Last Post 722 days 11 hours ago
27 May 2011 17:36:31
not long in, having a cuppa before starting the dinner. im really looking forward to going to dublin next wkend and bloom on sat and meeting up with some of you good folks. as green as im irish , i was wondering does garden .ie have a display or meeting area or something at bloom ???
busy day ahead tomorrow, cutting down the spoils of the storm. had a walk around yest evening. the only good thing to come out of it is that alot more perennials will be divided and put in. a chance to remodel someareas. a friend is cutting down some trees to make room for a house extension. he is having the branches mulched, soim getting a few bags. not sure where to put it yet. because its fir trees, i might pile it up until the strong smell goes off it.
23 May 2011 18:07:37
afraid to look to closely at the recently transplanted little bits and pieces. what i did examine are burned black with the heavy winds. i could just cry. on advice from family and friends via texts, i had to take two different detours home today. i am mentally and physically exhausted. im watching obama while making dinner, cant believe the weather down there. there is chaos here on the roads, my windows are thick with dirt and bits of unidentified green remnants from my garden and the nearby wood. rant over. amen.
21 May 2011 16:43:15
rainy saturdays
had a walk, got soaked and had to shower and have a change of clothes. hope to god i dont get a dose.
confined to the house, decided to make a treacle scone, which i do several times a week, then to pastry to use up apples. stewed rhubarb and decided a pavlova would go well with the rhubarb for tomorrow. yum yum.
21 May 2011 10:48:34
morning all.wet and windy here again. despite this have decided to get the wet gear on and get out for a walk and stimulate the grey cells. second best thing for health after gardening of course.
20 May 2011 23:30:16
hancherchief tree
thought you might like this pic. will add more to album. taken in carrablagh.
20 May 2011 23:26:51
carrablagh gardens portsalon
hubby and i took the 10 min car journey yesterday to carrablagh gardens.
one of my favourite gardens in ireland. a mix of old species of rhodies, trees, walled gardens- filled with the usual and unusual, wild moss pathed journeys through wooded areas, opening up to majestic views of the swilly and towards fanad head.words could fill a postcard or a whole book- simply enchanting.
20 May 2011 23:17:22
hailstones in may
never mind snow in summer. we had hailstones in may. kidnapped hubby today to help put bird netting over fruit bushes. around 1pm the sun vanished , the sky got grey and drops of rain began to fall. well it seemed like rain at first, it got heavy , nearly finished our job we continued. but within minutes we had to make a run for the tunnel as the hailstones came belting down for at least 15 mins. because the hail was coming with such power, the condensation on the insideof the tunnel was coming down on us like a light shower.
unfortunately i didnt have the camera with me but when i came up to the house for lunch there were some bits of hail still visible. hubby had asked if i had the camera, he said that martin wouldnt believe me. so the pic proves it.
16 May 2011 21:33:00
charlene saved watermelon seed last year. 5 out of 6 have germinated. have transplanted one into soil in tunnel. has anyone grew them. im expecting it to have the same habit as melon or aubergine. needing loads of water and supporting.
16 May 2011 21:30:02
having no leads in locating rock dust for plants in ireland or northern ireland. found distributers in uk and on line. i have relatves in uk . i might get them to bring some over. used comfrey tea on my tunnel tomatoes and veg today. too wet to bother outside.
15 May 2011 11:54:15
just seen a little snippet from country tracks bbc1. a scottish couple have been using lava rock dust on there plants, veg in particular. the size and quality seem gigantic. anyone know where to get some. would love to trial it. my google seems to be locked into a canadian site and cant easily get info from irish/ uk sites.
15 May 2011 11:31:36
enjoying a mug of tae and a slab of homemade treacle scone smothered in last years rhubarb jam. its not mizzling out today. its wet and windy. hoping it settles down in the afternoon. need to cover over my fruit bushes, they are doing well this year.
14 May 2011 23:13:47
called by today to visit friends and tour the gardens. had a wonderful afternoon in scenic surroundings overlooking rathmullen and the swilly with co derry in the background. we toured gardens on different levels with lots of interesting and happy plants, veg and an impresive orchard. when rain stopped and when rain started we had coffee and homemade tiramisu. a big thank you to maria and roisin for a relaxing afternoon.
14 May 2011 23:00:21
have been lucky enough to secure a half day on thurs coming to visit ( 2 1/2 to 3 hrs) carrablagh gardens . (DONEGAL GARDEN TRAIL ) went last year and thouroughly savoured every tree, shrub, walled gardens, lakes, and lots of interesting plants. was fortunate to fall in with the current head gardener and an old fellow in his eighties who as a aboy worked in the gardens. it was atreat to listen to them in the atmosphere of such a fantasic healthy garden. the garden could be situated anywhere in the british isles, its hard to believe it is in portsalon. the trees and walled gardens give shelter and a unique eco system.
would be willing to write an article for any aspiring garden mag or paper !! nothing like a bit of ambition and self belief.
14 May 2011 22:51:32
hi garden.ie buddies. been looking through some journals. everyone seems to be busy with projects or simply enjoying the wonders and surprises as they happen. things have gone from drought ridden and stunted, to heavy rain , hailstones and thunder.
the plants are getting the moisture they need. although some weird things have been happening. my thyme, rosemary and sage are in bloom. some of the rhubarb have gone to seed. donegal is wearing a white blanket of hawthorn blossoms !!!!! is it normal to have late daffs fading as the hawthorn is in full bloom ???? its like a time warp.