Cloncaw's Journal

Last Day of August.

Out To Dine

Not much done in the garden other than watering plants in the tunnel, went to get some carrots for dinner this evening to discover the rabbits are enjoying them as well. Will have to do a job to stop the little blighters before they have them totally destroyed. Have posted up some photos of the butterflies that are just everywhere in the NW bed.

Red Admiral Butterfly and Poppies

Can you see him?

This afternoon the budlehia, poppies and wallflowers in the north west bed were just covered in butterflies, there seemed to be very few about until the last week or so.

For Keego and Spider

Just in the wrong place

Thanks for the positive comments on my planting but this Achellia Gold Plate has to move as it is just in the wrong place think it will be moved to the East bed and perhaps the cream Achellia in this bed will be moved into the south bed a little further back so as it doesn't overshadow other plants although it is not as tall. Spider I definitely don't have too much time on my hands but this plant just overpowers other plants in the bed.

What A Fantastic Day

Massive flowers.

Bought 3 Dahlia Vancouver in Lidl and planted them out on the corner of the east gable bed initally started in pots , it has flowered non stop since the end of July with some of the flower heads the size of a side plate, fabulous colour and so many flower heads. Will definitely buy more for next year and plant into pots so as they can be positioned into spaces that are looking a bit bare. Cut down the lupins in the terrace bed as the foilage had become really tatty and the flower spires were definitely past their best. There is now a gap that needs something to fill it although I discovered a flower stem on my oriental poppy Royal Bride with 2 buds on it - nice surprise will have to wait now to see do more blooms open.Spent the whole afternoon in the garden weeding and deadheading sitting on the stones in the south bed surrounded by flowers, listening to the ducks, puppies playing and Connie as my companion I wouldn't want to be any other place.

Taking a Rest From Gardening.

Mum where's my sun glasses.

Puppies have been with us for nearly 2 weeks and up until today they have stayed around the stables. Let them out this morning came back to the house and started into gardening then decided to go and get the large yard barrow puppies must have seen me and followed me back as they suddenly appeared round the corner of basement terrace. Set into removing the dead heads on the Nepeta by the steps trimmed off the lavender deadheaded the purple scabious and then decided to remove the pent flowers on the white budlehia in the south bed in the hope it'll give a second show does look better for it's heads being removed. All the while the puppies rampaged around and had to be taught that the flower beds are not for playing in. Removed lots of seed heads along with weeds last job was to cut back all the spent flowers and remove decaying leaves from the stacys in the east gable bed so now the calla lily and begonias are out from under cover had to leave the garden to cook dinner came into the house and there were two puppies creating havoc puudle on the floor shredded newspaper, my wooden door stop chewed to shreds and a pair of puppies on the sofa. Time for some discipline so outside door closed and then two little faces against the glass please let me in , but it was off gor tea and then bed enough mischief done for one day.

Retail Therapy Just What The doctor Ordered.

New plants 28/08

Reading everyone's journals on their shopping expeditions meant that I needed some retail therapy for the garden so this afternoon I went to B&Q in Craigavon followed by Mahon Garden centre outside Portadown. A lot of the pring bulbs are in B&Q so into the trolley went snowdrops, crocus, Sir Winston Churchill  Narcissi, Snakeshead Fritillary, Queen of the Night, Wirosa, Purissima, Queen of Marvel, Double mixed and Miniture tulips in hot colours. Added a couple of packets of seeds Larkspur Little Rocket, Delphinium Fountain Mix and Bunny Tails, canes to support some of my plants suffering after the windy weather a pair of gloves as mine went walk about when they were pulling ragwort and a hand rake for tidying debris under plants after the  episode of being bitten by a beetle. From the plant section bought 3 geranium Dusky Clug from the reduced section very tempted to buy one of the hibiscus in this reduced section but decided against it as they really were very yellow in leaf colour also bought some pink michaelmas daisies to fill a gap in the NW border in front of the artichokes. It was then off to Mahon Garden centre on the way home adding the shrub Rubus Silver Fern, Russian sage, Astible De Luxe and Crocisima Lucifer did mean to pick up white anenomes but slipped my mind when I went round with the truck as I always take a wander round first to see what they have so it means another trip back. Hope tomorrow is a good day to get some of these planted out.

Tea this evening was homemade tomato soup made from my own tomatoes just delicious on this sharp summer evening.

Lots of Apple Crumble and Tarts.

Cookers all picked

Picked all the cooking apples on Thursday as the crows had decided that the eating and cooking apples would provide a tasty dinner. Think that either crumble or tart is on the menu tomorrow more decisions but a yummy one.

Decisions Decisions

Decisions Decisions

These pale pink anenomes are in the south bed and look very delicate against the sambucas Black Lace, Lythrum virgatum Dropmore Purple and the pale pink geranium which has just flowered it's socks off all summer. Need to make a decision on what needs to move as this bed is mainly shades of pink and purple think the Achellia Gold plate is one that will move as it's just in the wrong place and has outgrown it's space.

Absolutely Fabulous

Paula & Conor

On the gardening front not much done other than pick tomatoes, peas, runner beans, brocolli, rhubarb and potatoes. Peas in freezer, brocolli blanched and going to the freezer now, beans are waiting along with tomatoes. Rhubarb washed and chopped and into saucepan to prepare for rhubarb crumble and then without thinking headed off to teach forgetting about removing the saucepan from the cooker. Just before the end of the lesson it suddenly struck me that it was going to be burnt, arrived into the house to find saucepan had been removed but it was black inside bit mad with myself but that's the way it goes with too many things going on.

Just back from Conor's girlfriend Paula's house, they are off to her debs have to say she looked Absolutely Fabulous. They grow up so fast it's hard to believe both are off to UCD in September to begin another chapter of their lives.

Topsy Turvy Sort of Day

Artichokes in the NW bed.

Really changeable morning heavy rain, sun and wind watered the tomatoes in the tunnel and pots and baskets by the back door. Then this afternoon decided to brave the elements and start in deadheading geraniums in the planters and sinks really blustery but rain stayed away worked along the front of house deadheading roses, climbing roses have really performed this year such heavy clusters of large pink flowers that are weighing down the stems have to provide much better support. Over the weekend the Japanese Anemones have now opened in these beds which now have lots of colour with dahlia Vancouver standing proud at the corner of the bed. Lots more deadheading of roses and then trimmed up the lavender by the steps and finally on to deadheading cosmos. Removed seed heads from Astrantia Major Buckland and turned them upside down in an envelope a lot of the seeds have already fallen but I'm hoping there will be a few otherwise I will try and save some later as there is still a mass of flowers. Hoping the weather is reasonable tomorrow still a lot to be done and that the wind dies down as flowers were taking a right battering today. Have put up a few more photos.

It's a Long Way to Tipperary.

Yesterday's views.

No gardening over the weekend due to going with riding club members to a competition at Grove House outside Fethard. It's not such a long drive now as the motorways allow you to fly through the country to your destination , I hope visitors to Ireland venture off these routes to discover the beauty of Ireland not just the main tourist attractions. It was a fabulous day yesterday but have to say I was sort of wishing I was at home in the garden and this morning I was definitely wishing I'd been here as the rain was pouring down, brightened up now so planning to head out as a lot of deadheading is on the cards as well as seeing what needs picked in the kitchen garden. Just looked out back raining at this moment so perhaps it's going to be a housework day.

Kitchen Garden Harvest.

Today from the kitchen garden

After reading the journals about the progress of everyone's beans I decided to check mine out between my kids course and teaching this evening. Picked a lot of beans some used for dinner but most blanched and into the freezer along with absolutely delicious peas, some of the beans were too advanced to freezer felt bad about binning them but there are loads more on the way. Lifted some carrots and was surprised by wasps emerging from the soil some of the carrots ended up being disposed of as they had split badly. Cut off some brocolli delicious with new potatoes and beans from the garden for dinner, think some of the brocolli needs to be prepared for the freezer as well but that's another days job busy teaching for the next two days and then off to Fethard on Saturday to a competition so not sure when I'll manage to squeeze it in. Also picked the first of my Roma tomatoes and garden pearl now in the fridge waiting for more to ripen. Weather this evening pretty grim and by the sound of the weather forecast isn't going to be much better over the next few days.

Dead Beat It's a Hard Life Being A Puppy

Totally Exhausted

Our two puppies have settled in well and are living at the stable yard. They are getting lots of attention and are full of beans wanting to play, took this photo this afternoon as they had crashed in the tack room just exhausted from running around with the children on the course when they had their lunch break.

On The Pond This Morning

Herons & Ducks 17/08

Came down stairs and the view that greated me was the ducks floating in the sunlit pond and two herons standing like statues on the bank reflected in the water. Fantastic weather today but I've no time for gardening due to children's courses and lessons but just being able to look out at the garden and views even from the indoor arena gives me a good feeling.

Moment of Madness

Moment of Madness

Yesterday at the competition in a moment of madness I agreed to adopt two puppies and this morning Caroline went to collect them. One of them is Caroline's but at the moment her puppy is going to live here. I'm already wondering what I let myself in for as they've been exploring the flower beds. Will post up an album of the new arrivals.

Garden Get Together at Cloncaw.

View from the kitchen to the east.

Seems so many get togethers are taking place but so far I haven't managed to make any of them due to work or the distance away. I have been in contact with Keego - Mary and Doreen and we've talked about organising a get together up here in Monaghan. As dates in August don't suit I am thinking of Sunday 19th September for whoever is interested hopefully we'll be having an Indian Summer. My garden is certainly nothing in comparision to the recent gardens visited but I'd really enjoy having you to visit this little piece of heaven. We're less than 2 hours from Dublin and indeed 2 hours drivng covers a very large area in counties either side of the border. Let me know if you are interested as we sometimes feel out on a limb here and it would be nice to meet other Garden.ie members.

I See The Moon

I See The Moon

Martin I have a question - How do you manage to take your photos so clearly of the moon?

End To A Fantastic Day

End To A Fantastic Day

There have been such fabulous sunsets over the last few days and I had no camera so this evening after dinner drove to the top of the hill on Cloncaw to take some photos looking back to Glaslough and to the West sky just looked like it was on fire- how lucky am I to have all this natural unspolit beauty around me.

Eglantyne

Eglantyne

David Austin - Eglantyne

Clematis Josephine

Clematis Josephine appears again

New blooms appearing on clematis Josphine again, still has blooms from earlier but they lost their outer petals much better than last year in putting on a show.

Hot n' Cold

Hot n' Cold

No time spent gardening today but did wander round taking photos while after dinner . This really looks fabulous and has a cloud of Babies Breath in front of ot will definitely develop this combination also set against budlehia Black Knight.

What is my name?

Unknown

Was given this plant 3 years ago and this year it is looking good don't know what it is though stands over 1.5m high and I was told it was a bit of a thug but so far it's fine may divide it later and move to a bed near the pond but would help if I knew what it was and conditions it likes.

China Asters from Lidl seed.

China Aster from seed.

These China Asters are now begining to open will definitely sow them next year again am pleased with how they've done - will definitely not be trying begonia from seed I have one measly plant out of 2 packets of Growsure seed.

First Roma Tomatoes Ready

Roma Ready

Have a lot to learn about tomato growing, have been picking Garden Pearl for a while now but have my first Roma ready to pick with others nearly ready.

Enjoying an Evening Swim

Enjoying an evening swim

Who needs telly when you have this on your doorstep- mind you very good programme on BBC 1 about hidden treasures in Britain on for another 3 weeks also saw a bit of Countrywide also on BBC interesting bits on it as well on wildlife.

Oh What a Beautiful Evening

Sun Lit Bull Rushes

Just love the way the setting sun lit up the bull rushes on the pond

Lazy Summer Afternoon

Lazy Summer afternoon

Took this photo late afternoon of Paula and Conor lazying on the bridge on the pond

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

Oh What a Beautiful Morning.

Oh what a beautiful day I.ve got a wonderful feeling something is coming my way-

this was going through my head all day but then I realised it wasn't true MARTIN.

Fantastic day had a competition on and it was scorching great day and happy riders, everyday that you can enjoy the air we breathe, sun and nature at it's day is the best reward , hope everyone had as good a day as mine.

Love This Planting Scheme

Love this planting scheme

Really pleased with how this Delphinium looks set against the Smoke Bush and the contrast of Miscanthus Zebra have posted up some more photos around the garden.

Dalhia Vancouver Creating a Show

Dahlia Vancouver 11/08

Planted a group of 3 tubers earlier this year and am being rewarded with a gorgeous display of saucer sized blooms. On the whole am happy with how the garden looks although the one thing that annoys me is the blackspot on the roses, I have fabulous roses and really sad looking foilage have sprayed them and removed damaged leaves but it just keeps reappearing. Not a big pile of garden time yesterday lifted potatoes from the raised bed more carrots, climbing beans and the first of my leeks went into chicken a leek pie just delious everything home produced except the chicken but working on it. Watered tomatoes in the tunnel have picked quite a few Garden Pearl but others are slow and think I need a master class in growing them as I feel I've failed in this area so far. Noticed that brocolli florets are forming well so will pick some soon hopefully, swedes also coming on well along with more peas and lots more climbing beans. Spent until dark deadheading and removing the odd weed with the army of slug eaters waddling around the lawn.

Early Morning Mist and Sun,

Sun lit Comtesse de Bouchard at 7am.

Up really early this morning for me as Caroline had organised a bus trip to thE RDS to support a young rider who had kept her horse with us until recently. The bus was to leave at 7:15 and was delighted to get some photos of the misy as it lingered over the garden and pond just magiocal looking.Great day spent with Rosemary, Caroline and friends at the Horse Show, haven't been ther  for years so suppose that left it more appealing. Ducks all out and about on the pond and surounding garden as well as all appearing on the carpark they are just so easy going. Returned home at 7:45 approx so no gardening today.

Slug Eaters.

Slug eaters out and about

Took this photo earlier this afternoon of the ducks out busy foraging for slugs. The ducks are all doing well enjoying their freedom. They have all joined up and it really is great watching them swimming, ducking and diving, lying up on the grass and waddling around the garden. So far Connie has left them alone so hopefully duck for dinner is off her menu.

Broadband Frustration

At the back door

Have had awful problems with getting mobile broadband the last couple of days no signal at all now think that the problem is the actually USB connection. Now have the USB lead from my camera in use and I have actually managed to load up 5 photos at the one time. New albums up of ducks enjoying their new freedom on the pond and of the planters around the house.

Grass Cutting on a Major Scale

Cutting grass in the wild area.

After the duck release Johnny decided to run the mower over the wild area behind the pond it's impossible to cut between the trees but it certainly tidied up this area while leaving lots of cover around the trees for any wildlife.

Yesterday Connie was playing with something she'd caught just like a cat would play with a mouse and this morning Caroline discovered the stretched remains of a frog on Sunday she caught what looked like a water vole and gave it the same treatment. Caroline also took home 4 carrots and new potatoes for dinner and has now decided she likes carrots after years of not eating them said potatoes were delicious, her dad said she need a small veg patch to which she relied no point doing that as I cann't even grow flowers - this isn't quite true but I can see her becoming more interested all the time so who knows in the future perhaps she'll pick up my love of gardening.

As I'm sitting her in the kitchen I can hear the ducks going crazy splashing around and creating a rack on the pond just wonderful.

WHOPPEE -Freedom at Last

Freedom at Last and Enjoying a Bath

Back on the 1st May Connie nearly had mother duck for dinner when she discovered one of our wild ducks sitting on a nest in the flowerbed underneath the wisteria in the corner of the terrace. There was a bit of a dilema 13 eggs and no mother to be seen however Paul (Milkchurns) and Maggie stepped in and the eggs went to his incubator. On the 21st May Maggie called and we had 10 baby ducklings which came home and after an inital period in the basement moved to a stable and that's where they have lived until now. All ten did really well but facilities were not ideal just a big paddling pool, last Thursday we discovered we only had nine one had made the great escape and then we noticed that we had six not five ducks on the pond. Yesterday Caroline and I watched this mad duck immersing it's self under the water and wondered if it was the one that had escaped earlier but it turned out another had made a bid for freedom and a short while later it joined up with the other six. Decided that today we would release the remaining eight so Johnny and Caroline put them into a cage and transported them to the pond. Connie has confined to her pen until they settle down will post up photos of the release later but as you will see from the photo these are very happy ducks, there are now 15 on the pond and all have joined up. Without the help of Paul and Maggie this would not have happened.

Dahlia Vancouver

Dahlia Vancouver

This is one of the dahlias I bought in Lidl earlier this year. Love the rich colour like blackberry and cream is going to put on a fabulous display as I have three planted together. Spent the afternoon in the kitchen garden picked peas and climbing beans will have to prepare them for the freezer in the morning. Took out the first potatoes from the potato bags was an okay crop but ones from the raised bed are massive in comparison. Found another three overwinter onions under the peas and they have now been added to the others that had been drying on the racking  in the tunnel have to say I'm impressed with how these performed. All the Stuttgart onions are now on the racking in the tunnel. Gave Caroline the new potatoes lifted today along with carrots and onions when she dropped in this evening. While here she spied the chillis and peppers in the tunnel and will take whatever she wants. Connie had rather wrecked one of the teepees of peas trying to hunt out something that was hiding and she succeeded met a sudden end as she played with it tossing it up in the air think it might actually have been a frog as a short while later out hopped one very handsome one really reddy brown with dark spots I pointed it out to Caroline and suddenly Connie was on her feet moving rapidly towards the gate in but her entrance was barred. Wish I'd had my camera handy as I could have got a photo of it at full stretch climbing up the netting over the brussel sprouts. Pruned out the old raspberry canes and used them to add more supports to another batch of peas. Next year I will make sure that there are more substancial supports for peas and beans will  grow more red onions and definitely will plant over winter onions again. Two of our ten ducks that hatched have managed to escape their compound and have now joined up with the five others on the pond think it's going to be the great release tomorrow hopefully the others will make them street wise otherwise Connie will be having duck for dinner. Plan to keep Connie closed in for a while until we get them all released and settled.

And Another Nameless

What's my name

This frilly carnation also has appeared again if anyone can give me a name for this flamboyant lady would be great. This and the dianthus need to be relocated to better spots for next year.

Do you know my name?

?????Dianthus

Sowed perennial seed mix last year and therefore have a few plants that I have no idea of their name. This pretty little dianthus is shining brightly in the terrace bed anyone any idea of it's name.

Everlasting Sweetpea

Everlasting Sweetpea

Three summers ago I planted everlasting sweetpea unfortunately they didn't really get the right care and last year performed badly and nearly got removed, then after the big freeze I thought that they were definitely going to go but then they started to shot and have totally overwhelmed the space they have in the NW bed. They will definitely stay now but need a much more substancial support and some will move to another location. Picked these yesterday and now they are brightening up my kitchen only downside of them is there is no scent from them.

Off with Their Heads.

Busy bee

Decided to have a quiet gardening day with the first job deadheading and tidying the pots by the kitchen door. Every now and then the peace and quiet was broken by the hum of scramblers as there were grass track races outside the village. Removed all the dead heads from the lavender and chives beneath the wisteria. Tidied all the pots of roses and removed any tatty drumstick allium leaves. Watered and fed all pots then it was onto the pots at the front door. It was actually quite theraputic sitting down listening to the ducks, birds and busy bees all the plants certainly look better for the time spent. Decided to continue with the removal of the dead and unwanted  so it was off with their heads. The ladies in question were Royal Bride and Princess Victoria Loiuse oriental poppies, the seed heads are now turned upside down in envelopes will sow some of these seeds later.