Month: August 2010

Some of the outdoor tomato plants required potting on. While doing so I noticed that some side shoots had grown a bit more than anticipated, so extra shoots went by the way. Some cuttings of black currants were put down in one of the onion beds. In another onion bed a Yucca which was in a part of the garden which was in a bad condition with weeds was planted beside yesterdays Yucca. There is still one Yucca in that weedy part of the garden. Old leaves were removed and it seems that shoots are coming from that plant. I plan to remove as many offsets from the big Yuccas in front and take them to the back where they will have plenty of room to grow. Periwinkle asked me if the climate in her part of the country would be suitable, would it be too cold or wet. I can assure anybody at least with the Yuccas I have that they will stand up to low temperatures. After all the lowest temperature was recorded in Co. Carlow. As regards soil being too wet, I could not answer that question as the soil here is somewhat sandy but I think that the Yuccas would do well in any part of Ireland.

thanks for info. checked out the news tab. and im off to organic centre rossinver co leitrim on sun 22nd aug.  mick kelly GIY and others will give talks on sustainablity and veg growing. cant wait. check out their site and courses etc.thanks again.

really enjoyed that little tale dick. i hope you shared it with others. as it happens i am a chef, which caters for a general and a physic hospital. 

thank you for offer of seed . would love a selection of some toms in the spring. i would be happy to buy them from you. thank you. was so impressed and a little humbled by your onion harvest. mine is tiny comparred to yours. we have already used some. about 150 now drying in well ventilated tunnel. sowed some beetroot bolthardy and some late lettuce leaves on mon ( maybe i posted this already)!

Just in from a evening with Colin watching Man Utd demolish the League of Ireland side. The new stadium is something else, credit due all round.

I just opened a pacage from my friend, Martin. He really is a great Pal to have. There was a small plastic container and within was baby ferns, I will post photos tomorrow.

All Joking aside Martin, thank you very much.

Will be heading down to Barnadown Equestrian Ctr and was wondering if there is any nice Garden Ctrs close by. I can see that there is Springmount, does anybody know anything about it.

I was passing the house in Athenry where I have been admiring the Purple Daliahs for the last few years. Forgot my camera, but will take a shot next time, I got talking to the lady and gentleman of the house, They were both very nice, Gave me 3 cuttings from the daliah, told me they thought the name was roxay/roxy reverend. but they could not be got anymore. I was also told to come back in spring if the cuttings did not work and they would give me some of the tuber. Planted the cuttings, so fingers crossed.

welcome. had a look at your pics. i was given an evelyn fisson rose( my names sake) by my sister years ago. it gives no bother.

Brought my mum to a couple of garden cenres today, ones we don’t normally visit. She was feeling much better and her interest in the garden is back again TG.

First one in Tuam was a disappointment. Got a few plants, but nothing was priced or labled, so you did not really know what you were looking at.size, planting position etc.

2nd one we went to was just the galway side of tuam. it is a nursery that had just opened in April. Prices very good here. It was not overly big, but plants were good and healthy and priced between €4-€6. Got a few more here. Boot was filling up fast. You could also wander around their own garden which was very nice.  Lovely planting and a nice relaxing time.

3rd one did not have a hugh amount of plants. Did manage to buy one here but it had to go in the back with the kids. All the plants here were seen at the other two. Nothing to get really excited about.

Am planning on heading up to Gort to see the GC there. I was in it once before but it was only starting out so will go and have another look.

The Lawson Cyprus hedge needed trimming so I got at it early in the day although did not finish it.  One offset was taken from one of the parent Yuccas and planted in a clean part of the back garden. Went to Woodies as there is 10% discount for senior citizens on Thursday. Last Friday, Rachel went there and bought an orchid. I noticed to day that the price of these exotic plants was reduced, some being as low as €4.99. I bought one  named Cambria. I now have three types of orchid, the second one given to me by Rachel less than a week ago. In the evening I tackled a part of the back garden. It was a part I was afraid to tackle early in the year but not now D.G. Rachel must have been disgusted looking at it last Friday. I still have a lot to do there. 

I read recently that god invented rain so that gardeners could catch up with their housework!! Well, i dont know what anyone else thinks but my house is as done as i need it to be and i’m sick of the rain, its very hard to work on heavy clay soil in this weather!!!

I didn’t just receive my beautiful prize Heleniums Waldtraut and a sweet little plant called Lychnis Coronaria but – best of all I got to meet Rachel herself, tons better then any prize.   Thank you Rachel pity we hadn’t longer to chat but next time đŸ™‚

Didn’t get time to take photos of the plants but was very busy I’ll put up some tomorrow and of what kept me busy all day…………

I bought 3 square pots earlier in the year. Planted them all up. I had topsoil only in one of them, that pot is now covered in green algae, the others all as good as new. Also I think it may have been sterile topsoil I used.

How can I clean the algae off the pot?

I began this garden from scratch in May ’10. These pictures were taken at the end of July. Not bad going, eh?

Wasps have invaded my greenhouse and are enjoying the grapes. does anybody know how to solve the problem?
I am now getting control of weeds in the back garden. There is one Yucca in that area that has really established itself and may become a parent plant in the future. There are side shoots coming out and I look forward to seeing it in a month’s time. Another Yucca is planted at the back, coming from one of the large ones at the front. Some black currants were pruned to day and weeds removed from around them. A piece of ground at the back which was tilled early in the year and had nothing planted in it was dug to day  and I am planning to put something in it within a few days. Yesterday I was in the Askea Country Market. Some plants were on display and who did I meet but Wellie who bought some plants including Coleus. I would have them free for her if she had collected them elsewhere. She had been at Duckett’s Grove and told me how things went and people she met. Sorry no photos to day. I should have them to morrow. I bought a Cambria orchid in Woodies on Thursday for €4.99 less 10% discount as I stated before and to day I was in a garden centre near me and the same type of orchid was priced at €19.99, what a difference!

As autumn approaches, I am waiting for my Annuals Bed (555 plants) and Tropical Border to peak.

I have spent two days on my hands and knees weeding my garden, cutting back and dead heading and I’m a broken woman, even my feet hurt!! But I am so happy to be out in the sunshine. I cant believe how quickly my muscles forget the weeding position!! I also took time out to admire the late summer colour, the rudbekia are amazing, huge bunches of glowing yellow flowers. The crocosmia is still going strong and some are only starting to flower, so weeks of lovely colour ahead.  The mountain ash on the driveway are stunning, I have visitors coming from usa next weekend and like all vain gardeners i really hope the bird leave the berries alone till after sunday evening.  This was a perfect weekend, hard work, blue skies and heat and thankfully no housework!! Please let the rain stay away for a couple of days and i will finally catch up with garden, i’ll get back to the housework in November!!!!

There was absolutely no point me being here at home, out gardening this afternoon with Kilkenny playing against our old rivals (for non-GAA people – Cork).  The normal pattern of events would be that I would start out in the garden with my ‘shower’ radio on beside me.  As the voice of the commentator would alter with excitement and anticipation, I would rush into the kitchen to look at the match on the television.  I would watch it for a couple of minutes and then go back out only to rush back in again a few seconds later.  It wouldn’t matter which side had the ball – if we have it, all the better; if they have it, the heart would be pounding, wondering what they were going to do with it and worse still, could it result in a goal.   After doing this for about 4 times, I would sit down and watch the rest of the first half, out to the garden for the break and start all over again with the second half.  Mind you, these word ‘sit down and watch’ should actually say ‘standing up roaring at the television’!  You get the scene. 

So today, we all went off out, into Dublin via train, much to the delight of the children.  We visited the National History Museum, known affectionately as the ‘dead zoo’ and then into St. Stephens Green for a nice stroll around.  The main bed in St. Stephens Green is to die for, I have to say.  It is a fabulous tropical bed – well worth calling to the park just to see it.  In my anxiety to get out of the house before the match started, I forgot my camera so I don’t have any photos, which is a pity.  

When we got home, the comment I heard about the match was that it was a one-sided affair.  My poor heart…….and then I heard the quick analysis of the match.

Now, at home, the pair in bed, I am heading out to do some gardening.  Shall talk later.

 

 

I had started to record my garden journal about a month ago. I had explained how I am a beginner with a very keen interest in plants and landscaping alike, but have many times started planting in my garden only to start over. Well, thankfully I did not post my journal entry last month or any associated photographs. As I hired a mini-digger and driver the week past who advised me to take up ‘ALL’ of my plants and start over… he had a point and I agreed to do so. The levels were awful and some plants looked like they were down in a hole, sunken too deep into the ground.

 

A sigh of relief I add, as I am now left with a clean canvas. The only thing is I don’t know where to start. I want all year colour. I am prepared to put time, effort and hard work into this area. I do not want it as a vegetable plot, as it is the area that people walk by to get into our house. I want flowers, shrubs and small interesting trees. I was think Magnolia Glandiflora today. It is a south facing and there is a wall. I think it should do okay if cared for.

 

I have many lupins, delphiniums, fuchsias, hydrangeas and rose plants about the place waiting to get their dirty roots into the ground. The area in question is an area that most people walk by to get into our house. Visitors usually park the car in our car park area and walk down this 15 metre path with lawn on one side and the area in question on the other side. I propose to put roses, jasminium, honey suckle and magnolia on the wall. North wall or South facing wall?

 

 

The house was built in 1830, is a traditional farmhouse and we would like to keep the planting in keeping so far as we can or know how. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Also thinking of getting treated hardwood – maybe larch timber lengths to act as kerbing, I am not too interested in railway sleepers due to the controversy surrounding creosote (plus we have a child), also not interested in concrete (I think would be very out of place in this house). If anyone has any suggestions on this, I would very much appreciate feedback. I heard today that there is a company selling railway sleepers without the creosote, but when I researched it they are significantly more expensive than treated larch. I might need to do further research o nthis before making a decision.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a beautiful weigela, a not-so-flowering camellia, hydrangeas and a few other bits in this area. I had them there before the rising of levels and well had to dig them up for the works but I have reset them immediately. We’ll see if they survive-particularly my dear Camilla.

i got home from work around 7 30pm and took a stroll around the garden.  everything was grand until i looked closely at my victoria plum tree which is now laden with fruit waiting to ripen. on the leaves  there is a heavy infestation of what i assume to be blackfly. so has anybody any ideas on how to get rid of them. should i spray them but then i would be spraying the fruit as well which i am not inclined to do   HELP; 

The front lawn was mown in the afternoon. The grass was taken to the compost heap and if this procedure continues the compost heap will be my mountain, not quite as high as the one Martin climbed.  The wasps are continuing to invade the greenhouse. I am looking around to find where they have their nest without success. No photos to day.

Hi, my name is Roisin McQuillan,and I am the Manager of the reconstructed early 17th century Rothe Garden, in Kilkenny City.

This garden is open to the public throughout the year, and as you can imagine is looking particularly beautiful at the moment.  The garden is a reconstruction of what may have been on this site in the early 17th century. Rothe House was built between 1594 and 1610, and is owned by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society.

The Garden was reconstructed in the last two years, and is the only garden of its type in Ireland!  Very little was known about urban gardens of this period until now.  The planting scheme is authentic, so only plants which would have been available at that period are planted in the garden.

 I encourage anyone who’s coming to Kilkenny to visit us – we’re in the middle of the City on Parliament Street.  Tel: 056 7722893, www.rothehouse.com.

Cattle did extensive damage to two of my nasturtiums a while back which aren’t making an attempt to recover.

One was eaten down to the soil – it is not visible but the roots are there. The other was eaten down just living a short stalk – no leaves.

I am currenly feeding my plants liquid feed.

Can anyone please give me any advice on what to do with them?

Nice sunny evening here in the wesht.

Checked on the veg patch and the turnips are the first to push their heads above the soil. Hopeflly the rest will follow.

Planted a container with a yellow dahlia surrounded by white busy lizzies. Looked a bit too papal when it was done, but nice and bright.