Month: February 2013

Got out for an hour with the camera this evening it was a lovely Sunny evening and I thought the pulmonarias were looking particularly pretty such a delicate little flower when you examine it up close. I have three varieties in flower at the moment. Rubra Bowles Red, blue Ensign and officinalis (courtesy of Joan G). The snowdrops, Hellebores, primulas and tete a tete looked lovely in the Summer sun. I will put up some of the photos later

The third of the Rhodos to flower is the splendid species R.fulvum. This photo was taken a few days ago and the frosts have taken their toll since. It is one of my firm favourites, as it has fabulous foliage and as can be seen the flowers are beautiful. The other Rhodo shown is the very dwarf species R.cephalanthum crebreflorum which I added to the garden last October. It has lovely aromatic foliage and I might just get flowers as well from the look of some of the buds. The third bud shown is from  A.glowing embers, one of my deciduous azaleas and isn’t it wonderful. I just love buds anyway and could look at them all day long.

On Tuesday last I bought a shirt. You may ask why not or what has it to with gardening? Well the container for the shirt  this time was not just a plastic transparent bag but something with what you may say with a third dimension. It was actually a rectangular transparent box. When the shirt was removed, I said could that container be used as a propagator. Here it is with a seed tray inside. Here we have got a propagator for nothing.

I would suspect that a lot of people own SOME garden ornaments that they possibly think other people would regard as tacky, and are keeping it under wraps. I don’t mind confessing that I like a lot of ‘tacky’ stuff. One of my tackiest garden ornaments is a purchase bought about two years ago. It’s an enclosed jar, with solar butterflies. And I think they bring out the child in me. They just ooze youth, in my opinion. 

So what’s your tackiest garden ornament that you just would NOT be without?

I didnt have much time or energy left for gardening when I got home today. But it was such a lovely evening I went out with the hoe in hand and pottered rather than did much. Although I did knock off a few weeds in passing! I got so enthusiastic at one point that I knocked one of Sallysarah’s primulas out of the ground! I quickly pushed it back in, so I’m sure it will be fine!

It is great to see signs of growth everywhere.

I took these pictures as the plants brought back lovely memories of our trip to Blarney last March. Myrtle, Ron and I stayed over in a lovely B&B outside Cork. Our hostess was lovely and in addition to providing us with very comfortable accomodation and good food she gave us a tour of her garden and generously took pieces of her plants that we admired and gave them to us!

I love this little hellebore (am I right in thinking that it is H.foetidus?) and I’m looking forward to the dierama blooming later in the year. And there is a cutting of a shrub in a pot somewhere too!  

Plants and good memories go together in my garden!

To day, Thursday, being a day for discount, I called to Woodies. I bought two Agapanthus at € 5.98 each, Bird seed at €9.99 and 50 litre of compost at €5.29. I got €2.51 discount. As I was leaving, i noticed some orchids at €2.99 and bought one. So what I got on discount almost paid for the Phalaenopsis. I started the mowing of the lawn to day but due to technicalities, postponed the greater part of the work. I took some photos of Forsythis which I noticed to be in bloom yesterday.

Tomorrow 1st March is officially the first day of Spring according to the Meterological Society…..we only have 30 days left then until the clocks SPRING forward! I cant wait. I just love this time of the year. As it is you can hear all the different birds now in the garden and the evenings are getting so bright its wonderful. Things will reallly start to take off now too, so if you thought you were busy last month brace yourselves lol 🙂

I have it on good authority that this will be the last year that Bloom will be in the Phoenix Park. :(((

Today I said I would head up to Aldi to get my Magnolia.

And yes there they were. €9.99 each. I got a Magnolia stellata and a Magnolia Susan….which I was delighted with. Nothing else took my fancy, strange enough, so I thought Id head to Lidl…’to have a look’ as one would!

And lo and behold they too had Magnolia’s……theirs were €9.99 also and advertised as ‘large Magnolia’s’ They did look a bit better than the ones I got in Aldi as in they were a tad bigger……but I thought Id hand onto the ones I had. Lidl did have an assortment of plants today too. Azalea and Pieris…although the Pieris were gone by the time I arrived :(……I thought they might have some Ericaecous compost especially with the Azalea but no so I had to make my way to Woodies to avail of same…..

So with all that I headed home and out into the garden. I repotted my two Camelia into larger pots. And then I planted out the two Magnolia…..garden is filling up a bit, well insofar as Ive lots of little labels sticking up lol, lets hope that whatever is underneath makes an appearance soon…otherwise I will have a lot of empty spaces 😉

Weather was lovely today, not too sunny but definitely not as cold. Ive just heard that the weather will get wetter from next Wednesday, so if you want to get out and about Id say do so this week/end if you can……

The phots are of the magnolia that I bought but the light seems to have caught the actual labels! typical 🙂

Over the years I have had many hyacinths for growing indoors, coming up to Christmas. I adore their scent. Most people would buy the specially prepared hyacinths as they are heat treated for indoor growing. I bought just the normal outdoor packs as they are just as reliable, albeit a bit later. They have done well. I normally just chuck them out afterwards. But last Christmas twelve months ago, I planted some out into the front, and others into the Acid Triangle.

Just spotted the ones coming up in the front and almost ready to offer a splash of colour and scent at the front door. There is no sign of the ones in the Acid Triangle. Maybe they just don’t like ericaceous compost????

As Ive inherited a few plants in this beautiful garden I dont know what they are. As you are all aware and (fed up Im sure by now) I just wanted to ask if anyone had any idea what these two plants are. The first one I found popping up out of a pot, which I transplanted into the border. The other two photos is actually growing in a border in a couple of places and found some in another pot too. Thanks a million for all the help 🙂

Hellebore Orientalis.

Sometimes you just look in awe at plants in other journals, and wonder when can I do that?

Maybe we are two hard on ourselves, these plants are only in two years.

I really only noticed how good they have come on when I was on my hands and knees today.

I procrastinated again today.

Instead of planting the box, I opted to plant up the Lasagne Bed from last year as it’s ready for planting now. I had already put the trees and shrubs in so today I planted the herbaceous.

A lot of plants from my good garden.ie friends went into that border today, as well as things I grew from seed. Even some actual purchases went in!

So a big thank you from me to Eilish, JoanG, Hazel, Elizabeth, Krista, Bruno, Damo and Violeta who all gave me plants for the Lasagne Bed.

Afterwards I went and peered at the cloud-pruning area and made the nice discovery that I am more than half way through. There are only 10 box left to plant so that’s not bad. I should get to it tomorrow.

Douentza, Feb 2013

I bought this Phalaenopsis last year.

The Orchid Queen graced us here at some stage and spotted it. She confirmed to me to cut the stem and new flower spikes would follow in time.

I had tried this before, and failed.

Success this year, not with just one flower spike but two.

Just with the Orchid Queens presence in the same room, these plants are effected by her.

Your Highness,

I thank you.

But so much so that I am half inclined to start putting out some tenders that have been overwintered in the greenhouse. It’s pretty crowded in there at the moment, and I have to stand at the doorway with the hose on spray just to water things in at the back. I need to have a proper look at how things are doing so hopefully at the weekend…

Last year I actually planted my three peaches into the soil of the greenhouse, giving their roots a better chance of spreading and languishing in their newly-found freedom. Also it has made more space as I can now place potted plants right up to their trunks. Already I can see lots more flowers formed than ever before. I think I did the right thing FOR ONCE. 

Now I really must wash down the glass.

I am without a doubt really coming around to this way of thinking.

Anyone who has been on the site for any length of time, will know that I am slightly over populated with pots and planters.

While they do make great dispays, and are great the way you can move and change their appearance in the garden etc etc.

By pure chance I place these three pots together last week, somehow they just work in this position.

I like it, simple, but effective.

Less really is more.

Will be out there first thing in the morning, forcast is great, lots to be done, and I’m ready to rock and roll.

A great issue of The Irish Garden once again, well done to all.

………Camellia Jury’s Yellow! It is covered in buds.

I have it in a large tub in a sheltered corner between the sunroom and kitchen wall.

I could see that there were a couple of flowers opening and I just had to get a photo. Ron was persuaded to turn the big tub just enough for me to get this photo.

I think it is really early this year. Lots more flowers to look forward to opening.

One of the great delights about going around the Gracedieu garden is that at any point you can ask ‘What’s that?’ or chance ‘Is that a Winter Aconite?’ and your gracious host and hostess trots out the answers and they are always right. One of the great difficulties about describing their garden is that their kindness makes one lazy and one says ‘Ah yes I’ll remember that’ But there is so very much to be seen and such a huge variety that one ends up as Scrubber is tonight, mildly panicking and wondering how can he convey just what Gracedieu is like.

Well to begin at the beginning I collected my friend, who like all the galanthophiles I know (Two!)is a shy retiring person thus  ‘my friend’, and we set off for Waterford. I had visited before and thought I knew  what to expect but as soon as we arrived at the gate I was blown out of the water by the hellebore display. We both went ‘Wow!’’ and ‘Oh Gosh!’ They were there in abundance and so full and so colourful one forgot it was early Spring.(The hellebores not Paddy and Mary!) We rang and were warmly welcomed, were delighted to see Ladygardener there,as Anne had visited my friend’s garden the Monday week before  and then straight out for the ‘Tour’.

We had caught a glimpse through the window of the pond which Mary claims always overflows when visitors arrive but as the day was dry if chilly enough we were not inundated. Just as well because there were so many things to see. Hellebores in the most beautiful shades of a steely blue, purple, white, singles and doubles were breathtaking. The snowdrops were everywhere and here it must be confessed that Scrubber just listened. My friend is very well up on snowdrops and by the time Paddy Mary and herself had looked , examined, commented on and enjoyed the large selection both Anne and Scrubber had learned a huge amount-where the best displays are, some of the stories behind particular owners and donors-in fact Its fair to say that Anne and I can now recognize Lady Moore at a distance of ten yards!

Paddy and Mary extended their garden about twelve? Years ago and there is a great sweep of well kept and supremely edged lawn containing beautiful beds crammed with hundreds of plants. Where I would have five plants , Paddy and Mary through diligent separation and dividing would have a hundred. Glorious primulas of different colours, sheets of indigo pulmonaria, also white,, a wonderful purple ground cover whose name I thought was Carmadine but I know now it’s not. Oh yes and fascinating mandrake plants with their peculiar ‘flowers?’ And many many more, too many to catalogue!

The trees and shrubs that frame the garden  are wonderful.  That lovely Cornelian Cherry ‘rocket-bursts of tiny yellow flowers’ as the garden magazine has it this month. A graceful garrya elliptica just gone over but still capable of conjuring up it’s glory,A bright orange sedge set against a background of black bamboo (Rachel have you that as well?).

There are a sucessions of little paths and circular lawns nearer the house –all edged with brick work-paddy take a bow and a wonderful large Helleborus Foetidus that one just might kill for! Then as we reeled from the variety and brilliance of the plantings there were seats-yes my dear, Fortnum and Ball blue-what else! But we hadn’t time to sit. Over to the Compost pile or rather Hanger! It was eight feet high at least and about five meters long and opposite it the nearly emptied finished compost. Paddy and Mary’s garden must be the best fed and tended garden in Ireland. I think Elizabeth wisely said about it that its as good as any of the official great gardens but made intimate by the warmth of the welcome. She probably put it better than that.

You are overwhelmed by the  expertise and the gardening skills but you don’t let it depress you , you celebrate it! I mean , look at the vegetable beds in their raised beds-so elegant, yet so practical and functioning. The hens live beside it and get paddy to tell you the story of Tulip/ Frank the cock, some day and his dire fate. I think it might be too bloodcurdling for some of our more sensitive readers!

And there at the side of the house a lovely avenue and again a glory of hellebores on each side of a broad grass path. We went in towards the house and the smaller conifers and alpines were all about us. But by now an east wind had set in so we were glad to go inside and sit down to hot tea-in this house of coffee drinkers- and delicious scones with Mary’s Jam and Paddy’s quince Jelly.

We would be there until the small hours but I had promised my friend to have her home by six-as it was she was only a half hour late! And of course  neither Anne , my friend nor I left empty-handed. Typically generous bundles of plants from two of  Garden.ies finest! I am sure their ears were burning as on the way home we relived the whole experience! Paddy, mary, A huge thank you from both of us and I personally cant wait to meet and greet Lady Moore herself! And even as I re-read this I relies I have only skirted the magic that you have created down there under the bridge-and with some of the bridge as well!

For some odd reason I cant get pictures up tonight. I meant to have the gracedieu ones up but must wait another time sorry!

Last year this small but steep bank was covered with mainly primroses and sedums. Now it is evolving into a proper ‘Spring Hill’ with lots of bulbs coming up. Slowly but surely most of the primroses are being transplanted to the area behind the Upper Pond, and look really great planted with hellebores, primulas, Gunnera (this WON’T die), tree peony, tiarella etc.

Next to come out of this area are my Pulmonaria as I believe they prefer dappled shade which this slope does not get throughout summer. It’s taking shape ALL ON ITS OWN. All I need now is for the last pond to be finished. Hmmmm, getting impatient all over again!

I usually start much earlier but finally today i got down to it and sowed Dianthus, malope, Viola, Laurentia, Rhodochiton, Eccremocarpus (those 2 donations at Johnstown ), hollyhock and probably some others. I put two types in each tray, and today brilliantly forgot that i had something in one end already and put something else in on top! Oh well , we’ll see what happens! By the way I got this propagation kit in Aldi a couple of years ago and find it great.

Mine has been in a big pot since buying it about 8 or 9 years ago. This year it seems to have WAYYYY more buds than ever before. Looking forward to these Persil White blossoms very soon.

I had other things to do today and when I finished them I didn’t feel like getting on with the Cloud Pruning area.

The box plants have big roots and need big holes.

Tomorrow…

Instead I felt an irresistible urge to plant. So I did.

I planted a variety of accumulated, spring-flowering plants, mostly in the Hellebore Bed and a shady bed under a Cherry Tree.

I felt all sunny inside 🙂