HeadGardener's Journal

Out of Action

only because I have no other pics

My Battery for my Laptop died and so I have no way of charging it.... so annoying. Of course you always wonder if your missing something crucial. I'm on a loaned computer now but will only have it this morning, which is so lovely here I'll try and get out to do some planting.

Also today I am going to do my yearly border assessment (with assistant gardener in tow) this is where I look at whats not working, where gaps are, what need moving etc. it an oppoertunity for once to admire sucesses too however few and coincidental they are :-) I was talking to Scrubber and he seemed suprised that I also do ayearly border plan later in the season, nothing elaborate just useful when in spring you lose labels or forget that you planted something.

I was wondering about the Mount Venus Sale the other day when I got there mail and this year I hope to go. Gabriel feeling left out of my garden trips decided to visit The Bay Garden last sunday which was looking great. Of course we purchased and as always good value we bought Hydrangea 'Limelight'which I'd seen at Mary and Paddys when we went in there were five when we finished we got the last one and there was a few people there eying it up (but faith was minding it so no worries) We also bought an Aster 'Little Carlow' which had been all sold out last year. They have the Hen Day and Sale on 25th September which is always good for bargains (just get there before Rachel buys all the good stuff).

We also bought the electric aldi Grass Trimmer in the hope it might be able to make it an easier job of lawn edging.. we shall see. No pictures on this pc so a very boring. Hoping to get a new power lead by next week, and kids are back to school next week been busy getting ready, I'm looking forward to it more than them!!

Bunclody Horticultural Show

The Winners on the Podium

Our local Horticultural Show was yesterday and we had a lovely day out visiting it, all the kids entered and won something with Faith 'sweeping the boards' and just missing out on a cup by 2 pts.  The boys were a little miffed but they did'nt put in as much effort which was a valuable lesson. I will say that this does not show the tantrum, crying and Stress of last week trying to get them to finish there pieces!  I entered six classes and got a first and two highly commended (3rds) I was happy that I won 1st in the 4 Herbacious Plants as there was stiff competition, my Asters were in truth poor this year but still got third, and my peas got third which I was reaaly happy with. 

Faith won the Plain Scones, 2nd in Butterfly Cakes and 3rd's beauty of nature in a biscuit tin and Anniversary Card won 4 medals and a cupcake making set.

Ben won 1st prize on the Puppet and won medal and Yo Yo..

Sam came third in Beauty of Nature in a Biscuit Tin won a medal and colouring books.

We might be a bit more organised next year to enter more classes but I said that last year :-)

Sunday Monday....

Cedar Lodge Gardens

This is my last trip journal I wrote it all last night late but lost it ahhhh meant to say in the last one I got a gift of a Milk Thistle from Margaret when I was down it's only when I got home did my clever son Ben discover it's latin name was 'Silybum' oh how we laughed..

On sunday afternoon I visited Cedar Lodge in Middleton the garden of a very sprightly 85 year old Neil Williams. We immediately hit it off and on guessing my plant knowledge was reasonable good he began quizzing me plant names I think in the end it was a draw :-) This garden is very open like mine but has lots of gems that Neil has collected over the years. After this I went down to see his Daughter Sandy who owns Perennial Plant Nursery nr Ballmaloe House, she like her dad was a lovely lady and I soon added to my plant collection with Michauxia campanuloides, Celmisia semicordat, Mattiola perennis alba and Altaea cannabin.

Overnight in Youghal, fish and chips walk on the strand then feel into bed at 9pm. The next day I headed off and stopped into Blackwater GC who luckily had a sale but I was quite restrained and bought to ferns Aspenium thricomanes and Athyrium nip. f. 'Mettalicum' and a Morina Longifolia and Gypsophila 'Festival'.  Then on to Mike Keeps Shady Plants nursery and although he had a few other shady plants he had four polytunnels over over 200 varieties of ferns. Salivating I walked around as he gave me a tour of the nursery and the lovely Garden.  As a momento I eventually settled on six ferns (I could have picked 20 more) 3 x Dryopteris pycnopteroides, D. labordei, D. Koidzumiana, then 2 Athryium venustrum, A. x mairsii and finally the carrot fern Onychium japonicum.

Finally as the rain feel I headed to Paddy and Marys garden in Waterford, met Conclaw on her way out and Mary did a toour of the front garden under umbrellas as the rain fell. After retirng inside for some of Marys delicious soup which hot the spot e resumed the tour of there beautiful garden, i was starting to flag though and Mary was firing out the names of plants quicker than I could look at them!! I saw Paddy's impressive compost heap and his terminally ill chicken, before saying goodbye but not before a few more plants into the car (the boot was full), oddly I took no picture here!  I'm glad in a way that I did'nt visit more open gardens and focused on garden.iers more as it made it much more relaxed and easygoing.. 

Saturday Evening Sunday Morning

Sculpture by Thai artist Fra Nmad Docks

ON the way down I decide to visit Dundrum Nurseries went into Cashel and follow signs went left and ended up Cashel again I did this three times in different direction before giving up and heading to Mallow, some other time.

After booking into my B&B Sat evening I headed out to see Hosta's (Margarets) garden and being a keen plantsperson like myself I was really looking forward to it and I was'nt dissappointed. Margaret has her little cottage garden packed with lovely and intresting plants we had a great chat and a big tour hen I admired many plants. Then Margaret like one of the seven dwarves picked up a shovel bigger than herself and began digging stuff up with gusto in the end it started to get really embarrassing there was lots of pices of plants stuffed into pots and the boot was a third full as I drove away jealous of her impending royal visit but she'll no doubt tell about that herself.

I had a awful nights sleep and I blame Hazel damn coffee but anyway excited I was headed off to Terra Nova, Deborah and Martin were great hosts and I was so delighted I finally got to see this Beautiful Garden. I dont think theres been a nicer welcome and i couldhave stayed a lot longer but the Begleys are busy people so i left them alone but not before filling up my boot with some goodies and the Terra Nova discount was well appreciated. It truly amazing what they've done both of them and that Martin built that House, both of them I think have felt the losses of some great plants in the Garden this year but I hope they keep going.

When I got home I realised I'd forgot to buy that purple leafed begonia but I'm not complaining.My Haul was a Plectranthus argentus (after seeing Margarets lovely one the day before) Stipa Pseudoichu, Three little Geraniums,arisema ciliatum, mattiasella bup. 'Green Dream'. I also forgot to buy the book and a fairy for Gabriel (head like a sive sometime)

I hope you got your belt Martin and just tosay a big thanks you to Deborah too, In truth this brief journal does no justice to either garden visited and I was really dissappointed my camera 'missed' some of the fairy details of Deborahs Garden. I will put up photos of both gardens hopefully now or in the morning.

The Saturday morning

Gash Gardens Water feature

The tour started off on a wet note as I arrived at the Gash it was raining, it got worst and to add to it the grass was long and wet as I walked round I realised I never thought of bringing my wellies!! It did spoil it a little as I did'nt spend as long as I could have given in this garden, although in truth while it was lovely I did'nt feel it grabbed me.

It was the only garden I did'nt get a tour by it owners and that does make a big difference I would say, but there were some lovely plants in the garden and some nice ideas, the labelling was a bit sporadic and I always think either label or not label but half doing it is frustrating at times.

I always pick up a little momento from a garden if I can so I bought a little thalictrum isopyroides and purple polygonatum curvistylum before heading to Hazel Garden, to be welcomed by Hazel, Brendan and his grandaugter Una. I had a lovely time got the grand tour around Hazels lovely garden before she fed me with a lovely lunch and lots of Coffee..

Hazel has a lovely garden and lots of intresting features and a willow fedge to die for a lovely little stream and a boardwalk which clearly I'd missed in her photos and journals!!Thanks for the generous welcome Hazel and Brendan

Back from the Grand Tour

Hazel and me in the her Garden

I came back last night after my three day Gardening break exhausted a little gardened out but happy. I had a lovely time and a boot packed with plants many were kind gifts from garden.ier's. My whole trip would be too long for one journal so I'll put up a couple of different ones over the next couple of days.

It was very hard to pick out a highlight, but visiting Deborah garden is something I've wanted to do for quite some time even though she was worried I might be dissappointed (I was'nt). I got to meet and view a few garden.iers Hazel, Hosta and Gracedieu Lass (Paddy&Mary)

I also visited Gash Gardens in Laois, Terra Nova of course, Cedar Lodge in Midelton and his daughter Sandys Perennial Plant Nursery, Shady Plants Nursery and Margaret told me about Blackwater GC which had a sale sign up as I pulled in buy one get one free.. got four plants so quite restrained really :-)

I'm a bit wrecked and poor Mary and Paddy showing me around there beautiful garden yesterday did'nt get the best of me asshe rattled off all the plants names I was beginning to flag but so glad I visited there all the same. The only problem was my damn new camera which seem to trick me into thinking it has taken a photo when it has'nt so missed some photos when I loaded them this morning.

Back to reality today.. helping the kids prepare for the local Horticultural show and getting ready for back to school, deadheading, mowing, ironing....

Not such a Mystery tour now

Cedar Lodge Garden

I have finally almost decided on my itinerary for my three day sojourn around gardens, Gabriel (who suggested it in the first place) is now dead jealous and is half sorry she's not coming with me. Although selfishly I am looking forward to the whole self indulgent nature of the trip. However I decided to knock Kerry and West Cork off the agenda as it would involve too much driving so I'm now doing a circuit route taking in Limerick, Cork and Waterford.

Having walked around Rachels and Scrubbers Garden recently I realised that in truth two hours is nothing in a lovely garden and so I decided less is more and that I'm going to do a mixture of Garden.iers and open garden. I'm off on Saturday and hope to visit the Gash Gardens in Portlaoise then down to Mallow stopping perhaps at an odd Garden Centre (any suggestions please) before visiting Hosta Garden and booking into my B&B in Mallow. I had hoped to get to Deborahs on Sat afternoon (Terra Nova) but shes working so no sleep in Sunday morning as I hope to visit her then.

Then I'm heading down to Cork and hope to try and visit Cedar Lodge (as recommended by Hosta and a similar z=sized garden to my own) and if I had time squeeze in the Perennial Plant Nursery (both near Middleton) before heading to Youghal for overnight, then in the morning I hope to go up to Mike Keep in Shady Plants nr Youghal and on through Waterford to Paddy and Marys for the afternoon.I would love to try and fit in Bruno and Elizabethwith a visit but I dont know if I'd have the time. As you can see theres a lot ofv'hopefullys' so I'll play it by ear.

Now just Pray and Pray for decent weather...

It's Scrub Jim but not as we know it...

A Happy Buddah

Have just come back from a lovely morning with the delightful Scrubber's garden. For the uneducated the Scrub to which Peter refers is the amazing woodland garden at the back of his house. I'm afraid I only took a few pictures of his garden leaving it to better photographers (i.e. Fran) to capture the garden.  Peter as always was modest to the point of embarrassed but he should'nt be, as I would kill (not literally Peter by the way) for a woodland garden like this.

Perhaps I missed a journal or two of Peters but he cleared almost 30 years of overgrowth and moved numberous rocks to enhance this wonderful garden a credit to him, especially as I complain about the weedy french drain I have to deal with is no comparison (and having a wife who is an avid weeder). 

As he says himself there are plenty of spaces to develop and plant which in time I'm sure he will do. The one flower he did ask me what it was I could'nt identify I'll put it in the photo journal (think it's a helenium but if you know let Peter know)

I have to admit I half bullied Peter into the visit after Fran got there first and felt awfully guilty about his almost sleepless night at at the thought of a visit. I hope at least now he might be more relaxed about sharing his wonderful garden. I was only the second garden'ier to be granted access to this lovely garden and the third drove in as I was leaving so no doubt Rachel will have plenty to say later..

Thanks Peter for sharing..

Thank You Rachel

Had a lovely day yesterday in Rachel and although there'll be lots of journals I just wanted to say thank you Rachel for the lovely day and as always you and your lovely family being so welcoming. I did'nt get to say it yesterday but the garden was looking superb.. those edges.. no weeds thats been some effort I bet and all with trying weather conditions... bet you have you feet up today!! 

And I also bet your glad you only do this once a Year, I'd put up a photo with the journal if I'd taken any (too busy talking and stuffing my face with cake).

Plants for Rachels

Ok so it's waaaaaaaaaaaay late to do this but just to say that I have some plants that I would be able to bring to Rachels Saturday but was just wondering what people might like I have small plants mostly nothing garden centre size I'm afraid. If you would like I'll bring some along (I only have a few of each.. except the tetrapanax which I have to dig up and would need to be looked after for a while in the pot)

Tetrapanax (small now but very large plant root hardy in it's 2nd year)

Chrysosplenum macrophyllum (creeping shade plant)

Primula secundifolia (wet shady ground primula) baby

Sauromatum Venosum (Summer Bulb of the voodoo Lily)

Poa Alpina (small rockery alpine grass)

Euphorbia Mellifera & Cuphea Cyanea (both tender)

Ophnipogon Nigracens (Black japanese sedge/grass)

Leymus arennaris (blue grass) very small bits

I might have a small Aster 'Lady in Blue' and Anemone 'September Charm' not sure yet..

anyway will bring a selection with me.. 

Patient Gardener

Meconopsis Seedlings

I have'nt been online as often as I'd like just dipping into the odd journal now and again. Been keeping busy and trying tp fit bits an pieces of wwork inbetween family committments during the summer. I do know that with the kids at home it is a lot harder to get bigger jobs done so they are left to the weekend (if the weather obliges).  I'm am currently trying to do my mid season assessment of borders by taking notes as to whats doing poorly, whats doing well and what is doing too well ( I swear my Eupatorium is 3ft taller this year!) My hayfever this year has been dreadful and has really held me back a little from being in the garden.

I have been trying to propogate with a variety of success but this requires patients more often than not, my Blue Poppy (Meconopsis) whos seeds are ripe right now was sown this time last year and have finally produced three seedling which I hope I can bring onto new plants which just goes to show sometimes you just need to be patient. But as well as that I have been taking lots of cuttings in the hope that I can increase my stock.

I'm hoping to go out to the greenhouse and try and sort out a few plants for Rachels open day and will try post up what I've got. Looking forward to seeing people and praying for good weather.  I have'nt finalised my Magical mystery tour yet but it looks likely that'll it will be Sun 14th-Tues 16th Aug and I'm going to focus on Cork rather than travel to Kerry (just too far).