fran m's Journal

Acer 'senkaki'

Acer 'senkaki'

Looking at it's best just now in it's spring colour. This fades more to a mid green then changes again for years end. 

Of the few acers I have I think this is the  'top dog'. 

Not garden related at all.

Eagle Head

Aoife is doing the Junior Cert this year. She has spent most of the day compiling all her Art Work as it is due to be handed in this week.

This piece was made from clay and painted by Aoife.

For a fifteen year old, I think it is very good. 

Great garden day, but no gardening done at all.

Lewisia cotyledon (Alpine Show)

Nothing to feel sad about.

G 'mourning widow'

Ger. 'mourning widow' is starting to put on it's first flush of flowers. This one plant I feel that despite it's colour is badly named.

Black Magic would be so much more apt. 

Bay Garden visit.

Bay Garden (last year)

I am think of visiting Bay Garden and Camolin Potting Shed GC (Wexford) on 17 / 18 of May. I will be contacying Ian and Frances tomorrow to see if these days suit.

I was thinking of meeting there 10.30 / 11.00 am

Anyone interested in joining me? 

Just to be different.

Just to be different.

Sure, can't anyone grow ordinary Strawberries.

So when Bruno gives you a strawberry plant you can be sure of one thing, it has to be different.

I was trilled a few weeks ago to see this plant showing new growth. This evening I was amazed at the amout of growth it has produced in a short period of time.

Could it ever be invasive, I ask myself? 

Lovely leaf colour, yellow flowers followed by red fruit.

Indian Strawberry aka Duchesnea 'harlequin'

Euphorbia advise needed.

Euphorbia advise needed.

This is E 'humpty dumpty' it has really taken off this year. It is way to big for the area it is in.

When the flower heads go over, can I cut the plant back?

If I decide to move it when is the best time? 

or Can I do both at the same time? 

Thanks as ever ;-)) 

I like this

I like this

The combination of Flagpole cherry and Photinia 'red robin' always makes me feel good, even more so on a Sunday as I'm heading off to work.

Just starting

Alstroemeria

This an Alstroemeria that Myrtle gave me two years ago. It is just starting to flower now. If it does as it did for the last two years this will be producing flowers till November.

I will be dividing this plant later in the year as I want more of this great show off in the garden. 

To all going to Fota, have a great day and travel safe. 

Cottonbuds

Cottonbuds

My Whitebeam tree looks as if it's covered in cottonbuds at the moment. I was told a few years back that this tree was doomed as it had some kind of fungal virus that would only get worse. So it got the chop.

I never took the trunk out and it resprouted. Over the last two years I have watched it closely and the fungus is less each year.

So I am hoping there will be little or no effect this year. 

Works well, me thinks.

Works well, me thinks.

By pure chance I place a little piece of Ajuga into this planter when I was planting the Acer. I had no idea how good the effect would be. I love to see the flower spikes standing so straight, they remind me of Japanese buildings.

For Clara

For Clara

Clare I should have shown you the Peony yesterday while you were here. It is looking great and there are a couple of flowers buds there also, so all is well with it.

Amazing

Amazing

Clare spotted this interesting feature on a Yew tree yesterday at Kilmacurragh.

The smaller trunk growing from the left hand side tree, eventdently  started to touch a branch from the tree on the right.

Over time these two branches totally fused and joined together to form one new branch.

Very well spotted Clare.

Nature really is amazing. 

Gracedieu Lass ..... Mystery Plant

Gracedieu Lass ..... Mystery Plant

Mary / Paddy the mystery plant is now about 14\16'' tall. I noticed the other day that little buds are appearing at the bottom of the leaf stems.

Hope you can id it now, it has my interest for sure ;-)) 

A day well spent

Scenes like this everywhere.

Tuliped out

Last of the Tulips

These are the last of the Tulips for this year. They look great mixed in beside Stipa 'arundianacea' (Pheasant Grass).

True Leaves

Silybum seedling

I saved some seeds from Silybum last year.

Even as the first set of true leaves emerge, you can see why this plant catches my attention so much with leaf markings like this.

Erythroniums

E 'snow goose'

For me, this plant was my big discovery of last year. It was totally new to me.

I really think they work so well in the Fern bed area. I will be adding a couple more this year and then I will leave them to their own devices.

Just to show how they improve this plant had only one bloom on it when I bought it last year. 

This one has great markings on the leaves as a bonus ;-)) 

Apple Blossom

Malus 'Red Sentinel'

Don't you just love them.

Working Combination

Red Sensation and Touran

Part of this years plan is to change my pots and planters over to more low maintenance planting.

This is one of the first attempts, which I think is working well.

Phormium 'red sensation' and Saxifraga 'touran'.

If it works the way I hope, as the saxifraga developes the effect increases also.

Aquilegia

Aquilegia

I've no name on this one that opened in the last few days, but I do like it.

Lovely and bright, if a little cold out there. Some difference from the thunder and hail storm we had at this time yesterday. 

I think ...........

I think ...........

I better think it out again.

:-)) 

Arisaema speciosum

Arisaema speciosum

Just spotted this one poking it's snout out of the ground today. 

This may seem crazy, but I am going to have to look at some old photos, I was sure this plant was further down along the bed. I would nearly put money on it.

Trilled to spot it today all the same. 

It's a Myrtle

It's a Myrtle

Some of you will remember my attempt at a Cloud Tree last year and trying to find a name. Thanks to everyone I had a few names but was still not 100% sure.

Yesterday in the Garden Exhibition I spotted by shrub. It is Myrtus Communis also known as true Myrtle. Pleased to have id'ed it at last ;-))

On a slightly sadder not, a group of Magpies were fighting here the other day, and a branch was broken off it. Today I gave it a trim despite the damage, all around the broken area are a group of new shoots. So in time I will have a cloud where the break occured.

Still looking a bit skimpy, but I am happy wth the way the clouds are bulking up. The very straight looking branch will be bent slightly this year. 

Overheard yesterday

''No, it's not prickly enough to shove him into''

In light of the events that unfolded yesterday at the Garden Exhibition, I should have known something was afoot yesterday when I overheard this comment ..........

''No it's not prickly enough to shove him into'' 

I think bad and all as it was been shoved into the pot, it could have been worse. 

Another great day.

Cam. 'Lady Claire' for Clara

Can't saw much more than what Rachel has said already. But it really was a heaven sent day to visit Kilquade. If you have never been, and are anywhere close by try your best to make time for a visit. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks to one and all, for time well spent.

Clara is having problems logging on to garden.ie, I hope you get it sorted soon Clare. 

Hellebore Question

Do I cut, or chop?

A few of my Hellebores are ladened down with seeded pods. I don't want this amount of seed dispersing around.

Question is, do I cut the entire stem or just cut off the seed pods?

Thanks as always ;-)) 

Rathmichael Corner

Rathmichael

With all the different tasks that come under the umberalla of gardening, the one, and the only one which is the bestist of the lot is planting.

I only had a few hours inthe garden this morning, but that time was spent in the front corner, planting. It truly is the most rewarding time to spend.

I moved 'Ratmichael' again, and I promise this is his final move. This area shall from this time on, shall be known as 'Rathmichael Corner'. 

He seems as happy as ever, it was great to get out this morning as the showers came in hard and heavy in the afternoon. 

Phyllostachys Castillionii

Phyllostachys Castillionii

This new Culum on the Bamboo is growing a couple cm in 2 or three days. The brown/black paper like covering on the outside gives it an ominous appearence, compared to the rest of the plant.

Dicentra 'Pearl Drops'

Dicentra 'Pearl Drops'

I mainly bouught this plant for it's foliage, and I even had the good sense to plant it next to Lavender so I think it looks good.

Chanced taking somebasal cuttings, so will see do I gain plants for free.

Clear blue sky, coffee finished so time to go and have some fun. 

Messing about

Frogs

Guess who has spent a day just chilling and messing about ;-))

Then I was asked............

What makes you think I was at your camera?

''What makes you think I was at your camera?''

Farmleigh

Made a quick trip to Farmleigh Plant sale yesterday morning. There on the button at 10.00. There was about 15 stalls, mostly smallish Nurseries, but with great healty looking plants.

Picked up, Leucojum 'gravertye giant', 2 Campanula 'Elizabeth' and 'Summertime', Dicentra 'Pearl Drops' with great blue/green foliage, Astilibe 'Bumalada' white flowers with bonze foliage, and a Polygonatum.

FYI  Talking to one of the plantsmen, Most of the Dicentra in you gardens, are now not Dicentra at all. They have been reclassified as another plant. I guy himself could not pronounce the name fully himself, and did not even try and remember ;-))

A fleeting visit, but enjoyed it all the same. 

In true garden.ie style

In true garden.ie style

Yesterday, at Rachel's was a great day, as you will have read from the journals. 

As we went into the house for a cuppa, who did I spot passing the window with shovel, pots and bags in hand, only Rachel herself. 

In true gardening generosity, Rachel bagged and potted up slips and cuttings for us. Where else would you get it?

Rachel, thanks again for a great day and hope you can relax and enjoy the day to day. 

An easy day out.

An easy day out.

What a great day I had to start a week off. Good weather, great company, fantastic garden, oh, and the host's were ok-ish ;-))

It really is great to see a garden at different times of the year, and needless to say we were not disappointed. I enjoy looking at new growth emerging on plants, so there was lots to look at at this time of year.

The garden was full of colour, even for this early stage of the year. It was lovely walking and talking with such great company.

To Rachel and all the Darlington clan thank you for a great day. 

Aquailgia 'Leprechaun's Gold'

Aquailgia 'Leprechaun's Gold'

Here is a photo of the full plant. I really like the combination of flower and foliage on this little plant. It is great for putting on an early show. Then by July it has nearly disappeared completely.

What am I?

What am I?

Last year Clara gave me a Peony, this is a plant I alway admired in Maria's grandmother's garden. So I was trilled to see three great looking shoots peeking through the ground.

The reason I saw them was I spotted these leaves in the corner, I knew I had not had anything like this myself, then I saw the Peony shoots and I knew this plant must have come in with the Peony.

What is it, is what I need to know? And I hope I can seperate it without disturbing the Peony. 

Daffodils

Daffodils

Weren't the Daffodils on Gardener's World this evening just out of this world.

My €2 clump of bargain daffs are nearly all open. This was a mixed bag with no seperate names. I noticed this lovely one today, I love the little white tip on the end of each petal.

Would anyone have a name on this one, by any chance? 

Aquailgia 'Leprechaun's Gold'

Aquailgia 'Leprechaun's Gold'

I posted a journal a while ago showing the lovely foliage of this plant. A few people asked for seeds, in time and I have you names noted.

I thought you might like to see the flower, I'm a little surpised myself as I had forgotten how dark it was.

All going well I will collect seed, but that does not mean it will come true. 

Grass Bed

Grass Bed

Snapped this photo of the grass bed this evening. I am just imagening what this area will be like later in the year when the grasses grow taller.

I did plan to have a seat at the back of this area all along. But had it planned in my mind for another position, very glad now that I changed my mind.

I seem  to have lost two of the smaller grasses, or maybe they are just taking longer to show. Plenty of growth on all the others ;-))

Time passes 2

2012

OK album is not showing so this is the same area in 2012 ;-))

Time passes

Front corner 2010

I just loaded two photos of the front corner, taken nearly two years apart. The difference is stunning. We sometimes forget how far we far come and it is good to look back at old photos to bust our egos on ;-))

Hope the photos are there as downloading was completed. 

Dates of Interest

Some events are happening over the next few weeks I thought some folk might be interested in.

Sunday/Monday 8/9 April

Plant fair at Farmleigh House 10.00 - - 5.15pm in the paddocks at the house paddock fields.

Mount Venus Nursey 14/15 April, Woodland Gardening. Plants for all kinds of shade. Help and advice on plants and planting.

Dublin Alpine Soc. Sat. 28 April. 1.00--5.00pm Cabinteeley Community School. of N11. Sales, Show plants, Specialist Nurseries in attendance with plants for sale. Admin €3. 

I will be at Farmleigh, but will be at 10.00 on Sunday as I have to be back home early. 

Attention IT Team

I have had trouble uploading photos to the site over the last two nights. A message saying ''Not enough space on Disc'' comes up.

I know other members have had problems also, so am doing a journal so those who have had a problem can comment also.

Not sure if it's a server or .ie issue, but am confident you will check it out and keep us informed.

Many thanks as ever. 

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria

This little plant was punching out a great display in the sunshine yesterday.

Great for an early display of colour. Well worth findng a spot for it in any garden. 

Beyond the wall .................

First section planted

In marathon running people talk about hitting the wall. I think I have hit the wall in regards the front corner, I spent a few hours planting up the first section of the corner area.

Suddenly, this area does not seem as daunting a task as I had envisaged in my mind. I know the main area won't be planted up till years end, but I can see what I am going to do with the area and it will be great. Modest or what?

We really are been blessed with this stretch of weather, and now with the longer evenings, we're on a roll.

I even sorted a few plants to bring with me on Saturday to Rachel's. Hope you all had some time today in the garden. 

Porridge and Strawberries

Porridge and Strawberries