fran m's Journal

Decisions, you think you have it sorted .......

Aster 'alpinus'

OK, I know the reaction I will get from some of you for this decision, but I was awake a lot of the night thinking it out, sad, I know, but, c'est la vie.

I have come to the decision that, I am not a veg growing person. I got carried away with the talk and sowing etc earlier in the year, and joined in. I will admit that I am trilled to see some of the things growing that I sowed. I am also sure I will be delighted when to come s to eating them also.

But the problem I have is I have no interest in them now, and looking after them is doing nothing for me. Thank you one and all for the help and advice that has come this way so freely, even as recent as last evening.

So what now? The front corner is still wildish. But I have a fair idea what I want it to look like in a few years, and for what I have in mind it will take that long.

You may have gathered from photos of my garden, I do things and like things a little different. That is what I am planning. It is a strange shape, I will post a photo of a drawing soon. This project will be done on a very small budget, so if anyone has plants going a begging later in the year, Fran's the Man, and all favours will be returned in time.

I will do a little veg in pots etc. but that will be it. Will keep on enjoying all the reports of everyone's endeavours.

Good luck one and all.

Raised bed advice......

I am thinking of putting in 4 raised beds. I was wondering what works best around them, gravel, wood bark chippings or any other ideas. I was thinking would the footfall be to heavy for the grass to grow properly.

All ideas most welcome. Thanks in advance as always.

First Ants ........ now it's Dragon Flies

Dragon Flies

After the invasion of the 'Giant Ants', that give Aoife the creeps, each time she looks at them, hehe. Today I set up my two Dragon Flies over the water feature. They look great flying in the wind, not two happy about the wood they are coming out of, I can fix that in time.

24 hours

24 hours

This time yesterday, it was dark, heavy black clouds soaking the soil (well needed). Now 24 hours later, not a cloud in the blue sky, sun warming everything up nicely and a nice breeze. What a better way to finish a great week. Thanks to all who travelled with me to Chelsea and made it a fantastic few days, that will have an effect on all our gardens in ways big and small.

One of the safe Arrivals home.

Pelargonium 'Ardens'

This is one of my purchases, that arrived safe and well. I saw it in Sissinghurst and spotted it in Merriments Garden centre the next day. It is Pelargonium 'Ardens'.

The photo of the one in Sissinghurst, hope mine will look as well in time.

Giant Ants...........help!!!!

Giant Ants...........help!!!!

You go away for a few days, come back and the place is over run with giant ants, never saw anything like these before. Will post an album as well.

4 days in Heaven......part 1

4 days in Heaven......part 1

I can be totally honest and say, as the plane took off, and I looked down at Dublin fading into the distance I thought of you all we were leaving behind.....not for along but did think of you :-))

Our first visit was to Sissinghurst, which is in the care of The National Trust, this was pure Magic, this word will be used a lot in journals to come. The entrance was under the tower, which Queen Elizabeth 1st viewed the gardens. I will post photos later. The different gardens here were fantastic, cottage garden, rose gardens that would be fantastic in a few weeks, a white garden, orchard, nuttery, a lime walk, and so much more.

Two great things that were fantastic, a white Wisteria that is in the photo, out of this world, you could smell it long before it came into view.

The other was meeting a Dublin lady who works there. We had a quick chat and as she was leaving commented on a small plant that was her favorite in the entire garden. I was trilled to see that it was my Cuphea 'cyannea', but there were tiny, and a little sickly looking. It was great to be able to say that I had it, and normally grew to about two feet, had survived the winter outside, and had done for about 15 years. There was a fair bit of doubt in her, but Jancita convinced her I was serious. HeHe good enough for Sissinghurst, even better for Fran's

Don't know where to start............

Alliums at Merriments

Still in a Haze from the whole experience, do not know where to start. Great from start to finish. Pictures to show for eons.

My retail therapy for Chelsea..........

My retail therapy for Chelsea..........

Others in the group were busy over the last few days with sorting nails, retail therapy  (whatever that is?) etc etc. So I said when in Rome, do as the Romans do.......

This is my retail therapy, some how I landed in a Garden Centre. Picked up a lovely standard Fushia and a Hosta. Yes a Hosta, was not sure if I like them or not, but even an old fogey like me can change, can't we?

Looking down

Looking down

Just  sorting all my gear out for traveling tomorrow. Had been very cloudy and misty for the morning, sun just started to come out. Looked down at the garden, and just said to myself, yes, that looks good.

Nice to be able to say, you are pleased with something that so much time has gone into.

Arisaema, settled in nicely

Arisaema, settled in nicely

The Arisema griffithii, that Deborah gave me, on my visit to Terra Nova recently, is opening up and seems to have settled in nicley. Have never had a plant like this before, really looking forward to seeing it flower.

Maria and Colin had some choice comments when I carried the plant into the house for the first time, it was just a pointy spike then. Non gardening folk, who would live with them........

Deborah, thank you again.

Left it till the last minute again............

Left it till the last minute again............

This time tomorrow will be in the Airport, heading to Chelsea (in case anyone missed that info) :-))

So much to do, uniforms to be sorted, lunches to be made, dinners cooked and put in the freezer for the troops. Clean and tidy the house, don't know why really, will be as bad when I get home, ironing and washing to be done, sort my bag and gear out. Oh yeah the shopping needs to be stocked up on.

I need a few new shirts also, will try and get those when getting the hair done. School concert this evening, and a few things to be done in the garden also, I don't know...............

I better put the laptop down, finish the tea and toast..............

and get out of bed, can't sit here all day talking...........have a good day.

Giant Alliums

Giant Alliums

These are three of my giant alliums, the two in the front garden are a little smaller.

For Martin

For Martin

Martin this is not a piece of driftwood, it is a old tree / root  trunk. I had drilled a hole through it, inserted a piece of pipe an was using it as a water feature, sadly it was cracking to much, so wanted to keep it safe, so disconnected it the other day.

There are all kinds of things to be seen in it as the light casts different shadows accross it, thought you might be interested.

Wish I had Copper Bands

Wish I had Copper Bands

Did some potting up of pots yesterday for Summer colour. Had a few Petunias over so put them into this pot. This is all that is left of four fine plants, they had a few visitors over night, caught three of them sliding away.

Their last supper................. RIP

A good way to finish a great day......

A good way to finish a great day......

What better way to finish a great day in the garden.............cheers folks.

What a day

What a day

Nothing to say, but that was a fantastic day. Got lots done. Sorted and re-arranged all the pots in the gravel area, moved all the spring bulb pots to the back of the shed, it is great to have this area to store things.

The neighbours are starting the extension in two weeks, need to move some plants, know it is not the best time but so be it. Weeded and loosened up the gravel, looks great. There is a raised bed that I will be loosing, all the soil from that was move into the back flower bed. Tough going in that heat but plenty of breaks were had.

Strimmed all the grass in the front corner. The ideas I have for this area are coming together well, I just need to make the final decision.

Really pleased with the way the back is looking this evening.

Cub came calling

I have seen Foxes on the old railway embankment we back onto on many occasions. I was sitting here looking at some entries with the door open, birds singing, you know the scene.

I am 6 feet from the open door. Noticed something move on the gravel, a young fox cub was sniffing around some of the pots. He then walked nearer, up onto the decking, was a little unsure, but kept walking around. At one stage he was 4 feet from the door.

I could see the camera on the other side of the room, no good even trying for it. Then two bloody magpies starting chasing him along the embankment. They have been chasing the squirrels as well.

Hope he comes back another day, I will have the camera closer.

Chelsea mode

Allium

Finished work today, after a seven day stint. Normally tired and fed up at the end of the seven days, But not today, floating on cloud nine. The weather, nine days work free, and the 4 day trip culminating in a day at Chelsea.

I have a major plan brewing all the moment, will be looking for all kinds of ideas. The poor camera won't know what is about to happen it.

First flower buds.

First flower buds.

Really trilled this evening, to see the first flower buds on the Rhodochiton that I managed to get through the winter. It is a little bare at the base, but there are two new shoots that will fill it out in time.

For once..............

For once..............

For once I know what this flower is..........but does anyone else? Sorry will rephase that, I know what plant it is, not the full name.

Sorry no prize.

We're all going on a Chelsea Holiday.........

New Home for Stoneface

New Home for Stoneface

Poor old stone face has been moved again. He is now in the raised bed at the side gravel area. He has been moved several times since he arrived, and untill he smiles I will keep moving him till I know he's happy, and tells me so by smiling.........

Thanks Pat,........... like it a lot.

Thanks Pat,........... like it a lot.

Some months back Pat offered some Lilies as he was splitting some clumps he had. I meant to ask him what colour they were, name etc.

The clump he gave me was a decent size, I decided to split it into three. The first flowers are just out. I am in awe of the colour, it is just great. Would still love a name or type of Lily.

The giant Alliums will be in flower in a matter of days. I measured them out of interest, and two of them are over 48 inches, hence the name.

I think I have made a big decision on the garden. But as I say, I only think I have made a decision, so will get back to you on that one.

Oh, what a beautiful morning...........

07/05/2010

Baa, Humbug, ***** XXXXX *******, working today, and just for spite, the body and brain are shouting at me to " let's go gardening ".  It must the Terra Nova effect from the visit the other day. I know if I was off I would do the devil and all today.

Just spent ten minutes watering the planters out the front. Two neighbours down the way were just coming in, from a party by the looks of them. Their look to me was " your bloody mad", I suppose my look to them was "your going to waste a fantastic day" each to there own as the saying goes.

Hope you all have a great day, enjoy, whatever little you do.

Coming into bloom

Coming into bloom

Home from work at 7, spent about an hour doing a few bits in the garden. Was really pleased to see this Rodoh in bloom. This was my Dad's plant, I found it a few years after he died,at the back of the shed, in a very poor state altogether.

I have been nursing it for years, think I am winning at last, lots of new shoots, and more buds than last year.

Heaven on their doorstep

Heaven on their doorstep

It must be a great feeling to have a piece of Heaven on you doorstep, but when you have created it yourself, it then really becomes special. A job so well done, Mother Nature, must be so proud also..............

Deborah and Martin, gardeners, with the 'Midas Touch'

Jacinta, is the blowin, in the photo

What a treat.............Speechless

What a treat.............Speechless

If I am totally honest, it has never happened, that I have seen something so special, and meet two fantastic people, so in love with what they do, that Mother Nature must be proud of the job that Martin & Deborah have done on their garden. Terra Nova is truly a very special garden. It was a round trip, well worth every mile of the way.

Thank you, two both of you for such a special day.

Don't think the bank manager will be happy with the seeds of ideas I came away with. Will post album tomorrow. 

Sunflowers............Sizzled

I have been hardening some of the second lot of Sunflowers for the last week or so. Had them out for a couple nights, then last night the temperature seemed much lower so put them back into the Lidl greenhouse.

Went out early this morning and opened everything up. Got back out to the garden 5 hours later, Muppet had never opened the green house. It was totally covered in condensation. I was amazed at the blast of heat that hit me when I opened it.

The sunflowers are withered, shriveled and dead. Sweetcorn a little scorched. Second lot of Lobelia gone.

Muppet Muppet Muppet, know I went out to open it and the cold frame, opened one but not the other.

AGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

Unveiled

Unveiled

And after all the thinking and working out what I would do with it, and what I could make it look like. I ended up doing the absolute minimum on it.

It dried in the shed for six months, it had one cut made to it to create a straight edge. A little bit of attention with a power sander to take away some of the worst rough edges. Three coats of black wood stain, then, once it weathers for a while, I am hoping it will take on more of an appearance of a piece of Bog Oak.

It is sitting in the ground on a piece of metal bar, slightly loose, so it can pivot around to give different views. A nice pot behind it, planted with a fern, finished.

I had so many ideas on this piece, that came to nothing. I am now coming to the definite conclusion of doing as little as possible with something that Nature has sculptured in it's own way.

Amazing

Amazing

Nothing to say about this, but, Nature is Amazing........totally.....

Some advice needed..........

Off for two days, lots things to be done today, hope to get some garden time in the PM, want to get a lot of small bits and pieces out of the way. Looking good out there, hope it will last the day.

Out in the front corner, I need to raise the level of the soil. No problem with that as I have a mound of soil from the extension work.

What I want to know is, I have about ten bags of leaves collected last year. They have not composted down yet, needless to say.

Can I spread these leaves on this area now, before I put in the topsoil in place. I think it should be ok, just want to be sure.

Amaryllis still messing with me.

Amaryllis still messing with me.

This what I called my Pygmy Amaryllis, it was the last of three to flower, no leaves, no roots, and the bulb was soft. I was surprised when it flowered at all.

It is now putting out great leaves, bulb is solid, and roots are breaking the surface of the compost.

What is it going to do next?

Lord of the Rings fans only...............

Lord of the Rings fans only...............

Nothing to do with gardening at all.

Spotted that this driftwood piece, would have made a good Ent in the film 'The Lord of the Rings'. Does not show up as well under the flash, needs to be seen from a distance, but it is spot on.

So come, who else has an Ent in their garden?

If you never saw the film or read the book, don't worry about.

Martin, sorry I missed you.......

Martin, sorry I missed you.......

Sorry could not get to Celbridge today, this one, is just for you...............

What's my name, please?

What's my name, please?

Have not a clue what this is. Know every thing else that is in the planter, any ldeas anyone?

Worth it for the flowers alone.......

Worth it for the flowers alone.......

Took this shot this morning of flowers on a Broardbean plant, never grew these before. They are a lovely flower, let alone what comes after the flower. Really impressed.

Looking good for today

Looking good for today

Not to bad out there, a little cool still, but sunny and dry. Whatever your plans for the day are, enjoy and I hope you get lots done.

If you are travelling to the Plant Fair, enjoy, and drive safely. One word of warning, there is a strange man has been known to hang out at these Plant Fairs, just be warned this guy is not after anything other than HUGS. Any kind of hugs, sadly even 'cyber hugs' keep him happy. So be warned.............

Marty....Mark....Marti..... MORK, I think, that's his name, always going on about Space, Stars, Planets and Space Stations etc.  :-))

If you can spare one, give him a hug and make his day.................

ENJOY.

Transformation begins........

Transformation begins........

Have decided what is happening my piece of Driftwood. To put it simply, very little, I cut the rough end off the bottom, to give a straight edge. One section that was very loose, and could not be fitted back in place due to gravel behind it, was taken off, gravel removed and the piece glued and replaced.

A few coats of black stain will be applied, finishing with a coat of brown stain. This I hope will give the effect of a piece of bog oak. It is going to be positioned close to the edge of the decking. Plain and simple, the piece is so unusual it will do the business all on it's own.

New growth

New growth

The evening sun shows up the new growth on the Virginea Creeper great.

Would Spider allow this Creeper to his ball I wonder?

7/05/10

Sea Sunrise

Lots of people are putting up photos of Sunsets, and rightly so they are all great shots and well worth seeing.

But the Sunrise is the one that takes real effort.

The early start, the empty roads, the deafening noise of the dawn chorus. The climbing of crumbling and dangerous cliffs, the risk of a being washed away by a freak wave.

But I am willing to do these things, just to be able to bring you all something different. An album will be posted later, when you are all up and awake.

 Now what will I do with the rest of the day?

Aliens

Aliens

I was working on my piece of driftwood over the last few days. I made a straight cut across the bottom stem to give it a straight edge. Boy, was I surprised. Something had bored / eaten its way through the wood. These hole are almost 1cm across.

That is one big woodworm. Think what damage a bug like that could do in a house.

Giant Alliums

Giant Alliums

These are 3 of my 5 giant Alliums, they are about to flower. Never had these before so really looking foreword to seeing them flower. It is a pity about the way the leaves die back prior to flowering. I think it takes away slightly from the appearance. Of the plant, but hope that the flower makes up for it.

The leaflet from Mr. Middleton's said that they grow up to 48`inches. The tallest one here is 39 inches, so what ever more growing of the stem, and the flower itself, they may not be too far off the mark. Will post photos when in flower.

Just my luck......

Just my luck......

Working the weekend, so off for two days. Knew what I wanted to do, good old mother nature has changed all the plans. Wet, grey and cold out there.

I have just been reminded about Maria's list of things around the house to be done. Tried the deaf in one ear and not able to hear in the other trick....... no luck, the list was put in front of the laptop.............ah well.

One small step for peace and quite...............

Making the most of it......

In from work at 7, dinner and chat 8. 30 minutes painting some shelves for Aoife's room. 45 minutes working on small bed at the side of the decking. Weeding, planted a few Summer bedding, loosened up the soil. Obligatory walk around to check everything.

Even that little bit in the garden lifted a gloomy day in work.

The winner is ......CLARA

Carex Rekohu Sunrise

I was in B&Q the other evening, when I spotted this grass. It was only after I planted it that I though the name had been mentioned when I asked for ideas on what to put in this planter.

Looked back and it was Clara who suggested Carex. The one I got was 'Carex rekohu sunrise'

I think it will look great in time.

Killing weeds, advice.

Driftwood (mark 2)

Driftwood (mark 2)

Hope I am not boring you all with driftwood. Look away if I am :-))

This is the piece I found in Clare last October. It has been in the shed since then. Dried out well, but has cracked in several places, Should be able to sort them out. Need a piece of Natural stone paving to fix it to. Watch this space for progress.

It stands about 3 ft.

Opps!!  cut some out on the left hand side.

Changing a planter's appearance

Changing a planter's appearance

The small piece of wood in the planter here, was cut off the piece of driftwood to create a straight edge. Rather than trow it out, I stained it up, not really knowing what I would do with something so small.

Placed it on top of the gravel in the planter here, gives it a interesting look. A little Chinese statue of a man would finish it off, for an effective finish.

Driftwood finished

Driftwood finished

Finished staining the piece of driftwood, it took three coats of stain before the stain stopped soaking in like a sponge. It was a little brittle in places, but the coats of stain have given it extra strength. Don't know whether to leave it stand alone or put a planter beside it. Case of trial and error.

Not great out there.....

Flagpole Cherry

Fairly wet and grey out there, not a great weekend for gardening. Ah well, my plans are to put some time into what I will do after the neighbours extension is finished, and the screen that will go back in place of what I am loosing. Lots of ideas, just need to get it sorted on paper, and see what can and cant work.

Enjoy your day, hope the weather picks up......

PS......one hour later, and it's getting worse :-((

What a waste.....

Name please

Despite the best laid plans, stomach bug put pay to any work today.Despite the rain there were lots of plans for the house and potting on in the shed that could have been done. Ah well.............

Up to joining the site here I put plants into the garden, because I liked them, never bothered about the names etc. So how quickly someone can change.

Does any one have a name on this? Please.