Month: May 2011

Heh all the stuff planted, blue pelletted, watered. Now am sitting and awaiting weeds to grow bigger 🙂 E’en the grass is cut. Literally naught to do at the very moment.

 

      T.

Have been busy lately still clearing out my back garden. Thought I needed to start taking this garden thing seriously, so doing it right ( I hope ).

So at the moment it is clearing, weeding, clearing, planting, watering and then maybe some more clearing. Hard work but satisfing too.

Heres hoping all this hard work will balance out all the easter eggs that I promised myself I wouldn’t eat. Well there is always next year.

I love looking out my window and seeing all the little jiny-joes floating past. I know that I will hate to dig the weeds up that they are bringing but for now they look a bit magical.

Actually, I don’t like them coming in the windows and hiding out in my kitchen but am going to be a cup half full gal from now on.

Planted out against a wig-wam, climbing beans.  Never tried this variety before, they have 3/4 leaves at moment should I tie them in – or do they make their own way up, with their tenderils?

Veg, plot is now full to capacity, so won’t have any space until the 1st earlies are dug up – they are about 2 weeks away from flowering.  

My, 1st early red duke of york, and bonnie in dundee, in grow bags are miles ahead, will flower tomorrow, or day after if there is sun (Currently overcast and windy in Passage, Co.Cork.).

I’m have no luck with my cucumber seed, can’t / won’t germinate.  Getting to stage where, i’ll just but one from garden centre.  Any, suggestions for an easy to grow greenhouse variety?

 

hi all
i need your help guys and gals

i have dug out an area for a new border. the area runs 20 foot along a concrete fence and the depth of the border is 8 foot. the soil is alkaline and pretty good quality. it is south facing and sheltered becuase to the left of the border there is a timber fence.
double doors look out on to this border too

currently, the only things i have in mind are…a photinia, a buddleia and a phormium for height at the back. i love lavender too and maybe some ornamental grasses. i will also plant some herbaceous perennials, i love dahlias and rudbeckia
i also want to plant bulbs in the autumn for daffodils and tulips for next spring. i plan on putting a seating area nearby so would love ideas for pretty and fragrant plants/shrubs

i can’t post photos because one of my little men has hidden the camera leads somewhere and i cant find them

i’m looking for ideas of what to plant and i would love if posters posted their ‘must-haves’ in a border. hopefully everyones ‘must have’ will give me a shopping list full of plants
looking forward to your ideas!!

 

weve had a good days rain and the plants are loving it,

Plenty of sunshine here to day although a bit windy. Plenty of weeding in various places. More of the compost turned to day. I should be spreading it in rose beds to morrow. While turning the compost the robins visited me looking for some fresh meat! Nevertheless one robin came to me later in the day and reminded me that some seed should be put on the bird table. The hedge trimmer was fully charged to day and much of the trimming of hedges took place until the battery was run down and is recharging at present. Some onions which I got from my sister in Castlebar were planted. About 25 tomato plants were potted. No work done yesterday but watched the National Hurling League Final on TG4. Weren’t the Dubs great? They will be a force in Hurling from now on. How about all of the members of garden.ie who come from Dublin? Were you all watching it? Some consolation after the footballers were beaten a week earlier.
 
I watched the last episode (for the moment) last light and enjoyed it. There were certain factors in it from which I learned but planting out tomatoes at the beginning of May?? Can anybody explain? I would not think of it for a long time yet. About a month ago they were talking about planting Pelargoniums in beds, far too early. Is it that in Fota Island they have something like a Mediterranian climate? perhaps they could think of a place 40 miles or more from the sea where it can be quite cold at night at this time. Now when we would wish to have the programme more than any other time, they are saying good bye for a while.
I planted out some of the Dahlias to day. i had left them out for a while to harden then left them out at night at a side of the house facing south. Now some are planted in the open. Others should be planted to morrow.
I did not watch the gardening competition  this evening for a number of reasons 1. the timing. It could be shown later, 2. I am not impressed with the idea. I said before that it is for the birds and I mean it. The ordinary person who perhaps has a mortgage and has to rear a family needs something more basic and could never afford to garden like that.

Fibre Artists at Airfield Gardens 

The Filament Fibre Artists network will be exhibiting their works  at Airfield  Gardens from May 19th -June 19th

The group will also be be holding a series of workshops including Retirement Felting Workshop, part of the Bealtaine Festival celebrating creativity in older age.

Their work is site specific and is inspired by Airfield, it’s location, history and the 35 acre estate in the centre of Dundrum.

The legacy of the famous Overend Sisters, owners of Airfield,  is  the inspiration for the exhibition, ‘Latitudes’.
Letitia and Naomi Overend bought and developed the land, designed the  gardens, they were photographers, rally drivers and skiers, they travelled the world,  they were  philanthropists and a great  example of creativity in old age.(And a very hard act to follow!).

They lived long active and interesting lives and bequeathed Airfield to a trust for ‘Recreation and Education’ purposes.

Filament will be holding a number of workshops including National Drawing Day– –Material Memories – and Retirement Felting Workshop,  

Please find details of the group, exhibition and workshops, image attached.

 Filament Fibre Artists

‘Latitudes’ an exhibition of the works of fibre artists at Airfield, May 19th-June 19th

  

Filament is a network of fibre artists living and working in Ireland. The group originally formed in 2007 and since then have been involved in exhibitions, workshops and national events across Ireland. Filament artists work together to pursue excellence in fibre art and to develop public awareness of this dynamic discipline.

The group’s upcoming exhibition of site specific work will open at Airfield on Thursday 19th May and run until Sunday 19th June.  The work addresses the idea of place, location and freedom. These themes are inspired by Airfield’s location as an oasis in the city, by its connections with the past and the hope it presents for our future. Filament artists have explored a variety of aspects past and present, the house, gardens, farm and surrounding land and cityscape, and using their unique skills they have created work which is informed by their individual approach and practice.

Filament will spend a month at Airfield and during that time the work of the eight artists will be exhibited around the estate, they will hold workshops, organise tours and run a series of outdoor drawing activities for National Drawing Day

Material Memories – family workshop     Sunday 15th May 12.30 – 4pm Families are invited to drop in throughout the afternoon to join Lucinda Jacob and Caroline Schofield for this fun workshop. Bring a piece of clothing you’ve grown out of or use the fabric provided and together we’ll "upcycle" it all to  a magical artwork which will be displayed as part of Filament’s Latitudes exhibition at Airfield. Children must be accompanied by an adult. (Ages 5 – 12)

Retirement Felting Workshop On Monday the 23rd of May invited local community members will join Filament artists  Sheila Jordan and Hilary Bell for a felting workshop at Airfield House, there will also be a tour of the Latitudes exhibition. Sheila and Hilary will lead two groups of 10 participants in an experimental workshop to create some exotic blooms for the gardens using traditional wet felting techniques combined with recycled materials. Work created in the workshop will be added to the exhibition onsite, this workshop is programmed as part of the  Bealtaine festival – celebrating creativity in older age

National Drawing Day: Saturday 28th May 11am – 4pm All eight Filament artists will be on Airfield’s grounds across the day and invite  visitors of all ages to take part in a unique and fun series of outdoor  drawing activities from small to larger scale events.  More details will be available shortly.

For more information please contact:

Síle O’Sullivan,

Arts Officer

Airfield

  

(01) 2984301

www.airfield.ie

 

Filament:

https://filamentfibreartists.wordpress.com/

hi everyone. sorry i havent been on in awhile, been extremely busy getting ready for the confirmation on saturday, my daughter rebecca is making her confirmation so it has been hectic getting the outside done. the two of us started on the inside today and got the sittingroom,bathroom and hall done, just the kitchen left to do tomorrow and shopping then on friday

Most of us have been out and about lately removing the dead shrubs that last winter’s weather left us with and last week I took out Pieris ‘Little Heath’ and R.Lady Alice Fitzwilliam. I haven’t had the heart to take out R.Macabeanum or the Daphne Bhloua I wrote about a few days ago in the hope that they will prove me wrong. Next on my list was my Crinodendron which I have had for a good few years and which is now over 6ft high and as those of you who know it, is a truly beautiful shrub with its dark narrow leaves and red lantern flowers, but which was stripped bare and totally dead looking for the last few months. On my stroll around the garden yesterday, I was debating to myself what to replace it with; when I noticed that it has sprouted from the base and also that there are new leaves appearing up the branches as well. Talk of being happy. I know it has a long way to go,but where there’s life there’s hope.

I have made five raised beds this year. Four of them are 9′ by 3′ and one is 7′ by 3′. They are all filled with cow manure and sifted soil on top and were prepared about for to six weeks ago. They are still settleing down and need to be topped up with soil again. I have planted them with seeds mostly, the likes of Radishes, Lettuce, Kale and a host of other easy veg. I have planted five rhubarb plants of which only four are visable ( I can accept casualties). Some of the seeds are well on now with some still to show their heads. I have also planted some fruit trees and though they are small I do expect a crop of some sort this year, unless of course we get a late frost in which case I think we are all in trouble. Anyway, I will post some pics here tomorrow with text to explain each one. I will also be looking for advice on what to do with some empty ground that I have. Once the solution is free or cheap it coiuld be a runner.

With all these open days coming up it is very easy to miss one. What would people think of a special garden.ie members calendar where members could post the dates of their openings?

In a calendar format it could contain the members name and county on the day or days of opening. Members could put entries in using their usual login and password.

Can anyone tell me who manages this site so I can pass on the suggestion?

It is such a shame if we miss the opportunity to visit a garden we have been hearing about for ages or one we happen to be near at the appropriate time….

While this month is usually the driest month of the year, the rain is welcome. Last night at a meeting I heard the rain beating down on the roof and how welcome. I believe we will get some more over the next few days and we will notice our plants especially the vegetables making progress. It was cumbersome for some time watering flowers and vegetables. Another great point about the wet weather is that we will hardly get frost so certain bedding plants can be left out at night. April, I believe was a record for high temperatures and low rainfall. Now we can expect plenty of growth.

It has been raining here over the past 4 days but this morning it was incredible. Seldom seen such a torrent; for more than half an hour it teemed down and I watched the rivers run down garden paths.  Naturally most of the plants are battered but they will recover unless we get a repeat performance. Hope the rain is more gentle where you are.

I am a new recruit myself and I know you will get the same friendly welcome as I got.

It is great to see the younger generation joining in and I look forward to reading your journal . I need to learn all I can about veggies so will be delighted with any tips.

This is where my vegetable garden started out.  It has grown a bit and been added to since.  My potatoes are happily growning the the bags in the last pic.

wonderful day to garden hot & sunny everything going great . just a lovely day.

 

i would like to buy a greenhouse about 20×10 ft. the bigger the green house the more  expensive they are. i am looking at a polycarbonate one , which is working out about €1000 cheaper than glass. all the gardening books reccomend glass so i’m not sure what to do.  i live in clondalkin, Dublin   and most of the companies that i have contacted seem to be agents for ready made flat pack structures.

 i would welcome any advice or direction on greenhouses.

In the last year I have become really interested in gardening and as I only have a large balcony I have been limited to container planting.  As it doesn’t get a whole lot of sun I have also been limited to type of plant but some I just try anyway because I can’t resist! My current list is Tomato, Chillis, Rosemary, Mint, Busy Lizzies, Campanula, Fuchsia, Pieris japonica, Acer (which I love) and last but not least my Pyracantha which has done so well but now I’m trying to figure out why it’s suddenly dying with no sign of disease and healthy roots.
In the last year I have become really interested in gardening and as I only have a large balcony I have been limited to container planting.  As it doesn’t get a whole lot of sun I have also been limited to type of plant but some I just try anyway because I can’t resist! My current list is Tomato, Chillis, Rosemary, Mint, Apline Strawberries, Busy Lizzies, Begonias, Campanula, Fuchsia, Pieris japonica, Acer (which I love) and last but not least my beloved Pyracantha which has done so well but now I’m trying to figure out why it’s suddenly dying with no sign of disease and healthy roots.
In the last year I have become really interested in gardening and as I only have a large balcony I have been limited to container planting.  As it doesn’t get a whole lot of sun I have also been limited to type of plant but some I just try anyway because I can’t resist! My current list is Tomato, Chillis, Rosemary, Mint, Apline Strawberries, Busy Lizzies, Begonias, Campanula, Fuchsia, Forget-me-nots, Pieris japonica, Acer (which I love) and last but not least my beloved Pyracantha which has done so well but now I’m trying to figure out why it’s suddenly dying with no sign of disease and healthy roots.

Monty has managed to completely win me over… I think it was a slow sub-conscious winning over. Being at first a fan and defender of Toby, and wondering how one series could end and another begin without any mention of changes to come, I find myself watching Monty tonight and feeling that this is really gardening on a different scale.  I’m Loving it! I have a room full of nodding heads here tonight; namely Mother and Father-in Law and Hubby… we can’t all be wrong! Plus he is fairly easy on the eye!! 🙂

Finished my exams today Yipee!!!! they were grand so I fretted for nothing… I am celebrating tonight with a few powers whiskeys… we are down in Roscommon so tomorrow will be busy lots of seedlings ready for potting on. I will now have more time to be on here and post some pics of our progress in the garden. I am going back to Farmleigh again next week I volunteered  to go back and help get ready for the Queens visit, I have to say I loved working there for my work experience so going back again for a week is a pleasure.