Last Post 448 days 1 hour ago
29 February 2012 20:29:05
Don't tell NAMA
just in case another Bank goes under.
Had to go to Woodies this morning, a quick look at bargain stands, nothing much. But at the back I spotted another trolley full of awful looking Cylamen, 100's of them. Looking closer a few were looking ok-ish, so picked the best of them, there were all in need of water.
Getting home, I soaked them in water. Two hours later they looked so much better. But as I said, don't tell NAMA...................€2.50 for the lot just might cause another panic on the banks ;-))
29 February 2012 20:06:11
Thuja
Really pleased with the positioning of these two Thuja. This would normally be a little formal for my liking, but sometimes you need a marker from one area of a garden to the other.
I was worried last summer with the way the looked, but all seems well now, I think they may just have gotten a little dry, I will have to watch them for a year or two till they fully settle in.
28 February 2012 21:26:22
Thanks Hoeys
The two Cotonasters that you gave me are bursting out into leaf. They are looking great and in time will cover up the side of the shed as planned, given time ;-))
28 February 2012 18:08:43
Life Explained
On the first day, God created the dog and said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said, "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"
So God agreed......
On the second day, God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."
The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"
And God agreed......
On the third day, God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"
And God agreed again......
On the fourth day, God created humans and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."
But the human said, "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God. "You asked for it."
So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service and because I like You.
28 February 2012 15:16:50
Crocus Carpet
The Year's Aweakening
How do you know that the pilgrim track
Along the belting zodiac
Swept by the sun in his seeming rounds
Is traced by now to the Fishes' bounds
And into the Ram, when weeks of cloud
Have wrapt the sky in a clammy shroud,
And never as yet a tinct of spring
Has shown in the Earth's apparelling;
O vespering bird, how do you know,
How do you know?
How do you know, deep underground,
Hid in your bed from sight and sound,
Without a turn in temperature,
With weather life can scarce endure,
That light has won a fraction's strength,
And day put on some moments' length,
Whereof in merest rote will come,
Weeks hence, mild airs that do not numb;
O crocus root, how do you know,
How do you know?
Thomas Hardy 1910
A flower and poem that were greatly loved by my Dad, came to mind today when I saw this great clump of flowers glowing at me ;-))
28 February 2012 15:05:32
Photinia 'red robin'
This a great shrub and produces stricking spring colour. The more you prune it back the more lovely fresh growth that is produced.
One that I want to try a few cuttings of, would love another one or two around the garden.
26 February 2012 22:12:55
Coffee at eleven and a stroll in Stephen's Green
Took a coffee break in Stephen's Green this morning, just happened to have brought the camera with me.
26 February 2012 07:58:44
It just might happen...........
I was a little tongue in cheek a few weeks back when I said that I might have apples from last year and blossoms from this year on my Malus 'red sentinel' all at the same time.
Well the way the growth is going this year, it really might just happen. Now that would make a good photo.
Looking like it's going to be a lovely day out there, so I hope you can all make the most of it.
25 February 2012 20:32:15
Tulipfection
What else can you say?
25 February 2012 19:20:14
Anyone for Alliums ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Here they come again, is it really 12 months since I last spotted and was trilled to see these green snouts peeping out of the soil ;-))
24 February 2012 21:26:31
Early Acer
Surprised to see this little Acer breaking into leaf so early.
But it is great to see the new growth.
24 February 2012 19:11:04
Three blooms on this stem ;-))
OK, one of these daffs is a little odd, but do can you tell which one...............
You do need to look closely :-))
24 February 2012 15:23:00
On it's last warning
We all know about talking to plants ................... but
today I had to have a very stern talk with one of my plants. These are the two Fatsia plants that arrived here last year after our Cork visit to Bruno's.
As you can see, one of them got down and dirty with it's roots and is doing what any good Fatsia is on the earth to do. But it's lazy cousin, thinks it's here on a holiday. I think this plant got wind of how easy going I am, and always willing to give plants every chance possibly.
Well I brought these to together today, and had a stern talk with the little 'un. I went to get the camera and as I was walking back I heard the little one say ''well we know who's the teachers pet'' Well I let him have it, after bringing him in from the cold for the winter, he was been as rude, a real Cork rebel, this one.
So I placed him on the bold step (compost heap) for a while. I think the meessage may have gotten through to him at last.
So he has to act as an adult from now on, he's outside for good now. So, it's a case of ''get going or get composting'', it's his chioce.
24 February 2012 09:58:37
Would you buy a car from this Man?
Just to brighten a dull day in Dublin,
we need captions for this photo..............
Mine is
24 February 2012 08:46:57
Keeping Bruno in check............
sorry, that should read ''Keeping Bruno's plant in check''.
Loved this Eurporbia when I saw it in Bruno's garden, of course I came away with some of it. Why was I surprised when Bruno later informed us of it's invasive nature. LOL
So I now have this one in check for this year, another three shoots that you can't seen should lead to an impressive plant in time.
Thanks Bruno, if it does half as well as yours I will be well happy.
24 February 2012 08:39:48
Just not on
This the view that greeted me when I opened the curtains, great, another day in the garden.
Made a cuppa and some toast, looked out and it's lashing, all of twenty minutes later and there goes my plans.
Ah well, seeds need sowing, so that will do for a while.
23 February 2012 22:29:23
Solanum 'laciniatum'
Bill have me this as a seedling last year. Shortly after planting it out, it was devestated by a slug (RIP). It struggled, but then came back, flowers and produced seed pods that never ripened fully.
It was damaged by frost, but struggled on. I cut it back today. Lots of new growth showing so hoping for bigger and better things this year :-))
23 February 2012 21:36:28
For the first time since joining this site and getting involved in plant swaps and exchanges, I find myself in a strange place.
After planting up lots of 'waiting plants' recently I find myself with hardly a thing in waiting. The cold frame is nearly empty, plastic green house is not far behind, seems so strange.
I will be sowing seed soon so it is well timed. But it will be great to not be watching, nursing and minding plants in waiting.
All that's left to mind now are Martin's baby ferns, can't let ought happen them ;-))
23 February 2012 16:14:23
Spring Clean
Spent the day in the back garden, it was a lovely day. Got the entire area tidied and planted things in waiting. There is nothing better than the feeling of been really pleased with your days work.
Apart from some weeding as time goes by that is this area sorted. The main border is just busting with new growth. No better sight for a gardener to see.
23 February 2012 08:35:05
Tigridium bulbis
These were some of the seed that Deborah sent out two years ago. They were totally munched by a slug last year, next to nothing left. So was really pleased to see these shoots the other day. It will be some time till the flower but if I get them through this year all should be well :-))
22 February 2012 21:26:29
€5 Phal
This is the Orchid I thought was the same as Rachels.
I was mistaken, not even the same type ;-)) but it is still a lovely one.
22 February 2012 19:59:16
Bees, Buterflies and Blooms
BBC 2
21 February 2012 20:12:10
Helleborus foetidus
Looking great in the sun the other day. Another plant that a couple of years ago I woud not have given a second look at. The tips of the flowers have a deep red edging, I don't remember seeing that last year.
Another addition to my garden via Clara, really doing well and lovin it ;-))
20 February 2012 21:33:31
Don't look at, from on high all the time.
Recently, I have started taking photos of the garden from ground level. I am going to put these into a seperate album, as I think it gives totally different perspective of the garden.
An insects eye view so to speak. If this border does as well as it did last year, by the summer you will see nothing of the fence in the background at all.
19 February 2012 19:52:18
Spring promise
I spent a full day and a half in the garden this weekend. I have been concentrating on the front corner so much of late that the rest of the garden was suffering. All I did was tidy up, move a few things and plant some other bits and pieces, arrange the pots in the front etc etc.
Another day should have it all sorted, then back to the major task in hand. (front corner) But where as before, it was daunting to look at I am now at the stage where the back is broken and it is more or less down hill from now on.
While sitting having a cuppa I thought of Deborah's talk the other evening and a part where she talks about looking at the sky above us.
I snapped this shot, thinking that while the trees are still bare, the sun was a good sign of promise........
19 February 2012 19:26:06
Tree Ferns
These are the two Tree Fens Martin gave me, coming on great. I still can't be sure up I think one of them is possibly muti stemmed only time will tell.
Noticed the new fonds starting to form so all is well.
I know they are slow growing but it is great been able to see these great plants progress.
Thanks again Martin.
19 February 2012 07:14:20
Thanks Jacinta
I've been watching it like a Hawk for the last few weeks, but yesterday I spotted the buds breaking out on the Cherry you gave me. Trilled it made it through it's move. Thanks once again, it will brighten up that corner in a few weeks ;-))
18 February 2012 20:54:50
Tete a Tete
I placed a lot of my Spring pots out the front today.
One thing I decided to do last October when I was sorting them out was, to keep half of them in the shade of the hedge and away from any sunlight. The thinking was to delay and prolong the time I have bulbs on show.
Well it has well and truly worked. This photo shows Tete a Tete that was in some sun all winter. The others are only half up and the ones I planted after Christmas are just showing above the compost.
Pleased with this outcome, and will be doing the same in the future ;-))
18 February 2012 18:39:26
It found it's home.
One of the jobs I did today was to powerwash the decking. It rained over night so that is a perfect time to do a job like this, much easier to clean when mother nature has softened everything up for you.
I have had the wooden bark planter, outside since I sealed it, letting the oils dry out as much as possible prior to planting up.
As I worked I moved the planter out of my way, while having a cuppa I looked out and it looked just perfect in this position.
Of course some folk think a wavin pipe would look better, but me thinks, no way............
18 February 2012 18:08:02
Paddy / Mary a strange question for ye both.
In one of the plants you gave me last year when we visited, I found a piece of strange root. After seeing your garden, and me been me, I potted it up. It was the strangest root I have seen, looks as if it is in sections or links and very serrated.
It has sent up two shoots, too small to get a photo as yet. Would you have any ideas? I will get a photo when there is something decent to see.
Go on tell me it's a really rare and wonderous plant ............... :-)))
17 February 2012 06:56:25
............. break a leg.
But the lady did that herself, and one thing for sure she needs no luck at all when giving a talk, well done Deborah (as always)
A quick decision was made yesterday, via text, facebook and garden.ie to attend Deborah's talk to the Alpine Society last night.
Clare, Racheal and myself attended. Despite her broken leg Deborah gave a great talk, Deborah if you are doing more talks while in that cast, please bring a high stool with you, that leg needs rest, age is not on your side anymore, LOL
It was a lovely finish to what was a hard day in work. A perfect end, you could say. Good to see you both again, short and all as it was.
One had to buy a few things so I came home with, Primula 'hose in hose', P 'Garryards Guinavere', Geranium 'palmatum' and Lavatera arborea 'variegata', pleased with all those.
Of couse some people did better than others, I was nearly sending for a trailer to get Rachels plants back to her car LOL
Thanks for the company Ladies.
One final thing to say, it was great to be at a garden talk where no mobile phones are 'going off' they so disrupt the speaker and the interested listening attendees....... ;-0
15 February 2012 19:32:49
Sometimes
simple is the best, you really can't beat them, can you?
27 years of obeying 'her indoors' so we are off out for a meal .....................
13 February 2012 20:38:18
Last but not least ..........
This the last flower on my Kaffir lillies. These have been flower since last year with just a few flowers at any give time. They were great to see them right through the winter.
13 February 2012 20:09:57
Well and truly gutted ................
Most of you know about my Rhodochition that I have kept going for over three years now, despite the winters. I kept it outside this year in the shelter of a hedge but was watching it like a hawk.
It was holding its own up to last weekend, but on Friday it did not look great and by yesterday I knew it was in trouble. I went looking closer and to my my utter shock the stem just slid up out of the compost.
I may be wrong but it really looks as if it has been eaten away. I did look for a culprit but to no avail. The way this year's weather was going I really thought it was going to make it.
At least I have a second plant in the house to take this ones place.
(Martin, please do not say 'snap' and that the same has happened your plant, I could not handle to losses like this and I'm not a sight to be seen crying over lost plants) ;-)))
Onwards and upwards Fran ;-))
12 February 2012 18:35:04
Secret seating area
Wow, I'm in bits. One of those days that everything when so well and I just kept going and going.
Paddy and Mary gave me a fantastic Bamboo with new culm shoots on the way. the minute I saw it I new where it was going. I had the decking and seat so I got stuck in and have to say am trilled with the outcome.
Thank you both for this wonderful plant, which in no time at all will create a wonderful hidden seating area. I am adding a album as the work progressed.
11 February 2012 20:35:42
Photo Libary
It dawned on me some time ago as I was looking at some of last years photos, that while I take photos of the garden, they are all mixed up and from all different angles. Thats fine and suits for journal etc.
But what I have started doing as of today is, I am going to photograph each border from two sides, every two weeks. This will act as an photo libary that will be checked to see where different pants are at different times of the year. I can then quickly glance at the photos prior to planting something new, and maybe digging up or disturbing a plant I want left alone.
Time will tell if I can keep it up..............
11 February 2012 19:52:58
Thanks Hoeys
Spotted this single Snowdrop in one of the clumps of Michaelmas daisies you gave me last year. All donations to my small (but growing) collection of these great little bulbs is very very welcome ;-))
11 February 2012 19:41:56
Camellia 'donation'
Only have two Camellia, this one is just opening now. I need to get this one into a proper pot once it has finished flowering. Brightened up a very dull day seeing this today.
11 February 2012 07:46:30
I have noticed I have very few flower buds on a lot of my clumps of Daffodils this year.
Do they stop flowering after a time?
One clump in the Fern bed has only one bud compared to 20ish last year. Could this be down to no sun on this clump?
Any ideas?
11 February 2012 07:31:23
Iris 'Katharine Hodgin'
Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' has just opened in the last few days.
It's a beauty and NO, there's nothing wrong with the camera that's it's colour, love it.
Will be getting more of this one ;-))
06 February 2012 19:59:16
From last summer.
A couple of years ago shortly after joining the site, by reading other peoples journals and reading all the Latin names on plants I realized just how bad I was with Latin names of plants.
I asked if people coulld put in the common and latin names, to try and help us poor morals learn the proper names. I remenber the comments Headgardener (Bill) made, basically Bill suggested to stick with the Latin names and give it time.
Well time has passed, I am slowly (very slowly) getting there. But what has really surprised me of late is, I have been reading two gardening books since Christmas. Both these books are diary type books, but what I was trilled about as I read these books was all the names of plants that only a couple of years ago would have been double dutch, now seem to be making sense.
I still have a long way to go in remembering the names off the top of my head, but time will help with that (I hope).
05 February 2012 21:25:39
What could you be looking for?
............... well I dam nearly did, sorry Pal.
Martin, wishing you a very very Happy Birthday.
Hope you were well and truly spoiled rotten, which I'm sure you were. May the year ahead have you surrounded with nothing but love, joy and happy things.
05 February 2012 20:02:37
Another bonus from the mild winter.
This an extra everlasting sweetpea plant that I had last sown last spring. I had nowhere for it, so in it when to the wheelbarrow planter. It did not flower last summer, but it never died back and the other day I noticed it is producing new growth already.
Hopefully there will be a good display of colour this year.
04 February 2012 20:37:03
Some Hellebore information.
On the way home from Altamont yesterday, Clare and myself called in to Avoca, we were both looking for double and dark coloured Hellebores.
None to be seen, Clare asked one of the staff members and we were told that the dark coloured Hellebores are later flowering than the lighter colours. So it will be a few weeks before the darker colours are in there prime.
I suppose that is also why the Mount Venus Hellbore weekend is a little while off yet. It is great when you meet a staff member who knows their stuff, and is willing to take the time to share it.
04 February 2012 20:09:45
A test for Scrubber
Peter, there was a discussion yesterday at Altamont about you and your rock skills. It was said even Peter could not manage this, but I know your rock skills and stood up for you.
I know you can manage this major task of getting a rock to float, don't let me down, I know you can do it .......
03 February 2012 20:59:52
I will say this once, and once only ..........
we were not late, we were only slightly delayed .....................
I must say I am disappointed with the photos I took today. I was just to busy talking and enjoying peoples company. I really enjoyed myself, walking around talking to friends etc etc.
It was so funny to meet John, Paddy introduced him as a new member. He wandered around with us, talked and mixed with us as an old friend. Poor John even asked me, ME for advice on what plants he should buy !!!!!!!!!!
It was only back in the Forge restaurant that I discovered he only got talking to Paddy at the Carpark and just joined us as a group. There really is something special and very funny about that.
Really good to meet everyone again, and JoanG for the first time. Another great day in great company.
03 February 2012 07:55:46
Doubling up
If the apples on this Malus 'red sentinel' don't go soon. I will have a double effect of apples and blossoms at the same time.
Now that would make a good photo ;-))
PS (Martin no need for a ''snap'' comment on this, I am sure yours is equally as good) LOL
02 February 2012 19:10:09
Altamont
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. It looks like been cold but dry so that's good.
I have seeds for Clara and JoanG, don't think I promised anything else to anyone going tomorrow, but if I did please let me know.
02 February 2012 10:46:04
Under Killiney Hill from last year.
My plans for today are out the door, frozen solid out there, not to upset, a lazy day is good now and again. I'm just in from a walkabout, one of Colin's hoodies on and cup of tea in hand, what could be better?
How is it with frosty conditions everthing seems so much quiter?
20 minutes just walking, thinking and no planning at all, does you good to just step back and enjoy. It is frozen so hard that the gravel is like walking on concrete, no give in it at all.
One of the Robins was down to me straight away, poor guy was waiting for me to start digging ;-((
It was great to see how the Sun is now reaching areas it had not touched for a couple of months.
I'm so much waiting to get all this heavy sorting out finished, and be to be in the position of twicking and maintance with a lot more enjoying the garden fully.
Despite the cold, muffle up, go walkabout and see what you might spy.