MartinB's Journal

A present for Fran

A present for Fran

Rathmichael just before he headed off east:-)

February 09 for Fran

February 09 for Fran

This is the plant that Fran's bamboo came from and here I found in the morning that the snow had flattened it, so I gave it a shake and it stood up fully erect again.

Winter shot

Winter shot

So far the tree fern polytunnel is 3 degrees better at night then the outside temperature

relaxing

relaxing

Relaxing with a good book

Tree fern update

Tree fern update

Here is a picture, that I have just taken, of the dead tree ferns into which i planted baby tree ferns, I have driven in a stake behind them and covered them with three layers of fleece which I have tied to both.

Looking

Looking

Looking for Kindred spirits' newts

Windbreak 2

Windbreak 2

On a misty day in when they were better off somewhere else causing havoc, they attacked my windbreak :-((

Windbreak 1

Windbreak 1

an ESB man approached me today and told me that he was cutting down my windbreak across the road as it was too near to an electric wire :-(

Privet

Privet

I noticed a bright blaze of gold in one of the borders and on investigating I noticed this small leaved golden privet, Deb had once brought the little plant back for me from somewhere and I had planted it and quite forgotten it. Oh by the way the winner of the moon competition is Fran. We can all learn a lot from Fran's photography. The prize is a thousand seeds of Nicandra physalodes alba, which will be despatched in a week.

Full moon

Full moon

The shot needed to be taken at 5.27 this evening to be a full moon, or am I nit picking again, can't wait for Geraldine's shot

Privet by moonlight

Privet by moonlight

I just slipped out and took this shot of that privet that you have all come to love, thought that you might like to see it by moonlight :-)

Almost full

Almost full

Tomorrow is the full moon and I offer a prize to the best moon shot that is put up as a journal entry. The shot has to be taken from your garden tomorrow night. :-)

New profile picture

New profile picture

Zoey looked lovely in her new profile picture so i tried to copy her and look as good. I believed that I failed miserably but here are the two pictures for you to judge :-)

Mourne Wall

Mourne Wall

Here is a picture of the Mourne wall from the top of Slieve Donard as it travels for 20 miles over the peaks. Lichen was the most interesting plant on top but is does come zero on my rating of plants, just above concrete.

Lichen

Lichen

this was the only thing of interest at the top, there was some rough grass as well, the amount of footfall coming over the top is amazing following the Mourne wall. Could put up a pic of that as well. Jacinta you never let me down :-)

Irish fern club

Irish fern club

Hello friends, I have here the list of those who have joined the Irish Fern Club, and I will list them here to re assure people that they are in. More members are welcome. I have also enclosed a picture of myself with two brothers and two sons facing the last climb of Slieve Donard last year as we searched for ferns, if anyone likes then I can put up a shot of the only interesting plant at the top.

List of members: 

MartinB, Dick, Rachel, Fran, Jacinta, Clara, Hosta, Linda B, Kindredspirit, Bruno, Liga, Hoey, Janet S, Kate and Graham, Maurisa, Drumanagh and Headgardener. If I have missed anyone out or if anyone wants to back out then let me know

The wind last night 2

The wind last night 2

It blew the covering for the tree ferns to pieces :-(

The wind last night

The wind last night

It blew the covering for the washing line inside out

Covering the tree ferns 4

Covering the tree ferns 4

The polythene is on but it is the weakest stuff that I have ever beheld, one can push a finger through with ease. I will have to try and buy a better quality and recover it

Covering the tree ferns3

Covering the tree ferns3

The frame work is in ready for the polythene

covering the tree ferns 2

covering the tree ferns 2

Here are the tools that I used to dig the holes for the posts

covering the tree ferns

covering the tree ferns

Here is my raw material. The roll of polythene looks small enough but it said heavy guage on the side

Scary picture

Scary picture

Here is me trying to scare my pal. tomorrow i HOPE to build a sort of greenhouse over the tree ferns to protect them from frost, the only trouble is that it has dropped below minus one already.

Jupiter

Jupiter

Can't seem to blow it up any more as I am not great with computers.

..the moon at night

..the moon at night

Took this shot this evening from the garden

Fern club update

Fern club update

I already have 15 members in the Irish Fern club, tomorrow I will put their names up, so that people will be sure that they are in it. There will be updates on garden dot eye eeh, plus a journal, plus an outing.  any members who are interested can come on a trip to the top of a high hill in county Limerick to see the killarney fern deep in the fissure in a rock. A very rare fern and an amazing location for it. The picture above shows Martin Rickard and another looking at it, if you come then you can see it too. Our garden is 15 or so miles away and is open to the fern club that day. Alas we have to insist on a rule (for very good reason) and that is that we do not open to children under 10. Sorry about that.

Irish fern club

Irish fern club

Hi friends, i would love to have as many of you as are willing to join this fern club. The annual fee is 2 euro, and for that you will get updates on garden dot ie, which is there for anyone, but exclusively you will get the journal once a year, also there will be quiz prizes for members, and an expedition to see the Killarney fern near Ballyorgan. In this photo is three Polypodiums, which are amazing variations of the sort that you would see growing on walls, and are as tough as old boots. Rachel has kindly offered to be the treasurer for this group

The sea

The sea

Walking down Claras beach looking for driftwood for the garden, quite happy with what I got :-)

Dart

Dart

It is really exciting in Bray when one is up from the country. I looked out the hotel bedroom window and saw Jacinta and Steve heading away on a train that the locals called the dart,  though it seemed to go past at the same speed as one of our tractors here

Drift wood

Drift wood

Clara told me of a huge piece of drift wood on the beach in Bray so I went there to get it and am not impressed by the word huge. Still I will treasure it, thanks Clara

Ligustrum jonandrum

Ligustrum jonandrum

Usualy these are grafted onto sticks. Tiny leaves, looking good all year and no flowers. One or two clips a year keeps it in shape. I think that the name Ligustrum ought to be changed, it is a horrible word, perhaphs the privet club could come up with a new one and I will forward it to the right channels

Privet in the dark

Privet in the dark

This is an exciting venture for me.

Privet again

Privet again

Here is another shot of one bit of privet that was not trimmed hedge fashion, the berries are now all black. I think there ought to be a privet revival and I am prepared to head it. A group of us could be called the privet group and we could collect information on different types and their growing habit and bring out a magazine each year, so anyone that wants to join can put your name down here in this journal.

Tree ferns

Tree ferns

I have not covered them yet, hope to do so in two weeks time

Parrotia

Parrotia

Parrotia and behind it an acer, looking well

Fothergilla

Fothergilla

Planted this 18 years ago and it has grown little in that time, but hey it keeps its head down and pipes up each autumn

Kiwis

Kiwis

These were some of the kiwis that I picked at the weekend, the plant is growing against my workshop