Month: November 2011

My life is a series of long fingers, today at long last i got around to planting H/W cuttings,its about a month too late however they should be ok.The cuttings were  of Rosa Kiftsgate,rambler american pillar, weeping willow(a type that does not suffer from the dreaded rust).Im now in the process of moving my STUFF into the greenhouse for protection,ironically im in a lather of sweat in the warm sun but im standing on white frost from last night…..im off now to make another coldframe…..all together now "Brian ur brill, your a little treasure about the place".. always one for the little auld joke hee hee ..slan. …BJ 

Ye wont believe this,but i kid ye not,this evening my wife AND I were preparing the dinner, when all of a sudden all the gas rings went out,thinking it was the gas cylinder thats empty i went out to change it to discover that the cylinder had been stolen while we were using it!…this is the first incident of petty crimewe suffered in our almost 34 years here and it puts a sour taste in your mouth…i suppose its a sign of the times…….so if any of ye see a YELLOW  gas cylinder its mine….Ah musha!  

Hi all,

I’m back, at long last.  Usual reason……….. 

 

Oh, how nice it must be to have a ‘gardener’ partner.  Those of you so luck probably sit down after the normal evening chores, plan what has to be done at this time of the year, deciding on what must be done as a priority, allocating the work load between the two of you.  When it comes to putting the tender plants away, between you the decision is made as to which plants can stay in the glasshouse and which must be given space inside the house.  Even those plants which are destined to be inside the house, the location within the home can be agreed between the two of you.  When proceeding with the work, the jobs can be divided up based on physical strength such as loading the wheelbarrow full of garden compost, wheeling it over and digging it in.  Such marital bliss!

For those of us who don’t have a gardener partner, life is substantially different.  After checking the weather forecast, we enquire as to what the plan is for the day and inwardly heave a sigh of relief when there are no family plans.  We state that we would like to spend the day in the garden.   Our statement is immediately restated, except it is restated as a question / exclamation.  It is followed by a question – what do you have to do that will take the WHOLE day?  So you start reading out the list of jobs that you have to do, glancing up when you are at number 4 out of 24 on the list, only to see the eyes of your beloved non-gardener partner totally glazed over.  You conclude that there is absolutely no point reading the remaining 20 to-do jobs.  Based on what the partner heard, the decision is reached that it would be beneficial if you did spend the day in the garden but first you must do a few quick things, like get a loaf of bread, call to the chemist and dry cleaners.  In fact, the only reason the visit to the barber/hairdresser is not included on the list of ‘quick’ errants that you must do is because the hair is currently growing on your partner’s head!  

Now, you have a choice – pick an argument or get the errands done as quickly as possible.  To make life easier, you proceed with the errands on roller skates.  Neighbours comment on how you always appear to be in a rush.  You get back home and in fairness, you are asked what you would like for lunch.  Quick thought – if you say what you want, you will end up having to tidy up after lunch so you opt for hunger and the outdoor life.

Outdoors, you begin.  You have to get those tender plants out of the ground, potted up, wrapped up and on to the bottom shelf of the glasshouse shelving.  Except the bottom shelves are full of the spring containers which must be brought out first.  Once out, they have to be put around the garden, then back to the glasshouse, clean down the shelving, sweep underneath, maybe put a layer of horticultural fleece down first and then in with the tenders.  Before you know it, the light is fading and your ‘day’ in the garden is nearly over.  You give a quick tidy up before being forced indoors by the invading darkness.  Your non-gardening partner asks if you got it all done – a quick look shows that you only got 1 thing done out of the list of 24.   You don’t dare say that at this rate, you will need another 23 days in the garden.

I suppose there is a flip side.  At night, those of us with our non-gardener partners can sit down with our joints aching, our hands cracked and our lips chapped but at least we have our garden magazine to read which we don’t have to share!

Attended the organic college on saturday for a practical training day.  We visited the farm of a former student who is now running a successful business supplying premium salads to hotels and restaurants in Limerick & Cork cities.  It was a really informative and useful day.  Am full of inspiration and ideas for the future…watch this space!

Now that we have had some sharp frost, work on these were the main part of the work in the garden to day. It was quite pleasant in the greenhouse but the main part of the work was done outside. a little more pruning was done on trees, ash and sycamore. The back garden tended to be full of leaves from the trees and these were raked and the bulk put on a piece of ground which was not very fertile. The stakes supporting the runner beans were removed. It was a bad year for them ,in other years I got a great crop but partly due to the poor summer and the soil where they were planted, not good this year. Dahlias were lifted and put into the greenhouse, all are in now. Compost was put on rhubarb, not all of this work complete but I am satisfied that I got this done. Blackcurrants are ok now, very little pruning needed while some work has to be done regarding pruning gooseberries.

I usually copy and paste from Word but it did not work for some reason when I tried to add it to Scrubber’s thread .

 

 

What a wonderful afternoon at Scrubber’s and Anna’s home, indeed one to remember with such great pleasure. From the welcome from Scrubber and Anna not to mention Dooley and Shoosh to a tour of the Scrub and the lovely afternoon tea Anna gave us what a way to spend such a glorious afternoon. The Scrub is sooo special, hard to describe the feeling one has there, it is indeed magical and very easy to imagine the presence of that Cherub. The work that has gone into building the different tiers in Scrubland all made of mighty large stones is difficult to imagine. Having read so much about it over the past months to see where different features were in reality was great and now I will be able to follow progress with even more interest. I thought the Scrub would be more overgrown but no, it is wonderful Woodland with loads of bulbs and plants ready to show themselves in the Spring. The ground was carpeted with multicolour leaves and of course glowing amid it all was the Osaksuki sp? I did not get a close up of Sr Josephine’s bottom as it was a bit squelchy but now I know where it is!. At this time of year you are able to see the River Barrow so close to the boundary of the Scrub . It exceeded my already high expectations.As for the rest of the garden loads of perennials and shrubs and wide borders. I particularly loved the big paved area at the back of the house with walls and features made by Scrubber; there were some lovely troughs , really old ones . He had done much work in the Rose garden and the Walnut tree intertwining will look great.Very many thanks Scrubber and Anna , Dooly and Shoosh for a very special afternoon.

Home again, collected the family on my way back so we all arrived together. It is funny that dog Meg just bounds in as if she had never been away but Maisie has to do a tour to make sure nothing has moved.

We had a great few days  but  the highlight was visiting Scrubland. I will put up, in an Album, a few pictures I took there. I hope Scrubber will clarify if necessary as there was not space to elaborate in the album. Also I had a lovely picture of Scrubber with Shoosh and it has vanished, may find it later, hope so.

I managed to get a few bargains while away in the form of 3 Hostas each at €2  , they are ‘Wide brim’, sagaea and Wogon and on Googling they seem to be pretty good ones to have.

Also on my return there was a box on the doorstep containing the Alpines I had ordered for my new trough. For anyone interested these are;

Anemonella  thalictroides

Campanula x haylodgensis .Plena

Corydalis ochroleuca

Saxifrage ‘ Alan Martin’

Saxifrage ‘Crenata’

Maianthemum canadense

Vitaliana primuliflora-  

 

Though I was weary I did pot them up.   I will take a good look around the garden tomorrow and might even do a little work.

 

Looking through Periwinkle’s album this morning reminded me that I’m meant to be developing a ‘winter garden’.  I’d love if people could give me suggestions of nice stemed plants (not trees) like cornuses that they love.  I know there’s a red cornus with variagated leaves.  I’ve also seen a vibrant orange stemmed cornus but don’t know it’s name.   There seem to be a few types of yellow stemmed cornuses, but some may be better than others.   I do admire the white stemmed rubus’s but think they are too prickly and messy for my needs.  I’m not really interested in the contorted stems, just coloured ones.  Oh and if I’m not pushing it I’d love if people could post a pic of any nice winter stems they have maybe from last year, or guide me to their album.  I’d appreciate any help.

The sun shone early to day. Despite this and the good temperature for this time of year, the late morning was taken up delivering magazines which were a bit late due to spending so much time in the garden and greenhouse up to now. In the afternoon, I lifted the Gladioli. I do it at this time every year despite the fact that some gardeners tell me that they leave them in the ground. However I like to get at the soil and turn it and clean it of weeds and have it available for some other plants. This time last year I had builders working on the house and as well as leaving all kinds of everything as Dana would put it, a lot of walking was done by them in the garden. This year thank God, I had nothing like that so I can get ahead of myself as the fellow would say. The temperature was up to 15 degrees for a while and even coming home from a meeting with Wellie and two other women at about 8.45 p.m. it was at 13. i believe we will have it mild for some time yet. Think of late November last year when we got the first of the snow, let us hope it will be better this time.

Did anybody ever grow this?  I saw pictures recently and was very taken by it so ordered seeds which arrived today. Good picture here;

www.songsparrow.com/…/plantdetails.cfm

Another lovely day. The post arrived and in it was some plastic clips from Hazel. She had offered them to me knowing that I was short. Some work was done in the greenhouse with the bubble wrap. I the afternoon, I went to Woodies, bought Cyclamen 4 pack €5.99, Labels €3.49,Pansies 6 pack €3.29 and bird seed €7.99 less €2.08 discount, total €18.68. The robin was down on the bird table immediately when the bird seed came. Nothing done in the garden to day, the plants bought will go down to morrow if the weather permits.

My garden is more like a Cottage Garden,..it is a small garden covering about 60 Ft x 30 Ft,..with a main pathway on the right side then three openings leading to the main area.

I was living on a Victorian Estate some 7 years ago and had a large garden area to myself with hens and ducks,..but always in mind that what i planted was temporary as i intended moving to my own house and starting a permanent garden,..so the tendancy was not to buy anything for the temporary garden,..but use cuttings and seeds gathered.

Old habits die hard,..i still have not purchased any plants for my present garden,..its still all cuttings,..plants grown from seeds,..and a few volunteer plants that popped up from heaven knows where,..like "Verbascum nigrum",..and "Papaver somniferum",..and some i still have to identify.

Rose Bushes of course multiply each year as i am addicted to taking cuttings,..but am also growing rose Bushes from seed,..of the four i grew this year i gave away as they were pink roses,..i have enough pink at present.

My garden is more like a Cottage Garden,..it is a small garden covering about 60 Ft x 30 Ft,..with a main pathway on the right side then three openings leading to the main area.

I was living on a Victorian Estate some 7 years ago and had a large garden area to myself with hens and ducks,..but always in mind that what i planted was temporary as i intended moving to my own house and starting a permanent garden,..so the tendancy was not to buy anything for the temporary garden,..but use cuttings and seeds gathered.

Old habits die hard,..i still have not purchased any plants for my present garden,..its still all cuttings,..plants grown from seeds,..and a few volunteer plants that popped up from heaven knows where,..like "Verbascum nigrum",..and "Papaver somniferum",..and some i still have to identify.

Rose Bushes of course multiply each year as i am addicted to taking cuttings,..but am also growing rose Bushes from seed,..of the four i grew this year i gave away as they were pink roses,..i have enough pink at present.

 There are about 16 rose bushes in the garden,..sadly i only have the name of one rose bush and that is a Hybrid Tea Rose "Ice Cream",..all the others were cuttings i rescued when pruning took place in a Victorian Estate,..most of the cuttings took root andi kept some also gave lots away.

Today  while potting up some seedlings I had a little muse.

I looked around my greenhouse/shed/ cat run  at all the seed trays, cuttings and  pots of  sheltering plants and wondered at the change in my gardening activities since I joined the iers.  While always very very interested in my garden  my enthusiasm has blossomed since coming here. I have a couple of garden addict friends but my most frequent visitors are my extended family and while they appreciate all the work done since I arrived here and enjoy the results they are not really into gardening per se. So to have met a group who understand my excitement should a seed from the  trythisandseea  species germinate or empathize with the loss of loved plant  not to mention contribute some wonderful plants to my garden has spurred me on enormously.  To actually visit , meet and make friends with some of the group is such an added bonus.  I hope very much to have an Open day early next July and there will be a very warm welcome for anyone who cares to come.  End of muse.

Anyone else watching Autumnwatch on BBC2 now.  Whale watching off Ardmore, Co. Waterford – amazing.  Fiilmed this week.

Hi

Does any one have a wormery?

I got one this year and they seem to be doing well but I am getting a little worried about them when the weather getts colder.

Does anyone know about them

They seemed a little still when I went to put some food in one cold night but back to activity now. 

 

I am not sure if it is the weather or just a few strange plants

One of my apple trees has apples still on it but has also had some flowers for the last few weeks.

My summer raspberrys started to fruit again, on the growth it produced this year.

I wonder will the fruit next summer?

the fruit didn’t ripen fully but did start to go red.

should I cut or leve these stems?

Anyone got any advice?

Micheál Bocht
 

Uair amhain – fado fado,
On a little farm near Carraroe,
Lived buachaill maith named Micheal Mor,
An only son of thirty-four.
When work was done at end of day,
He’d settle down with cupan tae,
And seldom felt the call to stroll,
Or spend the evening time ag ol.
His intellectual needs were drawn
From books like Peig and Iosagain.

And so it was -bliain in -bliain out,
Our Micheal hadn’t moved about.
He dreamt of cailins -most men do,
But never sinned -an dtuigeann tu?
Meantime -up in Atha Cliath,
A cailin deas had bright idea:
When leathanta saoire time came by,
decided she would like to try
Ait beag ciuin like Carraroe
(No foreign food; not far to go.)
And there to meet the native clann
Agus b’fheidir find herself a man!

This cailin deas with eyes so blue
Was known in town as City Sue,
The lusty buachailli came crawlin’,
And all agreed she was go h-alainn!
She left her men in state of shock,
O Micheal Mor – bi curamach!
This Scarlet Woman knows each trick,
She’s heading West – Beware a mhic!

The lights shone in the Parish Hall,
For the local Fainne Wearers Ball.
Bhi Micheal ann – bhi Susie ann
Dressed in most revealing gown!

Our brave Cuchulainnn of the West
(His hurling medals across his chest)
Exclaimed – when City Sue came in –
"In ainm De – well – feic ar sin!"
Though nervous, still, he took a chance:
"Cead mile failte – will you dance?"
Go luath, on the floor they strut,
cheek to cheek – from head to foot!

Sue whispered into Micheal’s ear:
"Eist liom now – let’s disappear.
We’ll use my place – the door’s unlocked,
You’ll stay the night – seomra a h-ocht!"
Chriost! Micheal’s cheann was in a spin –
Ni raibh se thinking thoughts mar sin!
He blessed himself… this Jessabel
Would surely damn his soul to hell!
He stood aghast – could hardly stutter,
So off he bolted ar a rothar.
And straight abhaile – into bed,
Decades of the rosary said

EPILOGUE
Micheal Mor still sleeps alone,
In his leaba beag – Ochon, Ochon.
He often dreams of seomra a h-ocht:
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN – O Micheal Bocht!!!!

Has anyone else noticed that the facebook ‘like’ buttons don’t work?

The one on the main ‘club’ page works but the ones at profile and journal levels don’t (and never have)! I’ve reported it to Craig.

If you don’t use facebook there’s no need to comment.

I have two questions for experienced Rhododendron growers:

1. Can I move a small plant that is not in the right place now?

2. How can I reinvigourate a "Percy Wiseman" that is looking a bit lusterless?

Id be delighted to get your views! Thanks. Its an ideal gardening morning here!

I spent a while in the front lawn raking leaves. They have come mainly from a large Sycamore tree in the centre of the lawn. I will have to get at the leaves again. As the wind was blowing mainly from the south I was able to concentrate on the north side of the tree. I also lifted Mirabilis jalapa and Dipladenia(one red one pink) which I discovered are tender plants. They were taken into the greenhouse.

Sowed seed of two Astrantias , Hapsden red and another red one. Used proper seed compost and even the heated propagator; not one of either has germinated to date, at least 3 weeks since sowing. Same with some other seeds sown in similiar conditions , germination really bad. A couple of Geraniums, two from 10 seeds of each. I think my multipurpose compost and sand was better but then no controlled experiment was undertaken! Dicentra scandens has produced a few seedlings.

By the way I can’t find the Copper sulphate that used to be available to prevent die back, anybody spotted it anywhere?

Some time ago I decided to sow seeds of Lunaria aka Honesty. These of course germinated profusely and I potted on about 20 seedlings of white and same of pink. Why did I do this I ask myself ; now they are tall stemmed seedlings just about getting their true leaves and will need more potting on , more compost , more care. Why did I not just toss the seed on the ground in the Spring and leave it to nature.

I cannot throw out healthy seedlings after all the poor things have made it this far do you think I could risk planting them out somewhere in the garden , have sort of a Lunaria forrest?

Do you do daft things like this?

Had’nt done much in the garden recently so when I got a burst of energy yeterday I thought I better make the most of it and get some gardening done. I had to weed the flowebeds as there were a lot of weeds growing there I emptied out some flowerpots and filled them with new compost, I had bought a bag of daffodil bulbs last week so planted some in the flowerbeds and also in some of the flowerpots. Some plants are still doing well maybe its due to the mild weather we’re having.