Last Post 1268 days 22 hours ago
30 November 2009 22:12:22
Just to keep up with this fad on Orchids, I will add this story. First I need to say a couple of things.
I am not anti blond, I know several blond women and proud of it, any members out there who happen to be blond, nothing personal.
In another life, I was involved in a walking club. I arranged a weekend walking on the Burren in Clare. We had guided walk on one of the days. A guy called Shane, he was great, history, animals, nature, flowers, plants, folklore, he was great.
It was only then I learnt that there was so many Orchids growing in Ireland, let along the Burren. One woman was on her own, just back from shopping in New York, a pair of pink walking boots, that were cleaned 3 - 4 times that day. Earphones listening to the radio, and trying to sing. Got the picture I hope.
At one stage, Shane was telling us about one Orchid that they though had been lost from the Burren for some unknown reason, It had not been seen for about 4 years. It was a small pink flower, with tiny purple spots, ( I think ). We then walked on a while, waited for a few peoplle to catch up, pink boots included.
She walked up to Shane, " is this the flower you were talking about ". Shane's face said it all. Shock, horror, disgust, murder even, he was speechless. Turned and walked away. She was left holding this lovely Flower, asking us " what's wrong with him" with a blank, blond expression......
28 November 2009 19:57:58
Coming home from work a while ago, it had got really cold, big drop in temperature. About 10 minutes ago, decided i was going out to take up the Rodochitrum, finish cup of tea first.
Thunder and Lighting, lashing rain, may be gardening mad but there is a limit, sometimes.
28 November 2009 17:44:00
Apart from the trip to The Arboritum for Christmas, is there anyone interested in a trip to Chelsea. I got info yesterday in the post, will put details up later. 4 day trip inc. €750-- €800.
27 November 2009 20:30:37
I may be a bit a little pessimistic, but I was looking at the Rhodochiton today, and the first signs of the cold are showing its effects. The leaves are showing some damage at the edges, the flowers are showings signs of not been happy campers at all. There is no way it will survive a winter outside, it was worth a try, but will put it down to lesson learnt.
Now its on to see if I can keep it inside, and get second season out of it.
27 November 2009 16:58:18
Was out and about at first light, finally the shed is sorted, cannot believe that finally I have it the way I wanted it for so long. It is great to be able to see every thing, all garden tools are hanging on the wall. The workbench is fab. I am not going to take a photo of a sorted shed in case it starts a new trend................. :-))
I then moved on to the leaves, I sorted the front and back garden, 5 stuffed black bags, they will be great for the garden in time. The amount of bulbs popping up is unreal. Another thing to report is, out of 15 cloves of garlic planted I have 14 plants showing 2/3 inch shoots, which is great.
Apart from getting the wilderness sorted over the winter, another area I need to sort is an area behind the shed, this will be a potting and work area, I will give details of this later.
27 November 2009 15:11:25
I have reported before about the Squirrel the visits the garden. We often wondered if it was the same one or was there others, as we never saw more than the one. Today that question was answered when I saw 3 squirrels, it was great watching them and the antics they were up to, seemed to be doing nothing other than out for a little fun.
On another note, I filled the bird feeders and hung them for the first time. I was keeping an eye on them and it took about 20 minutes for them to be discovered, and they just keep coming.
26 November 2009 23:15:25
Jacinta, after my visit, (from which I retuned with a great supply of new plants) last week I made a note of the plants a seeds you gave me. That list has disapppered in all my organised garden books, mags, cuttings, emails etc. Could you please let me know what they were. Am ok on the Foxgloves 8-)))
26 November 2009 22:53:14
I am thinking of changing my water feature into a small pond. When I was redoing the garden, I was thinking for a pond, i was put off this due to the number of trees that surround the garden. I know in Autumn the pond could be covered to stop leaves gettin in. But in this garden I tend to get some leaves falling into the garden all year round.
Does anyone have a pond, with trees close by, and are there a problems if youdo.
26 November 2009 21:32:40
I got an email in connection with the first GIY meeting for the Bray area. There were 100 people at the meeting, which was a great turn out. The web site seems very good, have not logged on as a member yet, need to think about this for a while, might hold off till I get the wilderness sorted. Was hoping to have a lot of clearing done at this stage, but weather has had other plans.
If you want to check out groups in your area, check out www.giyireland.com all groups are listed. To sign up or not sign up, that is the question.........
24 November 2009 22:45:45
Is it just the last few nights, is it the weather, the flooding, or is it as was said some weeks ago, that the site is going into Winter mode. My thinking is, to hell with the weather, this site is not going into hibernation. I am proposing a different topic each week. Any one can name a topic and we take it from there, stories, comments, arguments everything goes. My suggestion is earliest garden memories. So here goes..
I am told that I could not remember my granddad, " you were too young when he died". I can see a man walking down the garden path in a blue pinstripe suit and a brown hat. I do not see his face, I am walking behind him, he holds his hands behind his back. He picked some Gooseberries ( I think ), we then walk across the grass to the far wall, he shows me a flower that I later find to be Fuchsia. He shows me the closed flower, opens the petals back, shows me the inside. As I write this I can still see his large hands.
All down the years I was told I was only remembering things that I had heard been spoken about. And anyway there was never a Fuchsia bush on that side of the garden. So the argument continued. Some time after my dad died we were sorting through things in the house, when a picture was found of some of my sisters in the back garden, and to their right, a Fuchsia bush in full bloom. It is a black and white photo but it clearly is a Fuchsia. I always had a special feeling for Fuchsia, that was increased after that photo came to light.
23 November 2009 21:25:44
A few weeks ago I bought my first Orchid. A new shoot appeared, I did not know if it was a root or a shoot. Jacinta answered my question, Green it's a flower shoot, White it's a root. Great I had a flower shoot on the way.
Nature is messing with me, I had a look to see how the shoot was doing. It's doing great, has grown about an inch and has turned a whiteish colour. Its a root, growing in the wrong direction. Will have to help it find its way back down.
Others might learn a little from me been the blunt of a natural joke............
22 November 2009 21:18:00
I have just spent some time looking up Polytunnels, quite surprised at the cost. I was looking and checking measurments, what position it could best fit. Would have to cut back some trees on the embankment to allow extra light at it in the winter months............ then .........come on Fran ..... crawl, walk and then run, one step at a time. With the wind howling and rain lashing down again, no harm in thinking and dreaming, lets see...........greenhouse.ie... here we go.
22 November 2009 07:42:53
Heading to work in a while, cannot believe the day out there, did the worst of the storm miss the East coast? There is no cloud,nice sky starting to show to the East, not a breath of wind, looking like it could be good today, hopefully !!!!! Hope it was not as bad as what was expected, especially for everyone already so badly effected. Or, am I being really pessimistic, is it just late arriving, hope not.
21 November 2009 21:56:06
I think I'm pushing it a bit on time, but I want to get a couple of Rubbarb plants. Will they be ok in a planter for a year? Can anyone reccomend a name that they have found good? Is it true you dont havest any thing in the first year?
20 November 2009 21:01:04
You are just never finished learning, never. I visited Jacinta's garden today, what an eye opener. Jacinta has so many things growing in pots it is unreal, fruit, vegetables, bulbs, flowers etc. That was lesson one, I need more large pots, so if anyone in the Dublin area, sees large pots, reduced, please let me know.
Jacinta put in a pond only last August, it looks as if it has been there forever. The plants have come on so well in the few months it is great. I can see my water feature changing some time in the future.
It is amazing what veg can be grown in a small patch. I am looking foreword to getting my veg bed going.
I saw so many different things to day, I think I need to make notes, I wont even go into the idea of a greenhouse, need to sow some seeds in a certain direction on that subject......... time will tell. Haha :-))
19 November 2009 22:40:28
Am working the weekend, so was off today. Spent the the day in the shed, due to rain, whatelse. Sorted a lot of stuff out, more shelves made and fitted. Fixed two sheet of 8 x 4 ply to one section, on this I have hung all the garden tools, I can see them all, no more all piled up in corner, cannot believe the space I have gained by the rearrangement, and sorting out. I am going to be able set up a table in the center for plants I want to over winter, there is perspex in sections of the roof allowing good light in so heres hoping.
19 November 2009 19:26:59
Set for a make over
Following on from Dave's ( Chilipepper ) encouragement, I am planning ahead for next year. This pot stack is from a system I bought at Bloom last year. Will pick up a few more next year. I am going to get a few ceramic pots, the earthenware pots dry out to fast. I will then rearrange the pots, and I am planning on putting herbs in one set and salads etc. in another.
They will also look well on the deck, all going well.
17 November 2009 17:40:11
Had a lot of running around to do today. Had a quick walk around the garden this morning. Who was a happy gardener to see the the first signs of my Garlic coming up. It was only planted 10 days ago, I was not expecting to see it sprout so soon. Nothing to this veg growing at all............. it's a dawdle........... :-))) (think not)
16 November 2009 18:18:27
Rhodochiton, still flowering
Despite the wind, and rains lately, my Rodochiton is still flower and seding out new growth. No sign of ill effects yet, think it may be more the frosts that I will have to worry about. Time will tell, if I get this one through the winter I will be very happy.
16 November 2009 16:12:56
While looking at photos in peoples albums, some of the ads from garden.ie page stay on the screen, spoiling the picture, is there a way of getting rid of them, does anyone Know?
16 November 2009 15:57:32
Spot me if you can
I was off to day, googling some books sitting on the couch beside the doors to the decking. Something moved on the deck, it was the squirrel back again. He walked along the decking, jumped onto a little table, onto the railings, and into the Sumac. Made it all look so easy, I wonder if he was looking for the nut planters, he used to raid last winter, if it is the same one. As soon as I moved he was gone, got this photo, cropped it, so I hope it is ok in the Journal. Who knows what goes on in the garden when we are not at home.
15 November 2009 20:18:04
Along with everything else that I am planning to get done over the winter, I want to get a raised bed sorted. I know I will pick up things from the GIY group, but I want to check a few things.
1. I am going to spray the area and cover it with plastic for the winter.
2. The plastic is lifted, area is dug over and manure added.
3. Wood frame is fitted and top soil added.
Right or wrong?
And finally, what size wood is needed for the frame?
Thank you.
15 November 2009 18:06:35
Up early again, got a few hours done before trip to Ikea. It was an experience, really different stuff, well set up, etc. etc.etc. Arrived at 11.15, finally got the SHOPPERS with me out the door at 4.15. I was told yesterday that a couple of hours was all it would take, If that adds up to a couple of hours, my garden is as organised as Johnplotman's.
I was so fed up that by the time I got to the pots and house plants I was not interested. There were 2/3 ft bonsai trees for €85, sorry no name taken or noted as I had the Exit in sight.
Will never be there again at aweekend, that's for sure.
14 November 2009 22:23:26
Driftwood art
This another piece of drifwood I found years ago and did quite a lot of work on, like it a lot. Cant be seen in the photo but, but from certain angles you can see an eagle's head.
14 November 2009 22:16:57
Unknown
Not bad for €3.99, but dont have a name on it, plus there is another shoot coming.
14 November 2009 21:01:33
I bought my first Orchid a few weeks ago, it is in flower, there is a shoot/root coming out from between a couple of leaves. How do you know if it is a root or a shoot?
14 November 2009 20:23:17
Please lock me up........
OK I got it started, but by 3 o'clock, it was a case of what did I start this for. Took over an hour to empty ¾ of items out of the shed. Completed a 8ft x 3ft shelving unit, the work bench is complete, I fixed batons to the wall of the shed, which is metal shed, so they were glued, have now fixed a sheet of plywood to them so there will be shelving over the bench. Really bigger job then I expected, but it will be really worth it to have it finally sorted.
Was all set to get it finished tomorrow, when I was reminded that I had promised a trip to Ikea, Baa Humbug...... am working the next 2 weekends so no getting out of it. Ah well such is the clash of families and the best laid plans. I will get some things done tomorrow but wont be finished. This job has been in the planning for years, so it is great to sort it. Found all kinds of things, from when kids were small etc. Colin discovered the use of power tools in a big way today, fair dues to him, would have been lost without him. I was trilled when I said to him at 3.30 that he could go out, he offered to stay and help, meant it two, but he was there since 9, fair is fair
My garden wish tonight would be a power failure in Ikea....shush keep that quite.
14 November 2009 07:31:01
In case my journals stop suddenly, you will know I have been 'locked up'. It is still dark, lashing rain, and I am up waiting to start the shed. As I got up, a mumbled voice said your mad and need to be locked up, (but not that politely). Colins face was a sight last night as I said I would call him at 7.30, he was not sure, I am going to be relly nice to him and call him at 8.00. Apart from sorting the shed and new shelves etc, am making a proper workbench, this is in the planing for years, so as i'm doing it, I am doing it completely. YES the has stopped, some breaks in the cloud, there will be showers, but then it is Ireland. Come on ye boys in GREEN.
13 November 2009 23:27:51
I want to set up a proper compost heap, simple question, can I set it up on concrete slabs, or does it need to be set up directly on the soil?
13 November 2009 22:12:07
As you know some of us were at the first GIY meeting for the Bray area the other night. If anyone is interested in more info, check out,
www.giy.ie
12 November 2009 23:40:11
OK so a new step is been taken in my gardening plans for the future, and as Jacinta said earlier, I wonder who we can blame a lot of this on (thanks Dave)........ opps , did I type that.
Can anyone recommend a good basic book on veg growing, raised beds, etc etc.
Thanks for any comments, as always.
11 November 2009 22:57:10
The first meeting of the Bray GIY group took place this evening. Had arranged to meet ClaireE and Clara there, it is great to finally to faces to names. I went not knowing what to expect. I must say I was very impressed and came home completely buzzing. It really seems to be a great system, and has come so far in such ashort length of time.
There will be plenty to be posted in the coming months. Learnt a few things even tonight.
10 November 2009 22:07:37
Part of my Saturdays Plan is to help get my garden under control. I have also got the buzz of wanting to grow some of my own veg, how far that will go we will have to wait and see. One thing I have learnt from garden.ie is that there is a certain amount of discipline is required, this needs to be increased when there is a family involved and time is needed for other things.
In saying this, no way will it become regimented, gardening is to be enjoyed, and I am the kind of person who needs plans and ideas set out to a certain extent, am really excited about the coming year and the changes that will happen here on my little plot of The Good Life.
Best of luck to us all, and thank you to all of you for your advice and encouragement past and still to come.
10 November 2009 19:54:04
I was doing some things in the garden last weekend, I spent a lot of time in the shed looking for this and that, tripping over other things, things falling by themselves. That is it.............have had enough......... It has to be sorted. Have been meaning to this job for an age. Spoke to junior, he is going to help me for the day. Have had sheets of plywood for two years, for shelving. So we are going to redo the whole place. Two sheets of wood are going to be used for hanging all the garden tools, so everything will be to hand. Once it is sorted, it will be easy to keep.
One condition with Colin was that his phone stays in the house, otherwise he would be texting none stop.
09 November 2009 20:49:01
Anyone looking for spring Bulbs, Mr. Middleton has special deals as of to day. 100 mised bulbs, 20 dafs, 10 tulips, and so on for €11.95 was €19.95. Other deals also.
08 November 2009 16:59:11
Sunday 8.11.09
Last January my job, along with so many others in the building industry disappeared. Way beyond good luck, I was working again by February, totally different, but loving it. One downside is I have to use the Dart as I am in city centre, a big change for some one who was used to their on transport for over thirty years. One great thing is the scenic journey along the coast, it is different each trip. I cannot understand why so many people can ignore the view along the coast. Thought as I had a photo of the last rays, last night, I would give you the first rays today. Album will follow.
07 November 2009 21:20:22
Watery Sunshine
Just before the rain came I caught this photo of the sun sinking and shining through the Sumac.
07 November 2009 20:57:35
Want green gone
This is my Water Feature, it is an trunk that I did some work on to make it look like Bog Oak, I drilled a hole down the middle, inserted a plastic pipe and the water flows over the trunk. There are no plants, I just wanted the sound of water in the garden. Is there any thing I can do to stop the green building up on the stones around the Trunk.
07 November 2009 20:23:33
Spick and Span
A weekend away, a weekend working, along with the dark evenings, I had hardly seen the garden let alone be in it, I needed a garden stint fix. Having heard the weather forecast last night, I had my doubts if I would get it today.
The day was looking good, in garden at 7.45. First job was the hedge, we are bounded by an old railway line, it is totally over grown and wild. There was a lot of ivy growing up through the hedge. Only way to get it out was to lie down, pull, grab, grunt and curse. There is loose granite underneath the hedge, even some of this had to be removed and replaced. As is the norm in gardening, this job took a lot longer than expected, very glad it is done.
Next was the leaves, they are nearly all down, am I gad I have the leaf blower, it really is the only thing for the position we are in here.
After that there was a two grasses that needed to be taken out of two tall narrow pots. I will never put grasses in those pots again, what a job to get them out. Split and replanted some of them in the front.
Then tidied up the bed in the back garden, that was easy enough, not long since the replant was done there.
Finally on to the pots with all the bulbs for spring. These needed the soil loosened, some weeding, and some of my very own Brown Gold added. Then placed them around the garden. 4 pm just as I was starting to clean up the rain started.
A few aches and pains, but feeling really great with that days work, the back looks good with all the leaves gone.
Where's the Vino.......
P.S. I nearly forgot, I also planted some Garlic
05 November 2009 20:22:27
€12.95 Mr. Middleton, picked up a plant today. The assistant said they do much better in acid soil or if growing in pots a peat based compost. I also picked up a catalogue, reading it on the way home, they have a paragraph on Goji, the picture of the berries is red, the berries on the plant lable are blue. I will contact them to see what the story is. Also getting ready for 2010, I picked up Chillie Pepper seeds, Krakatoa. Watch out Chillipepper, I think not. Planting Garlic, seeds for 2010, so a new diversion in gardening begins. Can't wait to see my own Garlic and Chillies hanging in kitchen, ready for use.
04 November 2009 22:49:47
Reading comments on Snails and Slugs in journals recently, brought back memories from my childhood. My mother had a really big bed of Michaelmas Daisies These plants were a great hiding place for Snails, they never did damage to the daisies, but ravaged other plants. Mam would send us out to collect the snails, and sometimes we would collect them and divide them evenly up between us. We would then sit on the edge of the footpath and roll a snail out one at a time. You could not roll your next one untill the first one was mashed by the passing cars. Whoever got rid of their snails first was the winner. All that can be said is, it kept us occupied for hours, and no birds were hurt in this method of pest control.
03 November 2009 20:46:25
I have been looking at getting a composter that can take kitchen waste, both raw and cooked. Has anyone got a Big Pig composter from Grow Green Solutions. It is seems very good, I am just looking for extra info if anyone can help. Thanks in advance as always.
02 November 2009 21:17:46
I just planted up my three Amarllis, 'Herindoors Withteaandcoffee, asked ' what are you doing with those'?, 'where are you putting them'? I may have just awoken a Lisbon Treaty here. Spider I might need some help here......
Any to more serious things, will the Amaryllis need feeding when that start to grow and if so what would you recommend?
01 November 2009 20:09:37
Looking good
Aoife, my 12 year old took this photo today as I was working. I want to get a collection of photos as the Sumac puts on it's colour show. Impressed with this photo. Thanks Aoife.
01 November 2009 19:57:42
Leaves, baa humbug !!!!!!
This photo was taken on Friday morning, I had cleared the leaves on Thursday. I have not seen it since, due to work, it can only be twice as bad, will try and clear them some evening under the lights. Ash leaves stain badly if allowed to sit for any length of time. Experience speaking....