Month: March 2011

my garden is on just shy of a 1/4 acre, surrounding my home.

Its really a work in progress after living here for six years in August 2011. It was my first attempt at gardening and really at the start I thought you just bought plants and stuck them anyways into a flowerbed, pop in a deck, a bit of paving etc. Not a thought for garden design.

I joined Garden.ie a good while back to really nose at other people’s garden for inspiration, as well as driving by roadside gardens and also visiting garden.

We just had an aerial view of the house/garden taken (august 2010) and so am going to work on that in my photos, diving the albums into projects (inspiration/help for other people). 

 A point to note i read the other day "The best fertilizer for one’s garden is the Gardener’s shadow".

 

 

So today started off very cold and frosty.  Seems to be heating up a bit.  

 

Will do some more tidying today.

 

Looks like my hedge and veg patch were spared from the dogs thus far. 

So today started off very cold and frosty.  Seems to be heating up a bit.  

 

Will do some more tidying today.

 

Looks like my hedge and veg patch were spared from the dogs thus far. 

Planning garden design improvements, removal of dead bits or poorly placed items. Beautiful weather at the moment for painting front wall caps, washing windows and garening. Will always try to get a before and after picture from now on.

Help please I need some advice. Its almost a year since I posted an entry in my journal (I had a problem with frogs) but I have been following all your entries over the year, my efforts seem so small compared to most of you as I only have a small suburban garden, well last year I made a raised vegetable bed 4ft x 7ft approx. and it did very well we did not have to buy lettuce all summer, I also planted carrots, shallots, beetroot and radish and was delighted with the results. The problem is a new cat, my daughter found a little kitten a poor little thing it was terrified, starving and lost  so of course she brought it home to me as she lives in a second floor apartment and could not keep it herself.The good news is the kitten settled in very well and is thriving, but the bad news is she is using my raised bed as a toilet. I had planted up the bed for the winter with spinach, cabbage and onions for the spring,what do I do now can I use the vegetables or should I dig them up and replace the soil and plant again. Please advise me on what to do.

The other day I was talking about snowdrops and their link to the treatment of Alzheimer’s. The little snowdrop has been linked to an important medicine that could help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Galantamine, a medicine used today to treat Alzheimer’s disease, occurs naturally in several members of the amaryllis family (snowdrop; narcissus; daffodil). This important medicine was first discovered in the innocent Snowdrop. 

Snow Drops
 
Talking about this made me think of the living labyrinth in my parents’ garden at Hagal Farm down in West Cork.

Labyrinth at Hagal Farm
 
So why did snowdrops make me think of labyrinths, you ask?

More and more hospitals and wellness centres are using labyrinths in the treatment and care of Alzheimer’s sufferers. The beauty of a labyrinth (often confused with a maze, which has many paths and dead ends) is that a labyrinth is a single winding path that leads from the entrance to the centre and back out again. All labyrinths are unicursal, meaning they only have one path, which makes them a perfect place for an Alzheimer sufferer to ‘get lost in’. (for more information about labyrinths, check out my previous post about them https://tinyurl.com/gardenlabyrinth)

Labyrinth at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois
With Alzheimer’s, the mind begins to short circuit. Performing tasks that once were as natural as breathing becomes a source of frustration. Confusion begins to crush hope. The caregivers for early- to mid-stage Alzheimer’s residents know that these misfires aren’t going to go away.

Back at home in West Cork a dear friend of our family has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for a number of years now, so I can begin to understand the heart wrenching, problems and difficulties of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and the family and carers who lovingly look after them. It also gives me huge respect for those who live with Alzheimer’s, as well as for their family and carers.

While reading up about this subject I came across a very interesting blog by a man called Chuck Donofrio. Chuck’s blog is called ‘Early onset Alzheimer’s Adventure‘

Chuck suffers from Alzheimer’s but as he states on his blog ‘Early onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis doesn’t stop this "sufferer" from blogging about his day to day observations and feelings.

In one of his posts he writes the following about wanting a labyrinth "One of the most profound meditative experiences available to the lay person, or any other soul desiring a respite from the banality and meaninglessness of our daily round, can be found as near as the closest Labyrinth. The ancient practice of walking the "maze" has captured many a soul, most probably because the physical action of its twists and turns, coinciding with the step and breath of the human in motion, excites, even as it calms."

The spiritual discipline of the labyrinth involves a "walking meditation" and is a metaphor for the soul’s spiritual journey. It quiets the mind and opens the soul to a sense of wholeness and wellness. The tradition of labyrinth walks was recovered in the United States in the early ’90s at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and, in recent years, the labyrinth has come to be recognized as an instrument of holistic healing. The Rev. Canon Lauren Artress of Grace Cathedral has used labyrinth walks with groups of children with ADD/ADHD (attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and has discovered that it helps focus and quiet them in a way that cognitive therapies fail to do.

Since many of the labyrinth projects are still new, they haven’t completed any long-term studies. But many places have noticed that this ritual provides benefits such as short-term calming, relaxation, and relief from agitation and anxiety in otherwise fragmented lives. The restorative and calming value of the walk can last from two to three hours, or longer.

I also read of another touching story of a couple that walked, hand in hand, through the labyrinth almost daily.  He was suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she was struggling with the confinement, stress, and isolation of being a caregiver.  She noticed that after a few weeks of their routine, he began to regain small skills. 

Another labyrinth that is very appropriate to mention here is this one made from seasonal bulbs (many of them from the amaryllis family that make Galantamine) at Cornell University, New York. I also like the idea of how at the end of the flowering season it just turns back to a lawn, only to reappear the following year.

Bulb Labyrinth Cornell University

Looking forward to meeting everyone at Johnstown tomorrow!

 Take Junction number 8 on N7 for Johnstown and Kill South and follow signs on roundabouts.

lots of fresh deliveries just in!

We would welcome your feedback after the visit!

 

 

have been coming and going to housework and my journal. my BUM HAS GONE NUMB! so its time for bed. nite all.

I was sorting out the bits and pieces for tomorrow and noticed that some of the cuttings I took of my "Lismore" geranium did not take ( those of you who know the history of this plant will not wonder at that) – I have just taken a few more cuttings now and will bring them tomorrow anyway but no guarantees with these I am afraid.

I am also bringing  Geraldines (AKA Cloncaw) plants so those of you who are expecting plants from Monaghan please make sure and you get them off  me.

 See you all tomorrow

 

 

Hi to all going to Johnstown would love to join you but must work,

I will ba buying a friend a birthday present soon and she said she would like something for the garden as the plants I gave her before did well.

She lives in Monaghan, not a big gardener but a good size garden. mostly trees and shrubs as I think she won’t do weeding or much digging. My friend thinks she might like something with autumn colour or a fruit tree.

I have a balerina apple tree, might get something like that, not sure

If anyone has any ideas or sees something that they think would be good in Jhonstown do let me know, Thanks.

Due to other committments, have been out of action for quite some time and the weather has been absolutely perfect as well 🙁  Did manage a bit of tidying up but not much more than that.

However, was in Lidl yesterday and they have a great variety of perenials on sale – plants I’d never heard of or seen before elsewhere.  So – have bought half a dozen and will go through my RHS encyclopedia to see where best to plant them.  Also a nice selection of roses in Aldi.  Very enthused now – great way of getting back into action (and I still have vegetable patch to do!!!!)

Just hope the weather stays kind.  If not – on with the wellies and waterproofs!!!!!!!

 

I was trilled this morning, while loading up the car with the plants I had promised people over the last few months, 29 plants, plus 8 extra I threw in just to be able to pass on to whoever, a total of 37 plants.

I have just finished emptying the car, I came back with 42 plants.

What can I say other than, Thank You one and all. It is amazing the exchanging that went on. Truly great, there will be some I know that I will have to put photos of to check names etc.

Great to meet all the new folk for the first time. Thanks again Rachel.

What a day, not that sun was shining but meeting so many that I never met in the flesh before. Interesting how some travelled so far, Periwinkle, Hosta, Nuala and perhaps some others. All were in great humour and we need so much of that to day, unlike what we might otherwise. Gardening has that effect. Thanks to all who gave me plants and I regret that I did not bring more with me. Thanks Rachel for organising the get together. I felt that Saturday was a day I wanted in the garden but it was worth while meeting the members. Actually after I got home, I had some work done in the garden, sowing parsnips and digging another portion of the garden. I will treasure the plants, some which were put aside for me especially the two orchids from Rachel. The next time we get together, I should bring along much more plants. Also don’t get a wrong impression that I was asleep part of the time. It is simply a case that with very bright light the eyes tend to close. I am to meet a consultant in connection with this.

Well as you all know by now we had a lovely day in Johnstown.  I would just like to thank everyone who gave me plants, Bill, Fran, Cloncaw, Bruno, Capedaisy, Myrtle and also for the lovely book.  Please forgive me if I have missed someone.  It was the first time I had been to Johnstown garden centre and I was not disappointed their standards are very high.  It was a great day out and lovely to meet new and old garden.ie members.  Well done Rachel on organising and everone who helped.  So when’s the next one…….

Well, finally went shopping to B&Q the other day. I got some Aubrieta Cascade Mix, Dianthus, Viola and Stock so I will plant some of these in my hanging baskets and also in pots and hope for the best!! As you can see from my photos my garden needs a lot of work done, its amazing how the winter weather has made everything look so neglected and bleak. Ill get to work tomorrow on the hanging baskets. The flowerbeds on either side of the garden shed needs new fertilizer as our dog Skip (seen peeping out of the door) loves to sunbathe in the beds when the sun is shining there, thats another problem I may need help from the experts on how to keep her out of the beds when Im trying to grow some flowers and herbs there. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Really enjoyed the day, it went by too quickly and not enough time to really get chatting, but I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did and that everyone will want to meet again.

Thank you all who gave me plants, I will be putting up photos eventually to ask "who’s plant is this" all gone in a blur at the moment!

I join with everyone else in saying a "big thank you" to Rachel for organising it.

Went to download my pictures, any only a few of them are there. No idea what has happened. The few photos I have of the day in Johnstown, are very poor. So I have just spent some time putting all these shots together, to create a group photo so to speak.

Hope you like it, will put it in an album now some of you might like to copy it as record of another great day in the life of garden.ie.

Does anyone know of any garden clubs in Cavan?

how wonderful it is to get back into the garden for the day. Lots of tulips and daffs coming up, few bluebells saying hello too. Came across a pot of tulip bulbs that had rotted from the frost, not bad if thats the only crop i lost.

Planted cascading begonia’s in my hanging baskets, with trailing flowers, hope its not too early to plant these and the begonia bulbs dont die! Sunflowers also done – covered with a towel and keeping dry in the shed.

All in all a handy days work –

Myself and the kids spent the weekend out in the garden. Looking out at the dead, broken plant debris through the kitchen window was getting me down, it looks soo much better now. Lots done but still have loads more to do. We transplanted some strawberries into old wine crates and moved lots of ox-eye daisies from the raised bed that we have earmarked for our peas this year. I think we’ll sow shallots, peas, strawberries, lettuce, radish, rocket, beetroot, spinach and purple sprouting broccolli…just need to figure out the rotation with Jeaic (my 12yr old) and off we go!! 

A bit of work done. Weather stayed dry. Tunnel half washed. Perennial beds almost cleared, fed and mulched.

There is a lot of ground elder in one of the beds. Last year I used wallpaper paste mixed with weed killer to spot treat it but it is very vigorous.

I am going to try out the new irish organic weedkiller and just spray it on and hope that it doesn’t touch any of the nearby plants. Has anyone tried it out yet?

I have hand weeded as much as I can…..

Got the shallots and onions in as well.

Two tomatoes have germinated so fingers crossed about the rest.

had a sneaky peak at some journals and pics from sat kris kindal. sounds like a great time was had by all.

had a productive day in veg patch yest, including digging over beds, pruning fruit bushes and trees, trees have had veruy little fruit last year, so i have nothing to loose by being brutal. cleaned up fruit bed, weeded herb bed and did some tidy around paths. my bones know what got done even if no-one else does.

managed to get boys to reverse the tractor and dump trailor up the drive today, and put about 10 wheelbarrow loads of good clean clay in beds and corners that were in need of top dressing. as a result some old faithfuls had to get dug up ,divided and replanted.(ladysmantle, sedum,lychinis and aquilega. agood days work.

off tomorrow, so back to veg patch, to sew carrots and prepare supports in bed where legumes are to go this year.

Yes, I am here after 60 odd days of absence.  I haven’t been gardening – in fact, I only opened up my greenhouse during the week just gone, dumped the dead, watered the living, re-covered everything with horticultural fleece and closed the doors again. 

It was good to see so many ‘garden.ie’ friends on Saturday.  Thanks to those who gave me some lovely plants – Drumanagh, Headgardener, Una Grant, Hosta and  Cape Daisy.  It certainly makes me want to get back out.  I have bought several summer bulbs for planting but realistically, I have to get out and dig up the dead plants first, my roses have to be pruned and I have to move a few plants around from the front to the back of the border.  I might get the dead ones done this week and the roses pruned but I don’t think I will get to  dig up and moving the plants.

After last year, I decided that I would not do any seed sowing until after 17 March.  Those of you who have subscriptions to Irish Garden magazine will probably have seen the offer that if you renewed by a certain date, you got free seeds.  With luck, my subscription renewal fell within that time.  The seeds arrived – one pack is a sunflower pack with 5 different varieties.  So I promised the children that we will sow 36 sunflowers (one tray) and when they are ready, we will plant them out in one drill in the land behind the in-laws house.  The pair keep reminding me when St. Patrick’s day is and the number of days to go! 

You will never guess what is on the television at the moment – Gardeners World from 2004 on Blighty channel (no. 534 on Sky).   Monty Don is the main presenter.  Subscribers to ‘Gardeners World’ magazine will know that Monty Don is coming back as the main presenter this year.  Goody!

could your mystery plant be delphinium. i have some coming up the last few weeks!

Got sent this, thought it would be a good place to post this.
It is national tree week after all.

Please follow the link and sign the petition using the postal code 1234 at
https://www.woodlandleague.org/

* target: Mary McAleese, The President of Ireland, and the Irish Government.
* sponsored by: The Woodland League Visit us at www.woodlandleague.org & on Facebook
* signature goal: 100,000

The Irish Government is moving closer to a huge sell-off of the public forests, currently managed by Coillte (The Irish Forestry Board), to private investors. An area greater than 1 million acres, equivalent to two medium sized counties, will be lost forever. This will include some of our most valuable native woodlands, wild places and some of the last refuges of our native flora and fauna.

Interest has been expressed by Swiss finance company Helvetia Wealth – who own the International Forestry Fund (IFF) – chaired by Bertie Ahern, (ex-prime minister of Ireland) as well as The China Investment Corporation.

Please sign this petition now to tell the Irish Government that Ireland’s Forests are not for sale. These forests are the inheritance of the Irish children and managed wisely can help secure Ireland’s social, environmental and economic future. A strong show of support, asserting our rightful ownership of the public forests will make all the difference.