Month: May 2008

I’ve spent the past three weeks writing a 3500 word assignment for college and I finally finished it today so I treated myself to a few hours in the garden, during which I took some random photos of stuff…  Not a great deal happening yet, Clematis is about to explode any day now though.  More photos from today in the Photos section!

My wall is a bit limey now that I see it, must get that sorted… 

Enjoy!

 

Ro 

First photos of 2008...

First photos of 2008…

This is the wild area after its once a year cut. Later on it will be a mass of wild marsh orchids. I hope!
Wild garden with helpers

Wild garden with helpers

We went to the beach for the weekend. It’s great to get away from the garden sometimes.  At the beach there aren’t any jobs to do or reminders of jobs to be done.  Sand between my toes cold Atlantic waters rushing up the beach and excited screams from the kids.  Everybody is content.

Before we left on Friday I had a lot of watering to do in the tunnel and greenhouse. Potting on and graduating plants from house to greenhouse; greenhouse to tunnel or coldframe and coldframe to outside.  When we returned home this evening everything was looking great and happy in it’s new position.  The melons are still in the front hall and they’ll stay there for at least a month.

Lots of planting out over the next few days and the carrot seedlings have emerged despite the chickens best efforts.  THe potatoes are peeping up above ground so I’ll have to earth them up soon – Love that job.

The Tunnel

The Tunnel

I wanted to do something a bit special for my brothers wedding party so I looked into edible flowers and came up with flowery icecubes.

They were a great success, they look so pretty and were a great icebreaker:)

Everybody loved them ..well nearly everybody ……are they really edible,..is she trying to poison us..Is janie really the evil Ice queen….Ok so some of the guys were getting carried away but the girls were most appreciative.

The primroses were the most successful. I did use daisies as well, but they tended to close up a little in the ice. Another sweet one would be violets but I didn’t have any. 

Anyway they’re  a lovely touch for any garden parties you might be planning.

Pretty cool!

Pretty cool!

Hi there

This is Lorraine updating on the garden to date:

The tulips seemed to turn very quick this year – this was the ones in the containers – but we have realised the yellow ones are diseased so we have to dump them all – you certainly would not think it to look at some of the pictures though.

Last weekend – we finally got the sweet pea supports up and planted the sweet pea that has been in the greenhouse since February. I am trying some old varieties and hope they look and smeel terrific when they are come up.

As i mentioned – some of the tulips have already gone – but there are a few parrots left to come up and in bloom.  we re-assessed the colours that came up early, marked what can be moved when its ready to and noted what colours we have to buy and where to plant them – already i am looking forward to the catalogues with the tulips – LOL

I was very impressed with the two tone Muscari – its adds great colour to the garden. there are still some of the daffodils out – which is a great splash of colour.

The Hyacinths have all gone just about and i cannot wait to dig the ones in the containers because i had scored them underneath to see if we can get more to grow – so watch this space.

I did a complete weed out of the flower garden – took hours and was painfully slow – but worth it (i hope).

The boss (LOL) was in the vegetable garden making sure we dont starve this summer – the birds are picking all his shallots and he has the patience of a saint re-planting them – fingers crossed his latest trick works in keeping them off.  The dogs are patiently waiting by the potatoes with their pound of Kerrygold – at the ready and will dive in as soon as they can – LOL.

The potatoes have finally started to show – the poor man was starting to worry about having to put up with my bad cooking throughout the summer too! at least with a plate of spuds you can have a decent feed and not get it wrong! đŸ˜‰

Hopefully he will give us an update on his vegetable garden later, if we can pull him away from this terrific gardening and golf weather,

 

 

The best of the tulips

The best of the tulips

Our Great Tits are growing by the day and are now 9 days old. Both parents continue to feed them.

 

The Kilmoon Great Tit family

The Kilmoon Great Tit family

Yesterday while weeding on the south side of the house I was delighted to see that we also have a blue tits nest up under the eves of the house. This is a much loved nesting site for the blue tits.
Mrs Blue tit

Mrs Blue tit

Had a brief but fantastic trip to the Algarve last weekend.  Its not an area particularly well know for its gardens but 2 mins walk from the hotel was a fabulous garden surrounded by old caslte walls, full of exotic, wonderful plants. The beds were edged with santolina and, our house plants, spider plants and there were huge specimens of Oleander, Angels trumpets, Hibiscus, lemon verbena and the beautiful purple flowering tree which I was told was jacaranda.  There were also so many little patio gardens and potted plants all over the place.  The portuguese seem to love their plants and it seems the less space they have the more lovely the displays! I just couldn’t stop taking photos.
The Castle garden

The Castle garden

The garden is kicking off nicely now, another 6 weeks and it should be in tremendous shape…

Check out the president!

Ronan

El Presidente

El Presidente

As I mentioned before, I have been trying to proagate the flame tree saplings to no sucess untill recently.

I think I might have cracked it, fingers crossed. Thanks to Shelser who sugested I  try  a cloche which made me think of treating them like cuttings. So I striped all but the  new leaf growth to give the roots less to do and low and behold they have perked up and are actually budding new leaves.  Yippee.

Flame tree sapling

Flame tree sapling

Shed boxes X 4 plants flowering

2 X Flower bed not flowering Yet.

 

Out of the six plant’s Three still alive with only one producing fruit.

well i have great plans for the weekend now lets see if it happends made a good start this evening got the grass cut and went to garden center to pick up a few bits tomorrow i hope to make a start on the beds more weeding and compost and feed heres hoping the weather keeps up. 

I finally managed to get hold of some manure to add to the my veg bed.  We didn’t get much out of it last year – partly to do with a lack of attention but also because the soil really needed a boost. The other day I got a tractor-load of it delivered so now I have no excuse. I have windowsills bursting with seedlings of tomatoes, french beans, pumpkins, rocket, leeks and purple sprouting brocoli – How I’m going to plant them all out I just don’t know!  I also have potatos and peas to get in and a long list of other stuff. Unfortunetly when I went to plant my jerusalem artichokes I found they had turned into a soft white mouldy mess.  I should have got them in sooner.  Maybe its just as well if its true what they say about them!

Bought a cold frame from Lidl, Bought two packets of  johnson seed’s with six varities per each.

Annuals
Coleus Rainbow Mixed / Busy Lizzie / Lobedia Mrs Clibran
Petunia Mosaic / Verbena Compact Mix / Marigold Naught Marietta

HP (Hard Perennial)
Aquilegia Mckana Mixed / Campanula Pescifolia / deplhinium
Hollyhock Giant Single / Lupin Russell / Rudbeckia Fulgida Goldsturm

Planted in compost tray early march. Put on in cold frame.
After the slugs had there fill.

Remainder still growing ( annuals i think ???)

May 1st removed all established plants out of cold front and place in from of house for max sunshine. 

Seperated out annuals in to individual  section and put back in cold frame.

Planted out in scrub border Nastartuim / Lupin / Hollyhock/ Marigold 13th of May.

Table and Chairs Cleaned.

Garden Furniture Cleaner 

First sprayed on using a scrubbing bush clean the timber
Rince with water and scrub again. Let dry.
Used sand paper light, just to smooth out any scratches.

Remove any dust with water, or White spirits let dry.

Furniture Oil

Brushed on generously 
Make sure rub with cloth to remove any drips

 

 

Hi there,

The site of the garden is very open, liable to frost until about 12th May, and very very windy.

We have a greenhouse, a vegetable garden (which i am not allowed near) and the flower garden which I am responsible for – LOL.  There are two dogs – which help with the gardening – but can be a hindrance – i.e. burying bones, or in one instance – i had just planted out a new Echinopsand after a while I had to lift it because it just died – no apparent cause until i lifted it and underneath it was a slice of bread – one of the dogs had buried and the roots had no where to go!

We will be starting a journal soon and will keep you posted,

Hi to all,

New to gardening,would appreciate any advice from more experienced gardeners in my area.

Thanks

P.J.

I am new to gardening, having moved to a new house last year with a large garden. I have been working quite hard to maintain the garden, but am very aware of my lack of knowledge about plants and general gardening know-how.

Given my lack of gardening experience, I am hoping to learn from this website.

wandering round the garden this morning I thought of how we gardeners differ from  other people. Who else when seeing banana shallots  in Supervalue in Kilrush would have grabbed the only two packets hoping that most of them would be sprouting, This is the first time I have seen them anywhere in a supermarket or garden centre, most peop[le have never even heard of them, I when I came home  I spread  out some garden bark mulch round the trellis in front of my sewage tank,(I know they have fancy names nowadays and should not need to be emptied every year ), but I thought the smell of the mulch would drown the smell from the system! I think the changed  direction of the wind may do it better than I can.. I  then went into the greenhouse, and looked at the tomatoes, they are doing well I am happy to say , so far, I am sure other gardeners would agree you only have to say something for the opposite to happen  . I will cross my" dirty" fingers. .If nyone should happn to read this do tell me , I would love to know, even if you say,"shut up " and if you happened to go into Supervalue just after me and saw the empty shelf with the lable still there let me know I might spare you  one banana shallot to try!!! jen

 

Cut the grass in both the front and back garden tonight. Did a small bit of weeding in the bed close to the back door. This is my second year working on the garden and I can see it coming more under control, but it sure takes a long time to get even a relatively small patch sorted.

I’m going out for a drink tomorrow night and I’ll be away on Thursday and Friday, so I won’t get much more done before the weekend. Anyway, the weather forecast is not too good, so maybe there’s no harm done.

My garden is a place of peace and tranquility as well as a gathering spot for my family and friends. My husband built a gazebo in the middle of my rose garden and no sooner had he hammered in the last nail when I went ahead and planted four climbing bourganvillia’s up alongside the four posts. It didn’t take only three months for them to climb to the top trellis and form a canopy overhead. Their colours range from red, orange,  pale pink and cerise pink and they blossom all year long. They add  colour, shelter, privacy and protection from the direct sun for my roses. It has also become the nesting homes for cardinals, blue jays and mocking birds. We have also observed some other curious wild birds, such as humming birds and beautiful green parrots with red heads. The permiter of my garden has orange dwarf ixora adding a radiant touch to complement the roses. Inside the gazebo I have put a waterproof circular table with six chairs. At the entrance  to my garden I have an arbor which is covered in Jasmine adding a gentle scent amongst the rose essence. It is easy to have a green thumb living in Florida with constant sunshine and seasonal rains.

Its been so hot! the lawn impossible to keep free of daisies and fresh growth..but the thank heavens my neighbour is active with that lawnmower…Lying back taking the sun ..it was wonderful to hear the gentle whirr of work around me …as the sun soaked up the suntan lotion …Design plans in my head …for a rockery and and a place for Budda ..childhood days in the Botanic Gardens …not wasted ..and those lovely alpine plants ..mm

the weather was not as good this weekend and the kids are getting bored with me in the garden so we went out and about but hit a few garden centers between bike rides so i got a water butt and fitted it to the down pipe of the house its amazing its half full and i didn’t think it rained that much

Spring onions

For some reason my spring onions (White Lisbon) won’t germinate. So far, I’ve had one single seedling from this year’s sowing and three that managed to overwinter from last year’s crop. I’m wondering if I should try soaking them first before I sow. I’ll give them another week or so and then think again.

Oregano

All the problems coming out now…Perhaps we over-cropped the oregano leaves, or maybe they’re just not hardy enough for this climate, but I don’t even have enough leaves for one decent pizza! We’re a mile from the east coast, so it shouldn’t be too severe. I’m in the process of cutting out the deadwood, and have planted some more, but I’m going to try the TLC route and see if I can rejuvenate my old faithfuls before I rip them up.

English Lavendar

Another sore point! They were magnificent last year, but alas and alac, there’s more wood than green or flowers this year. I think I’m going to have to be ruthless with them, as I don’t think cutting back into the wood will do them any good at all, from what I’ve read. I’ve found somewhere I can get new small plants for quite good value, so I think the big old woody ones will just have to be demoted to a spot in the back of the flower patch in the front. I’ll leave them till they’re finished flowering anyway, possibly even till autumn…

Montana

I was never over-enamoured of Montana but this year it has been spectacular. I’ve been trying – and will continue to try – to mix it in with another climber beside it. I’ve no idea what the other one is called, but it’s evergreen, and has the most beautiful little white flowers very late in the season and they last through to the depths of winter. I’m thinking that if I can encourage these two to intertwine, I’ll have that greenery on the fence through the winter, and two annual splashes of colour. That’s the idea, anyway. I hope they like each other!

Waterlogged Bay

Need I say more. I’ve discovered that bay doesn’t like wet feet! Here’s hoping that the bamboo and next door’s alder will suck up enough water to allow the bay get back on it’s feet – so to speak.

Discerning Slugs

They’ve eaten my little irises again. And I’ve discovered they’re picky about the beer they get. Expensive brands go down very well while economy beer gets ignored! So much for value-for-money! My husband reckons there are too many chemicals in the economy ones and the slugs don’t like the smell of the chemicals. Whatever the reason, having irises just got dearer.

Raspberries

Can’t wait. Nothing else to say, except I’m drooling at the thoughts!

Gooseberries

God bless those little bushes, they’ve really been through the mill. I think we have the only gooseberry bushes for miles around, and every saw-fly butterfly (or moth, don’t know which!) makes a beeline for my poor specimens. It’s a real testament to their hardiness that despit being stripped almost bare at least twice a season, they still manage to actually grow bigger AND produce fruit – not much, but it’s there! As for me, I can’t think of any worse job than picking off the caterpillars. I do it, but I try not to think too much about it. I did it once on a saturday, and my kids thought I was so cruel. It happens when they’re in school now as I can’t deal very well with the extra guilt-trip. What surprises me the most in all this is that I’m still as dedicated a carnivore as ever!

Thyme

Some of my thyme has gone woody in the centre. I’ve painstakingly cut out all the deadwood there too and kept any little leaves or buds that i’ve noticed in the hope that these will get more sun and thrive, and that the surrounding leaves will be encouraged to grow into the space. I also have a really lovely one, I call it a creeping thyme but I’m not really sure what it’s supposed to be called. It almost died last year, and I considered digging it up, but then didn’t for some reason, and it’s come back beautifully. It’s about twice the size of the year before last, with a creeping habit (which probably won’t do it any good as I have a membrane down) and really soft leaves and stems. It tastes wonderful too. Just on the theme of thyme, I did dig up some other dead ones last year that I thought had become waterlogged. When I dug them up, I wasn’t so convinced, as under the roots of each of them were at least two cocoon-type things about an inch long, pointy at one end and wider at the other, a dark reddish brown colour and quite hard and shiny. Some of them were definately still inhabited as they squirmed when they were disturbed. Others were abandoned. I never found out what they were, but I’m slightly inclined to aportion them the blame for the death of quite a number of my precious thyme bushes. You can probably tell by now that I’m a real foodie!

Allotments

I’ve been trying to source some (one!) in my area, but they’re nowhere to be found. My parents have ‘allotted’ (couldn’t resist that one!) me a portion of their garden as it’s bigger than my little patch. It still wouldn’t feed a family though. I’d love to see allotments becoming available to the wider population, or even community gardening plots. I know they have them in the UK and that some are more successful than others. I might try and start something but I don’t have the time to devote to it this year. Maybe I’ll put out some feelers to see if anyone would be interested in doing a group kind of a thing. I’ll see.

New garden on 0.5 acre site. Lawns only sown last September.