Month: June 2016

Here are a few more. To day was great for the garden, no rain. i deadheaded some roses and carried out some pruning.

A bit of self indulgence this evening as if i haven’t done it before. So many of the Rhododendron species have wondeful foliage and are worth having in the garden for foliage alone, i treat flower trusses as a bonus in most cases.

The first photo this evening shows the beautiful foliage of R.niveum. the second is of R.sutchuenense which i added to the garden last Autumn and the final photo is of R.mallotum which i have been smitten with ever since i planted it a  good few years ago.

All of the above are splendid Rhododendrons which will get more beautiful with every passing year.

i find this a bit ugly now but did flower a beautiful coral petal

This is my Rhodochiton’s fourth summer here and is looking well. I also love its heart-shaped leaves, something which I hadn’t really noticed before.

Last Saturday it was my mam’s birthday and as we always try and get away for this weekend every year, we decided this year that my sisters and Mam would have a sleepover in Cavan and then head up to Dorethy’s (Periwinkle)garden in Donegal. I had long wanted to visit this garden and was certainly not disappointed.

It had been raining before we arrived to the garden but we were so lucky that it remained dry for the duration of our visit which was quite a few hours. As many of you know it had been Dorethy’s open weekend the previous weekend and her garden was looking fantastic. It proved to me once again that the photos that people post on the site do not do gardens justice you have to see this garden to truly appreciate it.

The site is glorious looking out over Donegal Bay, the borders full of really well combined healthy plants. Beautiful Shrubs and Roses that I was swooning over. Paths taking you through the garden to view all the planting up close. Seats placed in several spots to stop and take in the wonderful surroundings. Dorethy is a great plantswoman who definately knows the right plant for the right place.

The history of this garden started out with a determined lady (Dorethy and Myrtle’s granny) who managed to convince the men folk that the space where the turf used be  could be made into a flower border. This border is maintained beautifully to this day with some of the original plants still going strong. I think Dorethy’s Granny would be very proud and pleased at the beautiful garden that has been created.

Once we had finally finished the tour of the garden we were welcomed in for tea and scones and a very special Birthday cake for my mam who was so surprised and delighted. She spent the whole evening after talking about the wonderful day she had. 

Of course I did not leave empty handed and came away with a few momentous from the visit. If you get the chance this year and are anywhere in the vicintiy of Donegal make sure and call you will not be disappointed.

I have added an album of some of the photos that we took on the day.

Dorethy thanks so much for your lovely warm welcome

Hi all as many of you know Helen Dillons garden is closing at the end of the Summer. Doreen, Jackie and I are planning a visit on Saturday the 16th July. I know that many of ye have been previously but just in case any of you are interested in coming along let us know and we can make arrangements.

PS The photos are from my garden not that they could be mistaken for pictures from Helen’s !!!(but just in case ha ha )

On days like this when even the birds feel the need to take shelter from the ‘summer’ weather, we will take joy from wherever we can and gardens are so giving in this regard.

I know i am repeating myself when i say that R.bureavii is one of the most fabulous foliage plants. It is simply gorgeous and the photo speaks for itself. The leaves are beautifully felted and soft to the touch and i would recommend it to one and all if you have the soil to grow it.

R.pronum is a rarely seen species Rhodo which flowers hardly at all if ever but is grown for its splendid foliage. 

One species which will flower eventually is the large leaved R.calophytum which is another beauty foliage wise.

This month The Lane has hosted wedding celebrations for the first time. The memories of that day will hopefully be part of our family for many years to come. The trees and shrubs are now putting on huge growth with this wet weather after the warm spell earlier in the month. 

Perennials are the main source of colour, taking over from the trees, shrubs and bulbs,  and will continue for the rest of the summer. Meconopsis betonicifolia has to be the most striking plant during  June and seems to be thriving in the moist athmosphere of The Lane. Primula japonica Harlow Carr hybrids have also performed very well and I just love the soft colours of their flowers. Darmera peltata has to be one of my favourite foliage plants at this time of year. This is a perennial which has pink flowers earlier in the year before it’s wonderful leaves grow.