Month: December 2012

Bought a new one yesterday and set it up this morning.

Inspite of living in the country and having woods to the front and back of the house we seldom see small wild birds.

Within 5 minutes a blue tit payed a flying visit.

Then there came the coal tit and great tit.

And to my joy the robin. A couple of blackbirds approached but didn’t dine. I think I’ll put the old feeder futher away from the house for the larger birds.

The lard balls were popular but all the fare was sampled.

Just before dusk there were 15 having a late supper. What entertainment and all for twenty euro.

These cheer me up on a cold winter’s day:

Anthemis, flowering since June and still hanging in there;

Pyracantha berries, until the birds finish them off;

Winter jasmine, brightens the north facing wall.

I’ve been looking at some members favourite photos of the year over the last couple of days and it’s not an easy task to whittle it down to just one but anyway, here’s what I have picked. It shows the narrow leaved species R.roxieanum var oreonastes against a background of various Camellias.

The weather may be vile, but Rhodos give joy all year round. The first photo is of a bud of the hybrid R.winsome, which is a Williamsianum hybrid. I really like this Rhodo and it flowers excellently every year. Next shown are the lovely purple coloured leaf stalks of the species R.fortunei, which I think are a lovely feature and not often commented on. Lastly shown is a flower bud of the wonderful species R.fulvum, which I adore. It has flowered for me the last couple of years and has a load of flower buds ready for next spring.

In September I put up a journal re my new Rudbeckia Herbstsonne.  I am amazed that it is still looking good (in relative terms!)

I finally got an hour in the garden yesterday ( we are having some work done in the house which has taken up all our time) We planted 100 tulip bulbs white Emperor which were planted in the Woodland garden in the hope that they will shine out Next Spring.

I picked this photo to post as it reminds me of the promise and anticipation of Spring which is my favourite time of the year

I do feed the birds and my Son allowes me to use his Camera so this morning I was in the Dining Room and had a full view of the birds outside the window .

I had the Camera set up and just waited and not to long I got these shots .

Until I joined the site here and got to see and talk to some of the people who have bigger gardens, I had never heard of or knew what a ‘frost pocket’ was.

Nor did I think I would have one in this garden, but I have discovered that is what I have over the last week or so.

I noticed that the frost in Angel’s corner would last all day, where as in other areas of the garden the frost cleared no problem.

I can only guess that the surrounding hedges are adding to the problem. I thought these would have sheltered the area.

Some of the plants where placed here with me thinking along the lines of a sheltered area, some moving or protection will have to be done.

Any opinions would be most welcome

Both real summer flowers, but hanging in there!

I got this as pressie from one of my daughters, a winter warmer for indoors:)

Penstemon ‘Garnet’ is still flowerng away! Does she not realize it’s December!

My favourites at the moment are Rudbeckia, Jasmine nudiflorum and Choisya “Sundance”.

The first plant went into our Jungle Border today. Mostly it will be planted in the spring but watch this space for updates. It’s amazing what you can find lying around in a 60 acre historic garden if you look!!

Hi Everyone,

You may have seen in this months magazine the special offer from Hooked Live!

Hooked Live! is a fishing event that features celebrity anglers and guests, great tutorials and competitions on the lakes at Citywest Hotel.

We’ve got a great deal for just €100

* Tickets for both days of Hooked Live 
* 1 night stay (Sat 2nd Feb) in the 4 star Citywest Hotel
* Includes Breakfast
* Free Parking
* Free use of the Leisure centre 

It’s a great weekend away and a great Christmas gift 

For more info please see: https://www.Hooked.ie/gardenoffer

Ok, my previous journal doesn’t really count as it is an inanimate object. Here is my ‘real’ winter warmer.

Knautia macedonica – photo taken today and still looking great after all the recent frost we have had. This gets a big thumbs up from me.

I spotted a few things in the garden today.

And then I rushed indoors to the warmth.

I kinda like the look of this variegated Rhododendron in winter.

I couldn’t choose just 3 photos!!!

As Fran said earlier ‘Seek and ye shall find’!  When designing (well trying to!) my garden I try to add lots of Winter colour as it can seem like a long season and I think it is just as nice to look out in the winter and see lots of colour as it is any other season.

Today is a beautiful sunny day in Wexford and really shows off the winter colour, here are a few of mine.

This was not the first photo that sprang to mind when I looked back at 2012, but I remember being amazed at how beautiful those developing fern fronds looked at the time I took the photo.

I also added a new (more colourful album), with one photo for each month of 2012.

Looking back at all these photos is great, it’s a good reminder of all we have to look forward too in the coming months!

Hi Everyone

Jacinta has kindly offered to do Name Tags for us again this year for the Annual Get-Together.

For this we need an idea of who is coming so can you please let us know if you plan to attend.

Here are the names I have so far – but some of them may not be correct – 

If you want your “real” name as well as your “.ie” name please let Jacinta know.

For those of you who missed my previous Journals in October –

Get-Together on Sunday 13th January 2013 kicks off about 1 p.m.

Venue: Johnstown Garden Centre, Naas Road

Lunch:can be purchased

Kris Kindle: – If you wish to participate bring along a wrapped gift (value NO MORE THAN €10) 

Raffle: – Johnstown have again promised some vouchers for the free raffle – Jacinta has promised a painting – any other raffle prizes if you want to send me a PM or just bring them along on the day.

There are so many plants in the garden that hold winter-warming memories for me this year. But winter is here, and most of them have ‘gone over’. However, the front-garden is providing me with some winter-warming feelings. Sunny looking even at this time of year with its sedums, ivy and yucca. Sedums have gone over now too, but the colour of the canoe looks great with the gravel.

These Kaffir Lilys are in full flow at the moment here.

I can’t pass them without feeling good seeing them.