Month: July 2011

i slipped into a friend over the weekend to here that her daughters two battery hens were in trouble, one was on oxygen and a drip and the other had snuffles and friend had knitted both wee cardies as they came rehomed naked with no feathers.

along with four other fantastic hens i was dead jealous!

the hens have to play a part in my life but since last posting i have ‘sale agreed’ on a different house in Greystones, as we, twin and i completely changed our minds and decided to up sticks.

the garden will be far smaller but still far bigger than here.  i intend to make it really workable for disability with a good pond, good shaded area for resting and low maintenance planting and raised beds.  as always my enthusiasm has not wained and i learnt SO much from having this yard.

potted plants take so much water, some plants grow massive, some hate sun other shade, and even more hate certain soils.

i have learnt to successfully take cuttings and seeds and germinate them and to cope with raspberry canes and onions!  the birds had a ball here and i had baby sparrows, starlings, robins and blackbirds.  robins nested in the front hedge for the first time in living memory so says my neighbour, he loved it too. the fledglings fledge and flew too which was great, one visits daily and sups and drinks,cutie he is.

nature now is engrained in me, so much to look forward to and hope it all will be in a few weeks time.  oooh cannot wait….xann 

when you come home from a break away….. the look as you drive in to see what is new… have to say it was mostly weeks. were away at a pony show in Cavan as all the kids were competiting. Had my first tomato on coming home. lovely to see a red one when i was out checking things out.

Since my last journal, got the woodland finished for my mum, all stones in place at the side of the walkway, weekblock and bark on walkway, windbreak is all up, grass got its first cut, it is looking good. Went to Dangan nurseries in galway,had not been there in a while. Been given a voucher from Boss when going on hols for it, and was delighted with the GC, got some plants and a lovely ornament.

Our third Wollemi Pine that we thought was dead has just thrown up 3 new shoots from the base and our Drimys are breaking all over the main trunks up to 6 foot. If only we can have a milder Winter this year to give things chance to recover.

. So this morning I
decided no gardening just enjoy it. I lay down in the hammock which is in the
tree/shrub part of the garden ;it was facing into the hedgerow and overhead
were Hornbeam, Ash , brambles , Willow
and other trees not a garden flower in sight. Do you know it was pure magic.
Swallows were circling around and diving down towards the ground. Hover flies
were in abundance and to watch them one moment still and then woooosh at the
speed of sound. In the hedgerow birds were fluttering around seemingly unaware
of my presence.  The call of a Curlew
came from the nearby estuary. Way up in the sky like a toy was an aeroplane and
I wondered who was travelling, to where and why. Then enter the Butterflies
small white, large white, admiral who put on a great show for me. Of course
there was the buzzing of bees though I did not spot any. The dog and cat seemed
under the same spell as me and lay down beside the hammock. No pictures, you
cannot capture this with a camera. I stayed there about an hour and all I could
think is how amazingly fortunate I am.

Since writing this the day continued with 2 hours on the beach and my first swim of the year.

Can you please let me know which day would suit best for my garden Open Day?

The choices are Saturday 6th August or Sunday 7th August.

Thanks.

This is not my night with the computer.

First I went to a great allotment today and borrowed a friend’s camera to take some photos to put up a post. The make is the same as my own but the model is a bit different! The lead fits but the photos won’t upload. I am getting a message on the camera – "communication error".

Then I decided to install some updates including Internet Explorer 9. It wiped out all my favourite websites – quite a few good seed ones etc that I had saved.

Any ideas??

Clonohill Gardens

The Gardens have been designed and developed to enhance the existing landscape with many mature trees providing a shady home for woodland treasures.

The looped trail begins at the woodland area where collections of Trilliums, Helleborus and Galanthus thrive. From there the path leads on to Jacobs Walk which provides a colourful surprise for the visitor with it’s meandering gravel pathway framed by sandstone stables constructed by Enda’s grandfather, the late Jacob Thompson. Varieties of Polemonium (Jacobs Ladder) flourish in this area together with groups of Achillea King Alfred and the small Ligularia ‘cafe noir’. Residing comfortably along the gravel pathway are many miniature Hosta’s. Heuchera varieties provide foliage colour and strong contrast with Sedum’s, Veronicas and Candleabra primulas. Occasional evergreen planting of Ilex crenata and Diplarrhena moraea are notable plants during the winter months.

An archway frames the entrance to the North Garden where one is greeted by an attractive Cytisus battandieri. In this area mature trees provide a decorative home for a vast collection of interesting Ferns and leads on to an extensive open lawn area with its curving paths and many colourful Herbaceous borders. A secret area and popular with children is the ‘Red Squirrels Den’ with its majestic Sitka Spruce trees.

The sheltered walled garden overlooking the lake is a plant collectors paradise where Ramonda myconi, Roscoea and Celmissia’s thrive alongside star performers Paeonia mlokosewitschii, Mecanopsis grandis and Cardiocrinum giganteum. Clonohill Gardens very much reveal the owners artistic sensitivity and attract much acclaim from visiting groups.

I enjoyed the programme. I see there will be another on Friday.

I have been feeding the small birds- robins, sparrows, chaffinches, blue tits for some time mainly with bird seed. I find them friendly, they only eat what I give them and something they would get from the soil. The robins I find them great, when I dig a bit of ground they go for things like wireworms. Now in recent times pigeons have invaded the place. They have eradicated the black currants, red currants and some cabbage an lettuce, not only that but the bird seed I have put out for the small birds. as a result, the bird tray is invaded when I put seed on it. The only place where they don’t have access is a small bird box and i have been concentrating on that for some time. Now the tits and sparrows have no trouble here but slightly bigger, the robins have difficulty in getting food.

Again we had a programme on plants which had healing properties. I enjoyed it. Did you all?

I have not been here for a while, as essentially my garden is a spring/early summer one.  But it is not looking too bad at present with lilies, agapanthus and hydrangeas (mophead, petiolaris and quercifoliia). 

 A mophead has very blue flowers in the front garden and a cutting from it grew into a hydrangea with pale pink flowers in the back garden.  It is amazing how soil type can change in such a short distance.

Regards to all of you and I hope you are enjoying the summer and gardening.

I’ve been trying to do a list of tasks in the garden today and accomplished zilch!  I did manage to plant my Acer ‘Osakazuki’ at the edge of the patio where I look forward to the fabulous autumn colour.

The Calla Lily has huge flowers this year and looks great, the garden is predominantly purple, pink and white at the moment – in flower now are Buddleja, Accillea ‘The Pearl’,

Dierama, Hosta, Astransia, Clematis, Astilbe, Hydrangea, Roses, and a host of annuals.

The Impatiens Grandulifera has seeded itself everywhere but I don’t mind cos it’s easy to remove 

Have decided to get rid of the Rhubarb as it uses too much space and rarely gets eaten the standard Goosberry bush is also on the hit list as I don’t eat them.

Have arranged delivery of fence panels – open picket so as not to block the light in the garden, railway sleepers for my raised bed against the back wall, trellis panels to encourage my new climbers to hide the wall, top soil for the raised bed. All go so far!!

Went down to Greenbarn today and picked up my prize from Irish Garden mags July competition, a 300euro voucher to be spent and boy did I spend it!! Armed with some fab climbers, weed liner, some ornamental trees and the most fab selection of perennials!

Now I just need deliveries to run smoothly and weather to improve for long enough to stain the fence and trellis panels! And of course the slugs to stay away!! Wis spaceatch th – photos to follow!!

Early on in the day it was promising, sun came out and some work was done, trimming the hedge at the side of the drive, then mowing grass at the side of the road, then feeling that it was going to be warm, I came in and answered the phone. Then the change came, it began to rain so all to be done was internal. I am pleased that of the Hydrangeas I slipped about a month ago a definite three are rooted. Other Hydrangeas are going to take a bit more time. Hypericums slipped at the same time look ok. They will be given more time.

hi all. havent disapearded off the face of the earth. i have glanced at entries now and again over the last few weeks.i grab an hour when i can in the gardens. have lots of visitors to visit and calling in relation to hubbies’ business.

this is our busy time of year with the business, ( farm contracting). no im not out driving a tractor, round baling, wrapping, silaging nor indeed do i spread slurry. although i do have the pleasure of washing all the smelly clothes. i am working full time, and have to do "pic-ups" for the boys. this means i sometimes have to collect tractor parts or baling materials and deliver them to where they need them. meals are cooked and left in the fridge .

they work long hours, and one night a week they catch a few hrs on the sofas berfore heading out again. 

sundays are precious to catch up and maybe get the lawns cut. hope to make regular entries soon. enjoy your summer whether it be at home or away.

evelyn.

Well this Hosta is also, as many of you know , called Margaret and lives not too far from me in Cork.  I had asked her if she might come and visit me and was delighted when she agreed. I really wanted to meet Margaret as she is so knowledgable about plants  and we seemed to have other interests in common. Well today was the day and how I enjoyed it. Another name for this lady should be Mrs. Claus as she came bearing many plants for me including Verbascum, Geraniums,  Primula, Nicandra , Gaillardia and one whose name I must check. Such generosity.  Thank you for coming Margaret it was so good to meet you.

spent the last part of the week weeding the front and planted out rudbeckias and echinacaes that i had grown from seed earlier in the year. if i hadnt covered some of the beds with stone i would be still weedin.

my energy levels are alot better since i kicked the habbit. will be off them a month on tuesday. got crappy news today, a job i had applied for and had an interview was not a sucess. it had nothing to do with gardening, it was at medical device company. was so fed up over it. my plans to start my own business has to be put on hold for a while, with things the way they are, it is not a good idea, things are tight as it is os i am looking for something to bring in money, so far not a great sucess. i was hoping to get this job as it was something different to gardening.

will go out monday with more c.vs.

It’s already just two weeks into the school holidays and I feel like a break… I feel like the Pied Piper at time as my kids follow me around (anyone know when that phase ends??) I’ve sat through 3 ‘shows’ a day, wore out from trampoline/hurling/tea parties etc.. drove up and down to wexford for a camp (800km in the week). So after last year I said to myself I deserved a selfish indulgent few days away..

So this year I have been given a three day pass to explore the gardens of Ireland on my own.. of course I could explore all the wonderful gardens of the south east but that’d be tooo easy.. I have wanted to visit Deborah and Martins garden Terra Nova for ages and decided if nothing else I wanted to see that.. and so I have decided on a trip via Limerick either first or last.. and then it gets tricky and I need some advice..

I have 3 days/2 night and need to within reasonable driving distance of home on the third day or at least be able to drive for a couple of hours and stop for a while ideally at a garden or garden centre..  The two counties I’m looking at are Cork or Kerry (or counties inbetween enroute from wexford).. Kells Bay and Dereen in Kerry I’d like to see even if there not exactly near each other (and brunos journal on Dhu Varren now too) .. but in cork there Annes Grove, Lakemount (Brian Cross’s garden), Fota and Garnish Island…

I have no experience of these gardens other than they look good and Rachel recommended Kells Bay for a exotics & fern lover like me 🙂 any advise please from people who visited the gardens or might have a little gem of a garden that I don’t know about… availability or access to the garden is important and I am mindful of the cost of places to stay… I’d like a reasonable priced hotel or guest house any suggestions on this too would be good..  Hoping to go in August from a Sun through Tuesday..

We were at the Loughrea Agricultural Show today, kids were jumping ponies, so we brought some of our jam & some veg, got prizes in all we entered, strawberry & Gooseberry Jam got 2nd. basket of veg & rhubarb got 2nd, carrots got 3rd. Kids got prize money so are thrilled with themselves. Mum did all the work, paid the entries so hope they do not think this will be a regular occurance,

Just back from a weekend in Somerset at a family event. I really envy their lovely weather – perfect for beautiful gardens and bountiful allotments. There were complaining that it had been too dry this summer although there was rain there today as well.

We got back to find the garden blown about somewhat. Tall annuals  e.g. Cornflowers and Cosmos were keeling over on top of the other plants – there’s a good days work in putting things to rights.  Was it that windy over the weekend?

Also, the plants in the tunnel had suffered as the door closed in the wind and the fungal diseases got hold.

It was only two days and there seems to have been a lot of damage done….

i got the few cauliflowers blanched today, thats cabbage and caulis done. thank you rose, when you said about going to seed i got them in and blanched them so that it wont happen. i have blanching and harvesting fever these days, must be the weather.

Hope everyone are enjoying their gardens and gardening as for me I lost everying thing as my poor computer died 🙁 at the moment I’m using my son’s laptop. Most of my photos were on my computer but hope to get some posted which I still have on the cam.

Happy Gardening everyone off to check on journals now……..

Propagation of some plants from cuttings can be quite easy. I find that with Hydrangeas, Hypericums and some others, summer cuttings can be propagated easily. I find that June and July are good months for this type of propagation. The semi hard cuttings are used. You can take a cutting with a sharp secateurs and put it in a plastic bag until you are ready to do the rest of the work. Take a flower pot, put in some moss peat or potting compost to which some sharp sand was added. Below the node, where the leaf comes out cut here and dip it in rooting powder. Put the cutting deeply in the compost, firm it and make sure it is moist. Put a plastic bag around it and close it using a rubber band. Then place the pot in an area where it is warm but no direct sunlight. I normally have it indoor but it could be placed outdoor out of the direct sun. Leave it there until it is rooted. The length of time taken varies according to the plant. I find that Hydrangeas root in about a month, others take later. This is summer type of propagation. Some plants will propagate in autumn or winter but here you use hardwood cutting and it is usually put into the ground. It usually takes longer.

I think my spuds are infected… if not, they’ve got something that’s way too similiar to blight for my liking. And the earlies were so nice. The main crop won’t be of a great size yet. I’m raging. Rest of the garden is going great, lovely show of flowers right now. Have a month off from study which is well needed. All I need now is some sunshine although I doubt the garden is complaining about the rain so I won’t either. I thought I was keeping a good eye on the potatoes for the silvery spores on the underside of the leaves but I guess they got by me. More fool am I for thinking I could keep on top of it!! Anyway, guess I’ll get to taste the mainy’s before I thought. Still don’t want to cut the foliage off just in case…..Now and then, there’s a fool such as I….

To day the plastic bags were removed from most of the slipped Hydrangeas and Hypericums. In the case of the Hydrangeas, there were three plants in each large pot. They were separated and put into slightly smaller pots. All are well rooted. The medium for the plants now was potting compost with a small quantity of garden soil. I have learned that the garden soil helps as it may contain Nematoda, worms which will control vine weevil. I had three large pots with three plants in each plus one with one plant. I will get at the Hypericums later.