Last Post 845 days 5 hours ago
31 January 2011 21:31:07
Plans Change
I had plans today to sow various seeds spurred on by the appearance of Olive D sweet peas this morning. I put on the fleece and hat and off to the glasshouse for trays etc but that was where the plan changed. It was cold and frosty here this morning but by the time I got out it had warmed up. One thing and another caught my eye and so the clearing and cutting back and finding little treasures soon replaced the idea of seed sowing.
Glad to say that each day I've been out I have noticed a lot of ladybirds which is good. Had to remove a fairly well established broom and a phormium lost to the cold weather and sadly there will be others.
However, on the positive side there are signs of life everywhere. I potted up some Nerines I bought yesterday in the hope of bulking up the autumn display and also some small Arum italicums I found here and there.
Those seeds can wait 'til tomorrow. After all it will be February then :-). Glad the plan changed, today was too nice a day to spend in the glasshouse and tomorrow's forecast is not so good.
28 January 2011 21:36:20
Snowdrops 28/01/2011
Today was dry but cold, and as Rachel said it would be hard to stay indoors if you were in a position to get into the garden. I spent about 2 hours there this afternoon and continued with clearing of beds, cutting back and making nice discoveries as I worked. Glad to say that my Sambucus which I thought was dead is very much alive with nice fat buds on it.
I cleaned up the bed where 2 conifers were removed earlier in the week and this is now ready for new plants. Also opened up the glasshouse and give things a little water.
I am shattered now and won't be up too late I think, but can't wait to get out there again tomorrow.
Photo is of the first little clump of snowdrops open in the garden. Lovely aren't they :-)
26 January 2011 21:26:58
Lysimachia 'Firecracker'
Today was dry but cold here, so wrapped up well and made a start on another of the beds today. Like Geraldine I have a problem with Lysimachia Firecracker and will have a job to control it in the bed I worked on today. It also contains the green leaved one so it is doubly cursed.
A couple of weeks ago I found 3 dead frogs in the big pond while taking some leaves from it and I found another today while working near the pond. The poor things must have found the cold too much.
On a more positive note it is great to see so many bulbs and perennials shooting up and defying the cold. There are lots of buds swelling on things such as Rhododendrons, Camellias and Hydrangeas. Stephen removed 2 conifers from the wood area for me so that gives more light and opportunity to plant something a little nicer.
I also sowed the Selinum wallichianum and Lathyrus Olive D seeds from Deborah so heres hoping. Removed the Amaryllis bulbs to a cooler place so that they can retreat gracefully 'til next year.
All in all happy with what I got done and look forward to getting some more done tomorrow all being well.
23 January 2011 18:57:20
Incarvillea and Mirabilis
into the garden today for about 3 hours. We had no frost here overnight although it is still very cold. Spent some time this morning going through seeds and trying to figure out what to sow and where they might go if they germinate.
Considering the number of losses due to the cold weather , I have been giving considerable thought to growing more perennials. To this end I have bought seeds for Buddleja, Kniphofia, Verbena Bonariennsis, Penstemons, Physalis, Gaillardia and Echinacea to start with. I will also sow some annuals of course but the numbers will be limited. I also hope to get a good selection of summer flowering bulbs for variety and colour.
Its hard to resist cutting or digging things out just yet but there are some plants that you feel will not recover. Hopefully the perennials and bulbs etc can be used until I can be positive things are not going to recover and more hardy specimens can be sourced to combat any future severe weather.
Today I also potted up the Cannas and Callas which I bought last week and also the Mirabilis and Incarvilleas which I got yesterday in one of the discount stores in town. 2 Incarvilleas and 3 Mirablils for €3 . I had the Incarveilleas before but they faded after a few years but the Mirabilis are new to me so we will see what happens. When that was done, I spent the rest of the time cleaning up one of the beds. Well pleased with what I got done and it was still bright when I finished at 5.30.
22 January 2011 17:46:43
Sunset 22/01/2011
Just took this shot of the sunset at the back of the house. I always thought the saying was 'red sky at night, shepard's delight' -- I'm not sure too many of them would be too hopeful of good weather tomorrow if the last week or so is anything to go by-- every evening similar skies to this and the place white with frost in the morning.
The frost never left again today, I'm getting fairly concerned now about plants in the garden. This has been such a prolonged period of cold and to be fair there is only so much the poor things can put up with.
21 January 2011 14:00:16
New Addition
I have added to my Orchid collection -- well I have
5 now! Its a Phalaenopsis which I got in Tesco for €6 and I think its gorgeous. AND they have more...........
19 January 2011 22:18:24
Thought this might amuse you Jacinta and any other lovers of snails and slugs (NOT) !!
Low born land mollusc
high impact intruder
easy oozer, slime exuder
free loader, sprout spoiler
meandering marauder
disrespecter of my broad beans' border
you've a one track mind in a one track body.
Diligent pillager
soft horned invisigoth
slow silver scribbler
paradoxically busy sloth
tithe taker, hole maker
indiscriminate direct debitor
bold as brass brassica editor.
You're a squishetty spoilsport
a glistening drag
the liquorice allsort nobody wants to find in the bag.
It's time that you were brought to book
you're not as tasty as you look
listen chum, you are disposable
look at my thumb, it is opposable.
Unwelcome invertebrate
this might just hurt a bit
I pluck you and chuck you into distant dew drenched greenery
isn't that mean of me?
Slug, when all is said and done
you can hide but you can't run.
17 January 2011 21:50:16
Hellebore 17/01/2011
before this Hellebore opens, at least I hope it won't. I absolutely LOVE them !!
Went out today to do a few bits of clearing and was delighted to see so many things peering up to see what the weather is like. There are snowdrops, tulips, daffs and muscari showing above ground. Buds are swelling on lots of things including rhodos and azaleas.
Got a nice bit done and intended to get more done until two guys on tractors arrived to draw slurry tanks up and down the lane. Had to come in then as the stink was just too much.
Oh the joys of living in the country, will try again tomorrow ;-)
17 January 2011 21:39:53
Leucothoe 17/01/2011
I have had this for years in the garden and it is another trouble free plant. Its one of the Leucothoe family (can't remember which one) and its providing a nice splash of colour at the moment.
16 January 2011 20:42:21
Rhodo Cunninghams White 16/01/2011
Planted close to the Hazel in the previous journal is this Rhododendron 'Cunningham's White' which I managed to grow from a cutting. It is now about 3 ft high and is full of these nice fat buds. Should look good later in the season
16 January 2011 20:33:54
Witch Hazel 16/01/2011
Prompted by journals by Paddy and others I went out today to get a shot of the witch hazel which is in flower at the moment. As far as I can remember it is Ham. mollis 'Pallida'. Pretty reliable to flower and is more spreading than upright in habit.
15 January 2011 21:22:45
Cannas and Callas
In the process of buying a new camera and went to check out some today. Just happened to be a B & Q in the area so HAD to call. They have a mouth watering range of bulbs/corms etc.
For a start I bought a packet of Canna Wyoming and one of Calla Picasso. Jacinta put up a journal about the changes in her garden since joining the site. I must say that prior to joining I would not have bought anything like the Callas for sure. Now I say to myself - give it a try, you never know. So thanks all.
Will have to go back though, they have lovely dahlias, lillies, nerines, glads, begonias, and....... and..........
13 January 2011 18:21:38
Hawothia and Arisaema Seeds from Jacinta
The postman brought me a parcel today and in it was a piece of Hawothia and some Arisaema seeds. As you can see the plant has now been potted up and the seeds will be done tomorrow. Thank you Jacinta, more than generous as always.
12 January 2011 17:54:27
Lathyrus 'Miss Willmott'
Some of you may remember that I sowed sweet pea seeds the other evening in spent toilet roll holders.
Well, checked them earlier and the stupid rolls are covered in mould aaagghhh!!!! Tried to get some sort of spray in Mallow and failed. Have now removed the seeds from the holders and will try to redeem the situation tomorrow.
11 January 2011 20:50:06
Amaranthus Thriller
While in Cork today, I called to Atlantic Homecare and they have a pretty good range of seeds. These caught my eye and of course I could not resist.
They were the only packet I bought ---- for now !!
11 January 2011 19:57:42
Helleborus foetidus
This is Helleborus foetidus which in spite of the awful weather is about to flower. I have a few clumps of this in the garden and it is no trouble at all to care for. It is also evergreen which is an added bonus.
11 January 2011 17:13:39
Albino Blackbird 11/01/2011
We were just returning home from Cork a short time ago and we both thought our eyes were deceiving us. There in front of us on the road was an ALBINO blackbird. Snow white, usual size and beak colour. Googled it and it seems they are very rare. No camera in the car at the time so the pic is taken from the net.
11 January 2011 11:18:58
Pink Hyacinth
The pink Hyacinth I got in Lidl before Christmas is starting to flower. Its a funny shape though and I'm not so sure it will sort itself out. However, its a nice bit of colour at the moment and also giving off a nice scent. Will transfer it to the garden once it has finished flowering.
09 January 2011 17:21:31
Frosty Sunset 09/01/2011
Took this shot a short time ago overlooking the race course in Mallow. The main roads are good for driving but the minor roads are bad. I did not drive at all during the first lot of bad weather and having visited my parents today, will not drive again until the snow and ice is gone. Nervous wreck !!!
08 January 2011 13:21:23
Birds
Plenty of birds around again today after all the snow last night. Roads are not great again today -- hope it doesn't hang around for too long. I've put up a few pics of the birds in the garden at the moment.
07 January 2011 22:07:44
First seeds sown
Well thats the first batch of seeds for this year and I will have to wait and see what happens. These are Sweet Pea / Lathyrus 'Miss Willmott' and are orange/pink in colour dating back to 1901. They grow to 6-10 feet and are good for an obelisk or trellis ---- well thats what it says on the pack.
Time will tell.
07 January 2011 19:24:02
Hyacinth Basket
Got this nice basket with 3 blue Hyacinths today. Reduced from €8.99 to €2.99 but when I went to pay, it was further reduced to €2.49. Will be able to use the basket later in the year and will plant the bulbs in the garden when they have finished flowering.
07 January 2011 17:38:29
Snowing Again!!
Just taken this shot from the front door and its pelting down. My poor plants !!!
05 January 2011 20:57:50
Fungi
This just caught my eye today on the lane while walking Ruby. Didn't think there would any of these out at this time of the year. Looks nice I think.
05 January 2011 20:42:37
Schlumbergera
it looks like my Schlumbergera is going to flower. Maybe putting it in the dark as suggested by Jacinta works after all. Thanks Jacinta
01 January 2011 17:53:27
Casualties
In the same boat as Bill following the cold/flu bug I picked up and have no energy at the moment. But as it was nice and mild today I took a good long wander around the garden and am now pretty fed up after seeing the number of dead plants.
Went out with the intention of looking to see where I might put the plants I have in stock as well as where divisions etc might be made. It soon became apparent that there will be a lot more spaces than first thought.
Losses include 2 Large Pittosporums, 1 Callistemon/Bottlebrush, I Pieris, 1 Variegated Phormium, 1 Broom, 1 Myrtle Tree, 1 Crinodendron, 3 Spiraeas, I Pseudowintera
Most of these are well established plants, especially the Myrtle which is a particular favourite and it is so sad to see them blackened and dead.
Have to go back to the drawing board I guess. Hope we don't get any more of the really severe weather.
Disgusted!!