not have held off for two hours, am glad to see the rain, as everything is as dry as a bone. A couple of hours was all I needed to get arch finished, back to work on Wednesday, so will be weekend before its finished. Ah well, will get some of the long waiting things on todo list (other than gardening) ticked off. Are us gardeners ever happy !! I have decided that I will leave the arch as a stand alone item and not plant it up.
Arch might be a wrong word for it, more like ' is it a bird ' 'is it a plane ' no its just Fran on one of this design trips again. It will look good when the hedge grows up around the single post, and hides it. An Arch with a sigle post I hear you ask, you'll have to wait and see the photos. The weather men got it right, it is belting down here. Enjoy your day, whatever you may be doing.
05 October 2009 20:29:04
If my Dad was around, today was what he would have called a ''pet day'' I was working on the arch/frame that I am putting at the side area, leading to the back garden. By 10 o clock, it was t shirt weather, dead calm, fresh air and my idea was coming together nicely.
Our main boundry is the old Harcourt Railway Line, now totally overgrown, but great for wildlife. Taking a break and sitting on window cill, I caught sight of a squirell sitting looking at me. For about 15 minutes he jumped from branch to branch getting closer and closer. Then quickly with a few jumps he was gone. Alot of my love of gardening and nature came from Dad.
For some reason I felt very close to him at that moment. I think it was the love nature, and what he thaught me about working with my hands, all came together at that moment. Would love to know what he would say about the arch I am building. Will post photos in a day or so when finished. Am thinking that I might not even plant a climber on it, just let it say it's own thing. We'll see.
That was one pet of a day.
04 October 2009 20:41:36
Last Tuesday or so I noticed that site was very quite, there was only one or two mails coming through to me. I then noticed that comments were been made that I should have gotten.
Straight away, I said I had changed some settings, as I want to learn more about the computer, I have been messing around quite a bit, I checked everything, all seemed ok. Sent some mail from work as a test yesterday, they did not come through.
I rang eircom last night, credit where it is due, it took nearly 40 mins, but they stuck with it. It turns out that if to many messages come from the same site, some systems can decide that they are spam and can block messages.
So as a word of warning if you have noticed a sudden drop in the number of messages coming through to you, give your server provider a call. It can be sorted out, with alittle time.
03 October 2009 21:09:05
I have been thinking about the garden a lot lately, getting the wilderness sorted etc. I need to slow down a little. I also have the two beds in the driveway to tidy an replant a bit, the side gravel area to finish, the wooden arch to be made for this area, and replant the main bed in the back garden. Just not enough time. So I plan to slowly keep the wilderness cut back, take the rest in full control, and be ready for the spring. So it will be smaller steps in the short term, with a greater goal at the end. I hope.
I am going to draw out a outline sketch of my garden, I would nearly bet no one has a stranger shaped garden any where.