Month: February 2009
The internet has been down since our recent cold spell when a "wire froze".
The good news is that my 5 tomato types have germinated and just this morning the peppers and aubergines popped their heads up. I’m delighted but no flowers yet.
I had been very worried about my seeds since it was really hard to maintain the correct germination temperature either in the hotpress or outside it. This was compounded by the fact that the heating oil then ran out and we had to wait a few days for delivery. The only tray that kept the right temperature was the heated propagator. As heating propagators start at €54, I didn’t really fancy buying any more.
Then I found a great solution – sparked by the husband’s giant African snails! Let me explain. Reptiles and exotic molluscs are often kept at temperature (not for cooking purposes, you understand) with heated mats. I put some of my seeds on top of the snails’ mat, which was on top of their "box". It worked a treat. I have now bought my own "reptile mat" for €24 and intend planting some more seeds this afternoon.
Potted up some roots/tubers too – 2 peonies (one white and one Sarah Bernhardt), 2 white agapanthus and one Glory Lily (gloriosa rothschildiana), which I was overjoyed to find.
Reptile Help
Spicey smelling carnation
I can’t get over the persistence of the cold weather. There have been patches of snow lying on the ground for the past week and a half. A local gardener came to help me over the past 2 mondays. Usually I would go out and help him and we would work away together. But I am not able to keep my body temperature up at all these days. As a result I haven’t been out gardening since christmas. I’m like an old woman.
But the fruit garden has been weeded and planting in the lavender garden has been completed. Thank you David.
I am looking forward to some less arctic-like weather in the next few weeks so that I can get sowing seeds.
Having a quick look in the last half hour or there abouts to see what seeds are still available from last year.Some packets fine but others last just 1 year.So its best to keep a check.Having tried some seeds about the same time last year in a similar state left me wondering why are they not growing.Now its fairly clear.Some veg pkts of seed like cabb,etc keep up to 4 years.Parsnips only a year.Another nights frost.
The crumbling but evocative Walled garden
Just spent some time putting together a layout of my Soft Fruit Garden and for my Fruit Trees. Would love to have some feedback from other gardeners on the names of good-do’ers, that are nice tasting too.
The site is free-draining with good amounts of top-soil, and an endless supply of horse-manure. As for acidic soil, i can get my hands on lots of peat too….I am confident most varieties will grow, just not sure which are hardiest when it comes to frost i.e destroying flowers, and diseases.
HELP?
hi everyone got three more plants today from aldi, some dahlia and lilly bulbs and another plant from woodies, Aldi and woodies are in the same retail park which is great for me but not my pocket, rarely go to atlantic homecare because it is slightly futher out of town compare to woodies, horkans is only up the road from me. Hoping to do some more digging when the weather settles and the frosts are not on a nightly basis, knowing my luck we will get a long spell of rain, have alot of garden digging to do, there wont be much grass left to cut this year when i have all the digging i have planned to done. goodbye for now all my gardening friends.
I am gearing up for the glorious summer we are surely due in 2009. I intend to push the boat out by trying different gardening techniques this year, with the assistance of my new greenhouse.
I also hope to get a digger in this spring to make some new borders and maybe even do a bit of hard-landscaping, if the budget stretches that far.
Sowed some Monarda, more Hollyhock (Charter’s Double Icicle) and some Aquilegia (Nora Barlow).
This is the easy bit – it’s a killer when they all need potting on at the same time.
Hollyhock Nigra
Is spring trying to break through?
Crocus
It was a beautiful spring day today.
I planted 8 Cistus on the hill at one side of my garden. It is amazing how many plants that hill swallows and yet still shows gaps!
I did loose a few cistus purpurea there – some kind of pest problem as two consecutive 4ft plants just withered and died. I’m hoping the problem has abated.
Cistus
Ernest H Morse June 2008
Hello all, Our garden is about two acres in size ,mostly to the rear of house.Initally 8 years ago when we moved in, it was like three overgrown fields with scrub, rubbish, ditches and hedges gone beyond repair , sheds in need of doors, windows electricity etc, yet it still had alot goin for it then , beautiful mature trees like copper beech , beech, chinese lantern and orange blossom to name a few,also very private , and an ideal size to let animals run amok.we ( my husband Conor and i Michelle) knew the garden along with the house required a huge amount of work time and energy yet the rewards would be so worth it and they have. It is an on goin labour of love for us we love the excitment each season and year bring . conor has done and continues to do all the hard landscaping like the pond ,paths, fencing ,gates, repairing sheds , adding lights to garden and sheds, building walls ,putting in raised beds cutting down hedges and planting more , mowing the lawn, I do all stuff flower , plant , herb shrub related be that weeding, planting de heading ,trimming hedges ,we both will paint, power hose,clean and love just to be out pottering enjoying the fresh air ,dogs running around , watching all the different birds feeding and being stalked by a very optistmic dog.
At present we have a small lawn at front with some beds these include one of my favourites alstroemeria also poppies, fushia , peony,geum, day lilies, agapanthus,lady in the bath,red robin, gladiolus,hellianthemum,hellianthus, phlox, aquilegia,different flowering shrubs, chinse lantern tree and large feathery bottle brush . For six or so months of the year i enjoy growing trailing surfinias in baskets and window boxes.
At the rear is a patio which is only down a few months so lots to be done in that area this year as all bulbs and plants and bricks were taken up and saved while building was goin on.Suprisingly all bulbs and plants saved in fish boxes are doin really well and lots tips coming through .Roses, pennistetum, lilies, foxgloves,herbs which were moved and planted elsewhere will be a case of wait and see if they grow.There is lots of lawn and paths goin around first two parts.after that is a lovely field all cleaned up which i can walk dogs in and intend to plant some veg this year .
Back up in first part is the pond with a raised bed half way around it ,this ended up being made when pond was being dug out and needed somewhere to put the earth it has helped orange blossom tree immensly .In this bed is a real mish mash from solomons seal ,calenduala, irises, lilies,crocosmia lucifer,helleborus, japanese maples to my favourite passion flower ,attempted to grow it several times in different places eventually planted it in my mothers garden to start it off,and after a year put in pond bed at corner of shed wall which is north east facing ,was so happy to see it literally take off last year ,it flowered from july to jan this year.The bird tables and feeders are here as they have plenty of hedging for shelter and nesting and water for drinking and bathing .we hope every year that birds will join whats already there,which is sparrows, wag-tails robins, collared doves ,thrushs ,of course blackbirds to .
Running between first and second part was an old ditch with lots of trees so after sucess of raised pond bed we decided to leave trees and build a raised bed all around this and fill with lot of earth, compost, manure etc .this will be its third year and its getting there, loads of room for more plants ,while also letting ones there establish and see how much room they need ,again its a mixture from scented ones to colourful to just for the leaves, and also always trying out slips from my mum who really has green fingers. there is camellia, wisteria, dahlias,hollyhock,honeysuckle,roses hydrangea,sedum,hyacinths,hostas,clematis,acer lilies,fushia,eurphorbia,loganberrys,delphiniums(not doin well must plant elsewhere)astilbe,palace purple,forget-me-nots and others i wont remember til they stick their tips above ground or i root true my gardening books to find name.
A couple of years ago we planted a cherry blossom and magnolia in first part which we can now see from back of house . I do take great pleasure in every leaf that unfurls and flower that blooms in any part of the garden that is after all one of the many rewards of owning and caring for a garden.
I am delighted to have found this site and look forward to slip,tip,and seed swapping with anyone that is interested.
Another day today with a touch of Spring in the air.Just after dinner time,i got to prepare some of the beds in the veg plot.I got to mix in some home made compost in them,and lets hope all goes well.Some young cabbage,seeds just starting to show above the compost on the tray in the greenhouse.
Set to grow.
A week ago (08.02.) I put seeds of geranium in the pot with amaryllis. There were just 4 seeds and I decided not to worry about special conditions. And now 3 of them have already come up.
Usually I don’t start sowing so early, because winter lasts till the middle of March.
Pelargonium x zonale
Today was such a beautiful spring day that it got me out pruning my roses.
Then I went to Altamont Gardens to take part in the last guided Snowdrop walk. It was a wonderful day out and I took plenty of photos, which are now in my new album "Galathomania". I have captured some of the more than 100 different types of Snowdrop which they have at Altamont. I even fancy that I can now tell the difference between a Snowdrop and a Snowflake!
When I returned my husband had cut the grass – boy does it make a difference to the garden!
Snowflake
Hello everyone, been to work at the garden centre today and thankfully the snow is finally melting. We have some rain now, Lots of people were purchasing vegetable plants, potatoes and seeds and a few young children were starting their gardening bug with sunflower seeds and the gorgeous childrens tool sets we do with trowels and forks. I think spring is near and getting everyone excited and planning for their spring and summer colour.
My beloved bought me a large box of chocolates for Valentines Day, a small teddy bear and the lovely Peony above I have been wanting this one to go with Sarah Bernhardt and I bought a bargain Peony recently called Taff, it is medium pink with a lovely scent. I need to get out in the garden to work off the calories!
Having a nice cuppa now before I pot up my paeony.
Paeonia Sinensis ‘Festiva Maxima’
Well finally – a dry day has appeared.
We were so excited last weekend – the weather was perfect sowing weather.
We got so much sown on Sunday and himself has now taken residence at the propagator already telling me that his seeds are coming up, god bless him, đŸ™‚
However i am relegated to the greenhouse and its nice to feel alive and to be able to feel the beginning of spring. Personally the start of the year was not a good one for us but the feel of spring in the air is bringing us out to notice all that is going on in the garden. Its amazing how we can get wrapped up and with the bad weather the garden has been in a gloom of its own anyway – up to now that is.
The snowdrops have appeared, but all my crocus have been eaten alive – i suppose the mice need to eat too!
There is a half a dozen iris out at the gate and the colour is amazing.
The tulips have started to peak their heads out – but it will be a while before we get any colour out of them. sure we have to wait for the daffydills to come out in all their bloom.
There is certainly an air of spring about it after all that snow – and the sun is doing wonderful things to anything and everything that is growing at the moment.
I have to say – i got a package in the post the other day of seed from a member here and it made my week. Its amazing to get something in the post for nothing – and now i will wait with baited breath to see what grows. I love to share seed – the varieties etc, can be unusual. Its something that can be done for the cost of a stamp and sure – we all have seed in the bottom of the seed tin that we just may not get to sow. I got a really nice variety of Cosmos from the USA last year – and knowing that the seeds i send are growing somewhere else is nice to know – even if we just fling a handful onto a ditch to make it brighter for all who pass. so thank you very much.
it seems I may be in too close a space here i nthe greenhouse and need some fresh air – i will calm down once the weather stabilises – LOL
Lorraine
ARDNAVAHA was the rectory for the church at the top of the drive. Over the years it became a private house, a hotel, and is now a private house with self-catering holiday apartments. When we arrived the house and garden were both derelict and the land was piled into pyramids of soil.
We re-landscaped using the contours of the existing valley, dug a lake and two paths down to it, re-seeded and waited! We now have a lovely valley and have subsequently planted trees and shrubs, added bridges, ballistrades, granite steps, statues and picnic tables for people to enjoy it.
We have some centuries old Monterays (we call them Adam and Eve), a wonderful copper beech, reputedly the "Champion Holly" of Ireland with the widest girth, and some lovely flowering shrubs. We are not a formal garden, and have no bedding plants just bulbs, roses, Rhododendrons, fuschias, Hydrangeas and some interesting newly planted trees just getting established.
We feel that it is such a lovely setting that everyone should be able to enjoy it and therefore we welcome all – children with enjoy the Gloucester Old Spot pigs, the Peacocks and the Angus cattle (not forgetting the horses and new foal), grown ups will enjoy the peace and quite. You are welcome to bring a picnic – there are tables dotted about, and the coffee shop provides coffee and tea – complimentary for the older members of society. Groups are also welcome and we can cater for parties of most sizes including providing food.
Weddings are magical here in this setting, and we would be happy to quote for a Marquee wedding on our lovely croquet lawn using the indoor facilities as well.
First crocus
My large Camellia has its first flower.
Camellia
Here is the same view after a lot of hard work today.
I have cut out two strips for hedging.
The first strip is in the shape of a semi-circle and my son is standing in the middle of it in the photo.
The idea is to replicate an idea from the Coolaught Gardens in Clonroche, which I really loved. I want to plant a Copper Beech hedge along the semi-circle and to plant a Cornus Contorversa Variegata around where my son is standing. The contrasting backdrop of the purple Beech foliage to the cream of the Wedding Cake tree is really lovely.
The tree will, of course, eventually obscure next door’s shed and the hedge will hide the ditch, on which the Hypericum Hidcote is planted. It will also hide the Hypericum Hidcote too if I don’t watch out.
Hedging strip number two can be seen to the right of the photo – see next journal entry.
View from Greenhouse Project (2)
And here is the second hedging stip – to the right of the photo in the last journal entry.
I plan to plant Lonicera Nitida along here. It will grow quickly and hide the unsightly dump. I have left two entrances and room for the dump to expand (I have to be realistic here) but the hedging should soon camouflage my sins.
Obviously I will need to cut the strip wider but I got too tired to do that today.
I am trying to get this job done as soon as possible because I want to avail of bare root hedging, which will not remain available for much longer. Now I just need to dig a trench!
The Dump
I also sowed some more seeds – Verbascum, Agapanthus, Dierama, Echinops (thanks Michelle) and Cornflowers.
I’m not sowing seeds in the small seed trays as they need to be transferred too quickly. This means I’m sowing a maximum of 24 plants of one type at a go (2-3 seeds in each pot).
Had a bit of an accident with one beef-tomato plant. A balloon landed on it and broke it. My son was suitably repentant.
Thanks to the ask a question section, I now know that the strange yellow and red plant amongst my photos is a Cautleya spicata…..what I haven’t yet fathomed out is how to put that bit of information under the photo. Ah well, not to worry. I spent several hours to-day tidying up neglected flower beds and pulling weeds that were hidden beneath the accumulated windblown leaves. The robins are really pleased that I am out there saving them the work of scouting for tasty morsels. I had my camera with me in the hope of getting some good pictures of the robins but was not too successful.
I also had to pull up a few plants that didn’t survive our unusually harsh winter. Am worried about some of the iris which look pretty soggy. But will wait to see what happens before I do anything drastic.
Cautleya spicata
