Month: February 2012

Recently haven’t we had great days for gardening? I spent some time very pleasantly this afternoon tidying up borders and generally pottering.

I noticed my Viburnum farreri was in flower. I have had it for years and I do not think it ever flowered properly, as it was among other shrubs, but last year I cut out some of these out and gave it more room, so I am pleased it is in flower now.

Previously I put up a photo of Ribes laurifolium, so now I am putting up Ribes speciosum, whose fuchsia-like flowers are meant to appear in April and May. I am also putting up a photo of the popular ‘Flowering Currant’ Ribes sanguineum, which is also meant to flower in April.

At this time of the year the principal interest in my garden is Camellias, so I have put up two photos of these.

I have included a number of other images you might like to look at (29 February, 2012).

just in case another Bank goes under.

Had to go to Woodies this morning, a quick look at bargain stands, nothing much. But at the back I spotted another trolley full of awful looking Cylamen, 100’s of them. Looking closer a few were looking ok-ish, so picked the best of them, there were all in need of water.

Getting home, I soaked them in water. Two hours later they looked so much better. But as I said, don’t tell NAMA……………….€2.50 for the lot just might cause another panic on the banks ;-))  

Looking good just now is this Corydalis ‘cheilanthifolia’ which is a nice lemon yellow colour with nice fern like foliage.  Suggested planting companions are Hostas — I just might have to get some of them  🙂

Not a gardening journal, but it’s still about produce. I did a Stir-Fry tonight and laughed when I was coring and chopping up the peppers. A tiny baby, in its entirity, inside Mammy Pepper. Isn’t it amazing what Mother Nature throws at us.

My first little pretty  girl is out,love this plant!

Time for gardening has been limited lately but some jobs have been done! At the weekend I potted up the little seedlings of Eringium Picos Blue. You may remember I potted up a seedhead that had sprouted in late autumn! So far, so good. Just hope they continue to grow! My windowsills are filling up! I also sowed some Tree Lupin seeds and some white cosmos.

This evening I finished mulching the long herbacious borders with the "ton" bag of compost from Envirogrind. The bag is almost empty. Its great to get that job finished and the borders look so neat and fresh!

A question: Has anyone tried to propogate Verbena Bonarensis from the new growth which is appearing on last year’s plants, and if so how successful was it? I have some with fresh new shoots that are in danger of being killed if the weather turns cold at the weekend – as the forecasters say it will.

With the weather being so mild and dry, the clean up of the garden continues.  The composting area is full to the brim and there is still an awful lot to do.  Gave the grass it’s first cut a couple of days ago and it’s great to see so many things springing up all over the place.

I have put up an album for February,  I hope you like them.

Every window in my house faces directly out to the garden. This is gorgeous in the summer time, but how I long for blinds at every window just now. Poor Martin is trying to get the garden tidy, but time is not on his side and as spring marches on my frustration at being an invalid grows. The first week was painful, the second was relaxing (having an excuse to lie in bed and be waited on hand and foot was kind of nice 😉 the third week it all became very  tiresome and now as I start the fourth week I have become very grouchy about it all. Grrr. Grrr. GRRRR!!!! Anyway, broken ankle or not, I am hobbling off to Blessington in Co. Wicklow, tomorrow night (Thursday) to give a talk, then on to Angela Jupes Spring Fair on Saturday at Bellfield. Looking forward to seeing some of you there, but a word of warning…. DON’T ask about my leg ;)))))

It has been a wonderful year thus far for my camellias. This one has hardly ever flowered before but this year it decided to oblige. Must be the name that explains it fussiness.