Last Post 696 days 3 hours ago
26 June 2011 22:03:05
It's a Long Way To Tipperary.
Been away at a qualifier dressage competition since before 7:00am this morning were going all okay until we got lost in a maze of roads trying to find Mickenstown near Ardcath by the time we arrived everyone was stressed but it was a case of getting a move on to have riders in arenas at the correct time. A deceiving day breezy, sunny and overcast but looking at everyonethis evening when we got home the sun was out in force. Riders had to perform dressage tests morning and afternoon for the team qualifier as well as being involved in an individual competition, spent the afternoon scribing and then helped with the scoring. Seven riders took part from Border Counties Riding Club in what turned out to be a very successful day team claimed 1st, and in the individual three 1st places, one 2nd, two 3rd's and one 6th so an excellent day only arrived home at 7pm. Now it's off to Grove near Fethard in Tipp for the National Championships on the 14th August. Downside no gardening but fingers crossed weather will be reasonable this week.
26 June 2011 00:23:59
Somewhere There Is a Path.
THese self seeded poppies are engulfing the path through the cottage garden just love the natural look this creates but must remove the plants as soon as the flowers are gone over otherwise next year it'll be a sea of red.
26 June 2011 00:20:34
Poppies popping up everywhere
Found it really hard to get motivated to spend time out in the garden with the wet weather and cold. James did weed most of the kitchen garden and a number of plants moved out of waiting but really didn't get on a roll gardening. Everywhere I look there are poppies popping up and in the cottage garden self seeded foxgloves it's sort of disorganised yet so beautiful as it's so natural. Going to be hard to get much time over the next lot of weeks so I'd better get motivated this week. Off to a riding club qualifer tomorrow so no gardening just hope it's as good a day as forecast nothing worse than at a competition in the cold and rain.
26 June 2011 00:12:12
Waiting in Anticipation
Last autumn Fran sent me some Squirrel grass seed heads and I sowed some wasn't sure if they'd grow been in the tunnel and then in pots oyside for a few weeks the other day I planted them out beside astrantia Ruby wedding after seeing Rachel's planting scheme. This evening took a walk round with the camera and discovered a seed head unfurling I'm so excited about this just hope it lives up to the expectations after seeing it blowing in the wind at Headgardeners
21 June 2011 22:48:32
Look At Me
This poppy self seeded in the planter by the back door and a few times I've considered pulling it out but decided against it. Today it had opened to be greeted by torrential rain is really shouting Look at Me against the blue lobelia am glad I gave it the time to open. Absolutely pouring at the moment not a good summer solstice day dark evening no stunning sunset.
21 June 2011 22:42:15
Keego's Verbascum
Keego brought this verbascum to the Garden Get Together last September over the winter it looked a bit tatty but since it was planted out earlier in the year it's gone from strenght to strenght and now it's beginning to flower. Linda B sent seed of Snow Maiden only managed to germinate 2 plants but at Bill's Get Together Linda gave me a pot of seedlings so next year with luck I'll have white ones as well.
21 June 2011 22:35:41
Roses are Red
Another of the roses is starting to open looks good with the cornflower behind it and the rain drops
21 June 2011 22:32:48
New Additions
What a bad day torrential downpours certainly mean the garden won't need watered again had to go north to order rosettes for competitions so a trip to B&Q was made lots of lovely lilies but not on my list called into Mahon garden centre to see what they recommended to try and curtail blackspot on my roses got Rose clear ultra which hopefully will work bought a box of Top Rose feed as well and no visit to a garden centre is complete without a look round the displays outdoors thankfully the rain had stopped for a while. New additions acquired Eryngium Bourgatii that has a pink tinge to it's prickly leaves and Actaea Brunette which has lovely foilage at the moment they're in waiting.
21 June 2011 11:22:27
Amazing Sky
Sunset on Sunday evening was fabulous Johnny thinks I'm a bit touched going out with the camera but I just cann't resist when the setting sun is as good as this and it did herald a good day yesterday. No sunset like this yesterday evening and today we have rain. Posted up a few more photos in the Summer Sunsets.
21 June 2011 01:01:51
Iceberg,& Comtesse du Bouchard
What another fabulous day here realise how lucky we are as the weather hasn't been great further a field. After having no garden time the last few days even though the weather was good I was in need of a garden fix. First job was watering the plants in waiting both in the tunnel and out. Had a few things I should've done but all plans went by the wayside as the garden drew me in or is it out. Loaded up the wheelbarrow with the remaining cosmos, china asters and the squirrel grass all planted in before lunchtime in the south bed. lots of verbena bonsaris self seeded which I'm hoping will rise between the plants. Removed a couple of shrubs that seemed to have expired due to the severe winter they really were annoying me with their dead branches replaced by flowers now, I'll reacess after the summers over. After lunch loaded up the barrow again with dahlia grown from seed, pelagoniums and campanula, planted the dahlias and campanula in the terrace bed and the pelagoniums into some of the gaps in pots. Watered all pots, newly planted and the terrace bed was surprised how dry the soil was but then we've had no real rain since Thursay. Gradually the number of plants in waiting is decreasing but still lots more need to be able to sread their roots, delivered two planters to Caroline's house late afternoon was really delighted to see how well her pots and planters looked hopefully she will decide to make a flower bed as she really does love having flowers but is a bit nervous about having no knowledge on how to care for them- but then we were all like that once upon a time.
19 June 2011 23:52:46
Fiery Beauty
What a fantastic day really hot in the sun but by the time we'd cleared up after catering for 30 riding club members and talking to them I really didn't have the energy. Fabulous sunset this evening hope it's heralding tomorrow as another good day, Posted up an album for roses and lilies both are really starting to put on a real show still lots more to open. Planted lilies into pots which have been placed in beds with others in beds especially the south bed that are going to really shine.
18 June 2011 23:54:52
Sunset
Out in the garden till 8.15 when it suddenly hit me I hadn't collected the meat for riders tomorrow so had to rush to Monaghan back cooking dinner atter 9.00 this is sunst at 9:40 pm just couldn't resist the temptation to capture the end to what was a fabulous day. From reading journals realie we were very lucky here as it seemed to be raining further down the country.
18 June 2011 23:48:39
After moving daisy
Busy shopping and organising for a training day here tomorrow mot teaching but about 30 people for lunch, this afternoon decided to get baking out of the way and then if the weather stayed good I'd be able to spend time in the garden. Was going to see what could be planted out but after watering all in the tunnel and pots by the back door set off deadheading roses and Sarah Bernhardt peony, continued on along the front of the house removing spent lupin heads then on to cottage garden it really makessuch a difference with all the dead flowers removed. Finally got to the bed below the terrace weeding and removing dead lupin flowers then decided that Daisy had to be totally removed. Have a few plants that I'll replant in an area where they can seed freely I now have space to plant out some more of the plants that I've grown from seed. Discovered lots of seedlings of aquilegia and verbena Bonsaris, might lift the aquilegia but the bonsaris I'll leave to grow on in most places as it's so airy. I'm pleased with the end result less cluttered looking so with luck tomorrow I'll get some planting done.
18 June 2011 23:32:39
Before Moving Daisy
Have had little time for gardening the last few days so moving daisy had ground to a halt, in 2007 I sowed a perennial mix and this was one of the plants in it but it self seeded all through the bed so I decided it had to go as it was overpowering other plants. I'm sure it'll reappear. Took this photo this morning on my wander round the garden to see what was new.
15 June 2011 23:56:47
Cottage Garden
Not much time for gardening which was a pity as it was a fabulous day first job was to water everything in the tunnel, this afternoon planted out the double blue geranium which I bought from Terra Nova plants at Birr in the NW bed, I'm now going to rename Cottage Garden will put up an album in due course. Removed daisy and stachys heaped on the terrace planted out some more plants from waiting into the terrace bed, moved out pots of lilies some placed in beds and others in the arrangements of pots on the terrace. Have lots more photos to put up when I have a bit of free time.
15 June 2011 23:47:37
Man on a mission
Johnny now has taken over cutting the grass on the mower partial bought by the children for father's day it's brilliant as now there is no waiting for someone to come and cut our extensive country lawns. He's also been seen out with the strimmer really sets the garden off with the grass cut. Keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow is a good day and that Paul will turn up to get the spraying done along the drive ways, then if possible I'll have to twist someone's arm to edge it would really set it off.
15 June 2011 23:38:55
Looking from the outside in June 15 2011
Hope these photos of looking from the outside in to give some idea of the garden at Cloncaw, this view of the garden is commented on by riders and others as it is from the cross country field and car parking.This side of the house faces South the terrace is edged with a bed and then it is sort of terraced with boulders from when we dug gravel out on the farm. The pond was make in what is an old gravel quarry on the old ordinance survey maps and has naturalised with bull rushes, trees planted in spring 08 as sticks now screening the house and hopefully will break the winds through time. There are photos in a previous album so it's possible to see how the garden has evolved so far.
13 June 2011 23:13:58
Sky on Fire
Another fabulous sunset this evening and seems tomorrow is to be a good day so hopefully more gardening will get done.
13 June 2011 23:11:19
More Room to Breathe
First job today was watering everything in the tunnel especially the potatoes and carrots couldn't believe how dry the compost was when I emptied the first potato bag yesterday, delicious new potatoes and home grown baby carrots the job was made much easier as Johnny sorted out a hose for the tap no more watering cans. Lovely day bit cool early but warmed up even with the breeze, having had no time for gardening made up for it today in the garden from 12 till 9:00pm. First job was weeding the Nw border and planted out some of my plants grown from seed also Clara's rudbeckia Cherry brandy, then after lunch weeded the NW corner removed some plants of Snow in Summer and a hosta that was sort of lost among plants, staked up lupins all knocked down by the rain, have opened up a few areas for more home grown plants. Potted up plants removed until I find a place for them, lifted out a pink astible that was hiding under a massive hosta now repotted as well, then onto the flattened lupins and self seeded poppies they were a mess lying flat, cut off dead lupin spires and staked it up then decided that the poppies were going as other plants were being smothered, sort of felt guilty about pulling them out but corner now looks better gave the Tiarella a haircut looked very under the weather looks worse now but once the new growth appears fingers crossed it'll have been the right decision. Deadheaded Sarah Bernhardt so many blooms and the one's past their best would cause the others to go soggy, removed couch grass planned in white cosmos as well as spraying roses for blackspot. Being on a roll it was on to the terrace bed after the visit to Headgardener's on Saturday I came to the conclusion that this bed was just to crowded so I decided to be ruthless and remove a lot of the Stachys, cut back Mourning Widow geranium, then further along removed another large clump of Stachys no stopping now poor old daisy was ousted from the bed as other plants were being crowded out. Lifted a large Agastache plant and replanted in more space, once the poppies stop flowering they are going to be moved to have more space. Still a lot to do and once this bed is finished it'll be on to the south bed and finally the east bed that needs major work but really needs sprayed. Visiting Headgardener's certainly brought home that plants need space to be shown to their best
12 June 2011 00:06:05
End to a perfect day
What an experience and I'm not talking about the trip to Bill and Gabriel's wonderful garden but the experience of being in this bit of heaven. The trip there across the midlands to Stradbally and onwards provided some lovely scenery but the from Bunclody it just got better and better with the mountains and the trees all around. The setting for the house and garden is fabulous surrounded by trees I tagged into the end of the garden tour just a pity I hadn't made it earlier to catch the whole tour. I love the way the garden wraps around the house with such a selection of plants and colours, the terracing leaving plants at eye level what an experience drinking coffee in the kitchen looking out at a perfect picture. Left for home 5:30pm and even with about a half hour stop arrived home just after 9pm. Finished off this perfect day watering pots taking photos of the sunset and sky. Will post up photos later of the day, showed Johnny the photos and he was very impressed. Bill and Gabriel thank you for your wonderful hospitality and opening your garden which has given me food for thought on plants and features I'd love here. The other aspect of this perfect day was meeting other garden friends both new and old and of course the swapping of plants that travelled home to Monaghan and for Keego in Cavan.
10 June 2011 07:46:53
Josephine
This is clematis Josephine has been putting on quite a show, the flowers open first with dark petals then slowly the centres start to unfurl, gradually the petald die back and the centres fully open remind me of a pom pom. Posted up a journal on the 1st May when Josephine first started to open has to be the best performer for length of time in flower and survived the severe winds as she is tucked in the corner of the terrace climbing through japonica and the unflowering wisteria.
10 June 2011 07:42:55
Sarah Bernhardt glowing in the early morning light
Close up of Sarah Bernhardt peony in the early morning sunlight, has just got better every year now in it's 4th summer here.
10 June 2011 07:39:14
Promise of a good day 10/06
Ground frost here last night 3c at 5:15 am but promise of a good day looking at the sunrise, really should be out now as no time later today as housework beckons as my eldest sister is arriving from the Isle of Wight Sunday afternoon and with visit to Headgardeners tomorrow have to put housework before gardening.
10 June 2011 07:32:55
Only the ducks out and about
This is the one benefit of getting up to take Conor to work for 6am - morning mist rising off the pond only the ducks out and about at 5:15 am
08 June 2011 23:19:09
Connie waiting patiently
Not a lot of garden time this while with teaching and the weather, have to take Conor to work some mornings so after early breakfast and a browse of garden.ie decided to head out into the garden first job was to water the tunnel, then loaded some plants into the wheel barrow planted out French Marigolds and purple cone flower beside Martin's rustic rudbeckia. Cut back more spent lupins and fritillery seedheads seeds ended up scattered wonder will they grow. All the while my companion was Connie lying watching every move was thinking of filling the water can to water in plants when on came the rain around 9am so gardening abandoned. Lots of heavy showers here and turned quite cold again not very summer like weather hope it warms up a bit not into mad heat but a bit of sun lifts the spirits.
07 June 2011 10:17:11
Against All the Odds
Againast all the odds there are baby ducklings on the pond, we were certain that as the dogs were on the rammpage all the time this year there would be none. Last year Milkchurn hatched 10 duck eggs for me as Connie had chased the mother off the nest. This was reoccuring this year and so we had resigned ourselves to no babies and then lo and behold on the pond this morning there were babies. Tried to capture them on camera more than in the photo but as soon as you approach they're off at a great rate of knots. Brilliant to watch last winter we had eleven ducks some of which seem to have left us currently wonder how many we'll have this winter.
07 June 2011 09:29:14
Room to Breathe
Spent the afternoon weeding and removing most of Daisy giving plants room to breathe as she was smotheriing perennials in this bed. Lots of selfseeded Verbena Bonsaris which I will leave as I love the way it rises so airily through plants, the euphorbia seedlings some will be lifted and potted up while others will stay insitu. The bed now looks a bit less colourful but at least now the liatris will be able to show off their beauty and a few more plants in waiting grown from seed will find a new bed when I can get more garden time. The one advantage of the rain is that removing Daisy was relatively easy as the ground is no longer bone dry. Dull day here today rained overnight however I'll be lucky to get into the garden perhaps for a hour this evening to continue work planting out in the south bed.
07 June 2011 09:14:05
Before Moving Daisy
Started in the garden at 7:30 joy to be out planted up more planters for Caroline's house and an earthenware sink getting some more plants out of waiting. Watered all in the tunnel had to tip water out of trays outside as plants were swimming after Sunday's rain. MartinB sent me a packet of Rustic dwarf Rudbeckia only germinated 7 seedlings and these were planted in front of Verbena rigida beside Heuchera Plum Pudding and a purple salvia think they should work there. Then it was into the south bed to tackle the self seeded daisies that have been providing a sea of white and yellow over the last few weeks. Started at the steps removing tulip stalks, weeds and generally tidying up then up into the bed to cut back spent lupins and start to remove Daisy who wants the whole bed to herself.
07 June 2011 09:01:57
Promise of a good day
Took this photo Monday at 5:15am up to leave Conor to work for 6am too good to go back to bed into the garden around 7:30. Not had much garden time due to work and making the long round trip to Nenagh on Sunday to collect a horse with Caroline if he passed the vet. It's a long drive to Tipperary but at least we came home with Mr Brown aka Rocky. Weather was very changeable across the midlands on the way down and looked reasonable on the way up via Dublin and then back to rain nearing home.
03 June 2011 00:30:37
Another Iris
This one has opened in the east gable bed rising out of a sea of Nepeta Giant Hills love it's deep rich colouring, all around the garden the iris are really adding brilliant splashes of colour.
03 June 2011 00:27:30
Quail Narcissi
This evening went for a wander round to see what had appeared due to the baking sunshine as I came along the path below the south bed I spotted this yellow flower from the distance thought it was one of the iris. On closer inspection it was a lone Quail narcissi opening up for June
03 June 2011 00:22:49
Isn't Royal Wedding
This pink poppy has appeared from my Royal Wedding oriental poppy there was one in one of the other plants has anyone else had this happen.
02 June 2011 00:51:43
View from the kitchen table
Our kitchen looks out to the terrace with this fabulous display of Princess Victoria Louise oriental poppies and alliums real breath of summer just unbelievable they survived the gales. I have been flat out teaching today so no garden time except for a wander round with the camera to get a fix for the day. Will have no time probably till Sunday if I'm lucky but that's life work before pleasure the one job that will be done is watering everything in the tunnel and pots.
02 June 2011 00:37:55
Two Poppies in One
I have three Royal Wedding poppies in the terrace bed which had a pink poppy appear last week from one thought all the flowers would be pink but no this a lone bloom, now a second one has appeared on another plant most odd has anyone seen this occur before.