Month: April 2014

Anyone who has ever been to Kilmacurragh and has walked along the Yew walk would be aware of the famous tree stump/root that was shaped like a dog/boar depending on your point of view.

While I was there last weekend, I was shocked to see it is no more. All the trees are still in place, so it was not effected by the winter storms.

Does anyone know what happened it?

(I can’t find a photo of it)

A very happy Easter to everybody.

I have been meaning to raise this topic and forgot until today so here goes. Many of you may know this already.

When you buy Pelargoniums , for example, from Aldi , Lidl or indeed many garden centres it is often in a I litre pot. When you remove the plant all looks fine, even signs of roots in the compost. BUT beware. Many of these plants are grown in little muslin material plugs through which the roots are meant to penetrate. They don’t!!  If you take off all the compost you will see the piece of material wrapped around the roots and except for maybe one root escaping the others are totally stunted. They may do well for one season and indeed perhaps on some occasions the roots do escape but I have always found the plants eventually die. Then if you look there are no roots at all as if the vine weevils had been having a party and it is not those litte divils but that piece of material. This probably applies to many plants on sale in the smaller pots so now unless there is a really good root  system to be seen off with all the compost to see if the dreaded muslin thingy is present.  I got a few pelargoniums from Lidl recently and they look great but on potting them on, they all had the material barrier.

Today was a special day or me. I had three lovely visitors – Fran, Maria and Claire (Clara) and had a lovely time showing off my garden to them! They proved to be a very appreciative audience and were far too polite to remark on the unweeded paths and unpruned buddlieas – for which I am truly grateful!

It was particularly nice to welcome Maria as she hadn’t been to my home before! I appreciated every kind comment and every photo taken. It was lovely to see my garden through someone elses eyes – they saw things that I walk past every day without noticing and have given me a real boost.

Unfortunately I was so busy showing them around that I completely forgot to take any photos myself! Thank goodness Fran and Clare had their cameras in action! I’ll be looking for copies guys please!!!!

 P.S. – Thanks for all the goodies guys! Maria – those chocs are yummy 🙂

I like to have a few geraniums around the place, they remind me of days gone by in our old home place. However no matter what i do my geraniums die over the winter. This year I did nothing and low and behold they survived in their pots outside. This has made me very happy.

My question is this, do I leave them in the containers in the same soil and just give them a feed? Do I change the compost around them and put them back in the same container? Do I change the compost and put them back in a larger pot?

This is a new adventure for me, normally they die and in the summer I go out and buy new ones. Any advice on the care and continueing welfare of my geraniums will be greatly appreciated

I have never seen so many ladybirds…

Anybody? Closer to Cork/delivery to Cork is ideal. 

i wrote a journal and just lost it didnt save 

last  year i got a lovely walk in green housefor my birthday (lidl one )set it all up in march planted loads of seeds labelled them and all doing great one sunday in April a gust of wind and it all fell down seeds and compost every where brushed it all up in to the wheelbarrow and put it on the grass opposite the kitchen window put rocks round it and ho and behold some great sweet pea grow and holly hocks it was so packed they all supported each other 

this year got another one but havent put it up yet growing some seeds in the house on the table and in one of the sheds but temped to put it up this week as i am at home 

Got off to a bad start!  I am ony about a 5 minute drive from Fota but there was a gigantic road run on and it took me 45 mins with the blood pressure rising. So when I got there there were millions of cars , well hundreds and it was only about 11-30.  I was bold and inferred the legs were not great so was allowed close to the plant area, well we oldies must reap some consideration, says she trying to justify herself!

I met Bruno, Carl,,Margaret and Ted, Paddy and Mary, Mary joe, and lots of other Cork folk I know. Hopefully the former will drop up for a cuppa later.

There was a very well organized plant creche where you could pick up your bags as you are driving out, great idea.

I had 5 bags.  So what did they contain.  Two West country lupins and an Achillea from Camolin, two Cautleya and a Roscoa   Red Gurkha from Crug  , two Echeveria rosea and two Epimediums from Cotswold plants. Also picked up three double primroses ‘Blood red’ to add to the collection.

There were so many plants there that it makes me dizzy after a while so decided to come home this time in 5 mins!

Having a rest now before I give my new friends, the plants that is, a drink.

I look forward to planting my loot over the next few days.

 

 

 

 

Is today. I think I will go if I’m well. I have a shopping itch I need to scratch. 

Anyone else going? If you see me please say hello. I’m the small one with a bump and a toddler (who is probably trying to escape from his buggy). 🙂