Month: February 2015

H. Double Ellen ‘Red’ is looking gorgeous in all its splendour today.

These were picked to day. Despite the cold days in early February, we have them in bloom at last. So the Spring has arrived.

“Work to Be Done in February” The Amateur Gardener’s Calendar by Mrs Loudon – 1847

Another extract from this calendar, but a little late for February!

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I always love seeing this gorgeous little priimrose that Myrtle kindly gave me a few years ago. Smaller flowers than most primroses and no name, but oh so pretty. 

I had a relaxing time outside yesterday. Didn’t go out there with any specific jobs in mind so just tipped about and observed. Tidied up my ‘plants in waiting’ and inspected the lot for new growth. The weather is beginning to warm up at last, and I’ll be raring to go.

Had an all-too-brief visit from Hazel in the afternoon. I was giving out about the state of my expensive hellebore of two journals ago. She advised me to move it from where it was, as it was in competition with a couple of shrubs and therefore suffering possibly from lack of moisture. So as soon as she headed home, the hellebore was dug up. I had mentioned that this was an expensive one costing €12. But according to the label, I spent a whopping €20 on it!!!!!   Well, it deserves to be given a better home, so it’s now in a pot until I can find a suitable spot for it. 

I’m seeing some new growth on my peach trees in the greenhouse. That always excites me, and of course the blossoms are just soooooo pretty. My greenhouse won’t be so cramped this year thanks to Dad letting me take over his. Yay!!!    

Not sure of my plans today outside, so thinking maybe of digging over my little plot in Dads. Let’s hope the neighbours don’t see me traipsing in and out in my gardening rags. Don’t want them saying to themselves, and each other (LOL), ‘that Jacinta Doyle one has really let herself go over the last few years’.  🙂

Here are some secateurs I have had up to now. They vary from a pair I bought in Woolworths shortly after I came to Carlow and cost me 7/6  old money up to a  Felco I bought in Woodies just a few years ago and cost something like €26. So which is the Felco?

Visiting with my sister today noticed a nice Orchid on her window sill. She asked should she pot it up in a bigger pot with compost. Now I don’t think that’s what these chappies like ? Is it Rachel is the Orchid queen. Sis is agast at the work these Orchids require!!

think I may be offered it yet ..,,,

My secateurs is in need of a good clean, and a sharpening. I am guilty of abusing it constantly. Today the spring broke off. But luckily I was able to re-attach it. For how long, I’m not sure. It may not be a Felco, but it suits me just fine. 

Just wondering what would happen if people were to send their Felco’s off for repair that had sentimental value attached to them? 

It hasn’t been a particularly cold winter, but it has been a long one. The other day while out in the garden I discovered that one of my favourite pots had cracked from the frost. If the crack was only on one side, I’d attempt to repair it. But as you can see, the damage is also on the other side.

If I remember correctly, there was a lovely dahlia in that last year, which I didn’t lift. So today I’ll be emptying the pot to see if there’s any sign of life. Not very hopeful but we’ll see. So far this has been the only pot I’ve lost this winer so that’s not too bad.

Are we all sick of Hellebores yet? Not me. Here’s another one open today that I got a couple of years ago.

for you good people is lookin like a good one going on the pics I,ve been lookin at & I do hope it is.

managed to fall asleep in front of the computer, well i did today.now if it was the normal chairs it would have been most uncomfortable but i decided to go all out, there was even a few treats included, well i did say i went all out!!!!!!!!!!! it was cold and horrible outside oinly suitable for the ducks. the kids wanted to watch the tv in the sitting room so i decided i would watch you tube videos of my favourite gardener MR TITCHMARSH via the computer, the kids had a fire on in the sittingroom and i put on the heating and pulled out one of the big armchairs into the kitchen ( a little precesion manouvering was  needed   PURE BLISS in my books and yes about an hour and a half into it i fell asleep. thankfully i had todays love your garden recorded so i will watch that later in the sittingroom. very happy with the day 

Some girls get chocolates… some flowers…. some get wined and dined… ME I get this stone lady which is now placed in the woodland area. Love it… hope you all had a nice day!!

While I was our of commission for almost a week, the plants outside like those inside (Tomatoes) have made good progress. I took a few photos to day and was very pleasant with the Snowdrops. Early to day, I was listening to the radio RTÉ1 and who was there but our own Gerry Daly. He spoke about  snowdrops and many other factors related to gardening at this time. It reminded me of the time he used to be on the same with Ask about Gardening. It was a great programme and people from all parts of Ireland would ring him to get advise about various gardening problems. He mentioned how difficult it is to get these plants in a Garden Centre or DIY. Of course I am not too far away from Altamont which is renowned for these members of Galanthus. Note there are some Crocusess present too.

There was some sunshine today so I popped along to Altamont. It is the tail end of their snowdrop week.

The gardens are really looking well and the place was packed.

Of course I had to bump into someone and it was Scrubber. He was found, mulling over the plant sales and in fine form.

I think my recent trip to Waterford had influenced me because I came home with a little pot of Galanthus elwesii, whcih I’m looking forward to planting out.

Oh, and I got your bulbs, Tina!