Month: June 2015
Yes, I am talking about the garden.ie’ers.
I was one of the “newbies” in Terra Nova ( the day was widely recalled already so I wont repeat it again ) but I can honestly say, I never felt like I was one. Everyone was so kind, so friendly and welcoming.
I am not a social butterfly and usually find it hard to mix with strangers. But the .iers made me feel at ease. I had some lovely chats with a few people and I learned so much. I honestly cant thank you all enough.
A special thank you to Deborah who was incredibly helpful and full of advice with my plant shopping and also for her talk. I am feeling a bit daunted with my garden journey but seeing the way herself and Martin developed their garden over the years into a piece of heaven …. it cant help but lift your spirits and give you hope.
Fran, thank you for welcoming me and making me feel right at home from the second I got there. Your organising skills are second to none.
I came home with a ton of goodies from the lovely .iers and some fabulous plants from Deborah’s nursery. They will be a lovely reminder of the new people I met, even though I struggle with names and I hope you’ll forgive me for it.
I spend a good few hours today planting everything and except for a very small number, they have all settled into their new homes. Thank you once again to everyone, I hope I can do your plants justice and make them grow.
Well, it took a few days to plant up the west part of the garden with the tropicals. Every year I fill this section of the garden with tender plants and enjoy them all summer. I worked the first day and the second day hubby dug the holes and I planted and we finished in great time. I made a little video about it (surprise, surprise) and the link is below. But that is not what this journal is about.
One of the tender plants I put out was Bartlettina sordida. I was gifted it by Dhu Varen Gardens in Kerry two years ago but it had grown to a glorious 4-5ft in my care and was a magnificent specimen. It was overwintered fin heat and was in full flower. Not called Purple Torch for nothing, Bartlettina sordida has large felty, dark leaves and sprays of blue flowers. And I found the perfect place for it too! It was perfect.
Can you guess what I’m going to say next? Does the extensive use of the past tense give it away?
Well, thirteen-year-old boy met bartlettina – full on! He must have landed between the two trunks of the tree becasue both were broken off and the main trunk was split to soil level. Basically the tree was completely destroyed.
Now I have a greenhouse shelf full of cuttings and a son who is very sorry.
Unfortunately, I have no photo of the bartlettina, only this little video clip that didn’t make it into the final ‘planting the tropicals out’ video…
And here is the video of planting up the tropicals…
Planting Tropicals Out – Before, During & After – YouTube
PS I am over it now but feel it is therapeutic to get it out of my system with a journal 🙂
”Doesn’t look like I’ll get a word in anywhere here, and she did promise I could speak a few words”
”Joann, any more talking and your on the Compost for 10 minutes, this is your last chance”,
”No Peter, I’m 100% sure they will notice the Goblin House is missing, I don’t care if Anrew would love it, I’m not helping you”.
SallySarah sent me this little Parahebe last year. Happy to say it’s doing fine and has started to flower.
Thanks, Sally.
It took more than 20 barrows full of gravel, top soil and compost but it is filled and ready to be planted.
Hubby’s back was playing up so I had to do most of it myself!
This year will be a bit rushed and the planting might not be right but I can move stuff around next year if it doesn’t work out.
Michelle (Kitty) gave me these primula a few years ago and they are so dependable and come up trumps every year.
Thanks Michelle.
Well a great day was had at Terra Nova thanks to Deb , Martin and of course Fran.So good to meet up with old friends and meet our new members. Plant swapping started the day and many crates , boxes and bags appeared full to the brim with goodies. The shop was wonderful full of temptation and of course I gave way. Then lunch and what a wonderful spread really spectacular , my donation was mundane compared to the dishes that appeared, scrummy. Next Deb and Martin gave a talk about the early days and changes in Terra nova , most interesting. The Treasure hunt next on the agenda, draw for teams and Margaret, Peter W and myself were drawn together. Thanks to Margarets knowledge of Hoblins we were the lucky winners and got lovely prizes but everybody received a great gift. The garden no I have not forgotten that!! Plenty of time to wander through the winding paths and enjoy the multitude of plants not to mention all the woodland creatures that appeared everywhere, fairies, goblins and even Hoblins. Terra nova is just a captivating place and I love it a lot. So many thanks to all concerned and so great to meet you all again.
Just downloaded an App for Smartphones. Take a plant photo and have the App automatically ID it for you !! Sounds good to me but I haven’t used it yet . App Store and search for ” Plantnet” free App….
My first Nasturtiums just coming into flower now despite all the wind and rain
i planted some bulbs of Camassiai last year and they flowered recently. They were a lovely shade of blue. But the other day I noticed another flowering appearing, much much later than the others. Yesterday it opened and it’s WHITE!!
Very odd as they were all blue and blue on the front of the packet. It’s a love,y one and such a pity it was t in flower when the others were too.
Captivated by the beautiful landscape of lovely Leitrim and thinking what a wonderful country we have.
If anyone fancies rearing (plant) babies …..
1 plug plant – Hosta “Great expectations”
1 plug plant – Hechera “Melting Fire”
1 plug plant – Heuchera ” Dales Strain”
Can you identify this shrub?
The auriculas are still going strong
This is another one i really like alot
I have mine outside against the wall of the house (north facing) and they seem to be really doing well for me
To day was the best day for some time. I had more time than usual and did a fair amount.. A large amount of weeds was taken to the compost heap. Weeding in the onion bed was carried out. Pelargoniums, slipped in April planted out. I am now running out of space to put the plants. More dead wood was moved from the pile near No. 3 rose bed. Roses are beginning to show blossoms. First was Arthur Bell.
I have just posted two Albums of photos from two wonderful Gardens in Wales. Both well worth a visit if you are over that way.
In my on going quest for softening the edges of teh hard landscaping around the garden I planted an Arisaema in front of the seat in Angela’s corner. I have been watching and watching for weeks and came to the decision it was a bad idea.
As usaul with watched kettles, turn you back and it’s away, happy days.
232 sqm
I did reduced most of the ferns in this planter during the winter. You’d never know looking at it now. Looking lovely and lush right now.
Think I’ll leave well enough alone for now 😉
Anyone else having this problem?
I’ve tried twice to upload to a photo album today but my screen just freezes and I have to reboot.
It only happens with this site and has happened before in the last month.
I took a wander around the garden today and I couldnt believe my eyes when I spotted the growth on my climbing Hydrangea.
I bought it in 2006 with 2 branches and planted it in my first garden. It didnt grow, didnt die, it was just there. Then it moved with me in 2008 to my new garden and got its place in the garden a few months later. Still …. it didnt grow, it didnt die, it was just there… with its 2 branches.
It was like that all the time, every year. I kind of excepted the fact that it was going to stay like that. But it didnt die, so I didnt give up on it.
Now look at it ! It has lots of branches and is actually clinging by itself. The branches are covered in fresh new leaves and there are more branches popping up everywhere and some are clinging already to the wall behind the tree.
It took over 8 years but I think it has finally found it’s feet. I might even get flowers at some stage.
No instant garden can compete with the joy of rewarded patience.
I divided my Clivia and so have one to give away. I can bring it on Sat if anyone would like it. I have a couple of plants promised to PeterW but otherwise I will be empty handed as grandchildren have taken over from gardening at the moment!
I’m away for the next couple of days, but yesterday while travelling I was enthralled to see Ammi (Cow Parsley) planted en masse all along the motorway. I have never seen it in such abundance and it lifted my soul.
