Month: August 2012
This is one of the plants Ian from Bay Garden gave away on our last visit.
It was looking a little poorly, but since I planted it out (badly potbound) it has grown and grown and seems to like the weather we are getting.
The silver foliage looks great against all the green around it.
I have found out it seldom flowers, but looking this good, I’m not to worried at all.
The damage in the garden is not as bad as I was expecting. The one thing really sad to see is the one and only Silybum plant I had, is on the ground flat. Will try and get it back up shortly, fingers crossed
Lovely and sunny now, but rain not far away I have heard.
Not meaning to bore you on the subject of the grass bed, but I just can not get over the way it has grown. I suppose the combination of sheltered site and no shortage of rain has helped no end.
Bill (Headgardener) told be I would be thinning it out in a few years, I had not idea some of the plants would need dividing 12 months after planting.
On an other note, due to work and personal reasons I decided the other day that I would put Jimi Blakes Plantsperson course off for a year. Then yesterday, I heard from Seamus O’Brien in Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh that I was accepted for the 6 month course. Really trilled about that.
Won’t be on my own as Rachel is doing it also, I will have to behave or Rachel will be ‘telling tales’ ;-))
Following Fran’s post and what he found after the storm I felt I should tell you what happened me yesterday.
I had always felt there were Fairies in the garden, at the bottom and elsewhere.! But I had not idea where they might live. But yesterday I was cutting the Ivy on a tree stump when what did I see but a Fairy door with someone about to enter. Well stone the crows I thought hoping I would not scare them off. Then oliversudden I hear a fluttery noise and three more arrived . They did not mind my finding their house so now I can enjoy them. How about that.!!
Well this looks beautiful even in the rain. Hemerocallis White temptation is new addition to the garden. Our great neighbour Noel got this for me…. its constant plant trafficking between my garden and his…
hope the rain will stop by tomorrow.
Here are two plants looking good at the moment;
The rudbeckia is an annual but the gladiolus is one I bought years ago and has multiplied nicely
This is second year for this rose grown from cutting.. its just perfect. David austin- Lady of Shalot. i guess any lady would be pleased to get this bouquet.
on the day like today we all been so busy in the garden…
All legal and above board, despite the title LOL
These two grasses were looking stunning in he sunshine yesterday.
Really pleased with how they are both coming on.
in july 2011 i dug up 6 rose bushes from a derelict factory in the area and replanted them in my own garden…i pruned them right back as they were about 4ft tall and in straggly state. the roses were pinkish orange and had the most beautiful scent.
after transplanting them i watered well for a few weeks and was delighted when new growth appeared.
this summer the bushes seem so much happier than last year. the blooms are huge and as scented as any rose i’ve ever come across. i think it is Fragrant Cloud.
very late this year but here we are doing our hanging baskets about a month ago. they are after filling out nicely now…photo to post later
Rudbeckia Goldstrum is one of my favourite perennials, glowing away in the front garden for months in late summer and autumn. This year they started to flower in mid-July; the extra moisture probably brought them on early.
I thought I had rid the area of Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ but it fooled me again.
Lovely day today; I cut back the informal hedge of Hypericum Hidcote even though it still had some flowers and the front garden looks tidier now. Have added a few more photos to the July-August album. Hope you all enjoyed the day.
Looking forward to meeting everyone going on the visit to Helen Dillon’s garden this Saturday. Let’s hope the sun shines or at least that it stays dry. I haven’t a lot to bring for gives/swaps but if you would like any of the following please let me know:
Seeds from my garden: Eccremocarpus (plenty), digitalis Pam’s Choice (2 lots), also white and pink foxglove.
Seeds free with magazines: Dianthus Sonata mixed, Canterbury Bells mixed, Clarkia Elegans (Pretty Polly mix), Basil Dark Opal (purple leaves), Pak Choi.
Plants: Rhodochiton (2 plants in flower + 3 babies to grow on for next year). Reckon this plant should be renamed in honour of Fran who is responsible for this bounty. Also have Persicaria Affine (several) if anyone wants.
Am out this evening so will pick up replies tomorrow.
I had to don the waders today and fish out lots of berries of my Atropa belladonna from the greenhouse pond. I’m not sure if the frogs would have eaten them. But I wasn’t taking any chances. They might even poison the water??? After all, it’s surely not called Deadly Nightshade for nothing. I also had to cut off three main branches that the high winds recently broke. It looks more balanced now. While I was in there, I had the opportunity to cut back stuff from the side of the greenhouse border that can’t be reached from the other side.
Also, Elizabeth’s water lily has opened. Happy Days! Thanks, Elzabeth.
i planted these poppies last summer. they were growing in the nursery that i go to. they were not for sale. the nurseryman dug some up and gave them to me. they seemed to die when i planted them but lo and behold they grew this year. they look like roses from a distance. and as look would have it i planted them in the same area as the fragrant cloud rose which is more or less the same colour as this. nice
Cuttings around the Sycamore tree are still standing since I removed them from around the tree. I have not decided yet what to do with them. To day would be a good day for burning them as it was dry and warm most of the day. I had planned to do quite a bit of work in the garden yesterday but two men arrived to put up the aerial for the new TV. The old one would be out of comission by October. So time was lost. However I got some trimming of hedges donenafter they left. To day I got at another eyesore, in a corner of the front near the garage door. It had plenty of cuttings and briars. I have plans for it, to put in plants that like the shade. No direct sunlight gets in. I know that ferns do well in an area like it. Martin gave me a fern when we were in Johnstown in January and it will go in when the area is ready. Martin might give me some advise about the ferns that would suit. Perhaps members of the Club could advise me as to what plants apart from ferns that would suit the area.
Unexpectedly I had a couple of hours free this afternoon and decided, despite the ominous sky, to visit Charleville House Gardens in Enniskerry on the strength of Conrad’s, Andy’s and Myrtle’s recommendations.
Yes, it rained and I got quite wet and had to end the visit rather hurriedly but I am so glad I visited as these are splendid gardens with so many lovely and interesting areas opening up on one another. Though Conrad, Andy and Myrtle have already put up albums to savour, I really couldn’t resist creating one myself.
Maybe we could arrange a club visit next year as I feel sure everyone would enjoy these gardens. Meanwhile, for anyone who can still make it, the gardens are open tomorrow (Sat) and Sunday, 9am to 1pm. Take the road past Powerscourt in Enniskerry, continue on and over the narrow bridge and the entrance is on the right. The gates may be closed but will be opened for you. Entry is €6.
Bruno gave me a tiny piece of this plant last year.
Earlier this year, while joking with the master of invasive plants he adviced me to take this plant up and get ride of it.
A bit drastic I thought, but a few weeks back I checked this plant closely. The plant had sent out runners of nearly eight feet. A standard Bruno ‘invasive’ LOL
I transferred the plant to a hanging basket and chopped most of it back. It is making a dash for freedom again, and growing fast.
In the process, it is producing lovely looking fruits.
Bruno, not sure do I say thanks or not :-))
After the rain stopped this morning I was doing a bit of shredding and spotted on butterfly on one of the Asters. Turned off the shredder, in for the camera, didn’t even stop to listen to Elvis singing “love me tender” on the radio, and got a couple of photos before it took off again.
As promised I’m putting up photos of my jam jars of water with fuschia cuttings waiting to root!! Some have!! Pictures self-explanatory. I’m using normal method (in pots of 50-50 peat and sharp sand) and the jam jar method! As you can see some have rooted quickly in the water. Make a hole in the tin-foil to support each stem.
Delighted when leaving this morning to spot the yellow poker forming – didn’t spot it yesterday
Only got last year so first time flowering
May need to be relocated but will leave where is for now……
I was waiting for this Dahlia(Colour Spectacle) to open for a long while and i am delighted with it prob my favourite out of the lot i love than it goes from dark orange to light orange and white tips, it ended up in a great place next to Dahlia Cactus Bora Bora and Dahlia ‘Nuit d’ete’. It was accidental planting as went i put them all in to pots i had not labbeled but happy then are all opening together
I bought these bulbs from Lidl last Spring – potted them up first and then transferred to garden in two different places. They are coming into their own now and I’m so pleased with them – just gorgeous. Not alltogether hardy but I’m hoping they’ll come up again for next year!!!!! I have one (slugs ate other ones) Cleome from seeds I sowed – this is a half-hardy annual, just lovely too!
This Clematis is going up through my May Tree. Polish Spirit is now into its second year and as you can see it’s not settled in!!!!
Quercus dentata ‘Carl Ferris Miller’
Leaves up to 30cm long. Even as a baby it’s very impressive.
https://www.treecentre.ie/tree-directory/154-quercus-dentata-carl-ferris-miller-daimyo-or-korean-oak
I came across this today while looking for the trowel. Unfortunately the stem had broken, I may have stood on it yesterday while trying to get rid of a bramble. I think it could be a Hollyhock, as I grew them from seed a few years ago but thought I had only one, further down the garden. They were dwarf, which would explain it remaining hidden as it’s surrounded by Cornflowers.
By the way I enjoyed all the comments on my previous journal, tongue in cheek or not!!
