Month: November 2016
The phone rang a few minutes ago and got the good news. The computer is taking in the messages again. October was a lovely month but November has come in with a blast. Yesterday was so cold that the only work done was in the green house. I pruned the vine and it looks much better now. As I took away one of the branches I found plenty of over ripe grapes. They were great.
The December issue was delivered a few days ago. One article that impressed me was that of Dick Warner relatiing to magpies. Many people have the impression that they are responsible for the killing of small birds. He tells us however that there are other predators besides this bird and he names the domestic cat. Many people like to have a cat around the garden as they are good at getting rid of rodents, namely rats and mice. In the summer, the same domestic cat will keep birds such as blackbirds away from soft fruits such as strawberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants. have fared out well with the gooseberries but as regards the others, the blackbirds get there before me. This can be one great advantage of having a cat around the garden. However it seems as if the domestic cat not only keeps away rodents and blackbirds, they will get at the smaller birds which are so friendly and can be a great help in getting rid of certain pests in the garden. I can remember the neighbours who had a cat that got rid of the rodents but also kept the blackbirds away and I enjoyed the soft fruits. Dick tells us of La Gazza Ladra or the Thieving Magpie. I acquired a CD by Rossini including the magpie and enjoy that overture as well as others.
In recent times when I go outside, I am usually reminded by a robin that some food is required. When I put the bird seed into the feeder, he is in and picking away with the seed. Recently I have noticed a second robin, at another feeder. Sometimed a few collar doves come down for the food and the robin tends to fly away. However when I stay around, the robin tends to come back and is less scared of me than of the doves. To day was milder than others so I got at putting in some more Pelargoniums. As I did, I noticed the robin searching around where the pots containing the plants were. Apparently, there is something more tasty there than the bird seed.
The roses that were so good this summer and autumn are almost exhausted now. They were great during the flowering season. It is hard to think that in a little over a month, I should be pruning them again. In recent times, I start the pruning in January. There was a time when I was doing this work in February and certain people told me it was too early. Then Gerry said that it could be done in January and I was pleased to take his advise. Now I have the roses in bloom earlier and I believe better quality.
A few days ago, I was opening the front door and there was a rat in front of me. He immediately ran away and that was an idea. I took out the rat poison and put it insde a plastic pipe and made sure that the small birds would not get at it. I had mentioned in the journal some time ago that the domestic cat could be a worse preditor than the magpie so I took Dick Warner’s advise and put it out of my mind to acquire a cat. I feel that when there is no cat around, that the small birds would not be in danger so the rat poison is the remedy.
Like Jackie, I’m really enjoying the lovely autumn weather we’ve had so far. I was in west Cork for a short break last week and the colours were only glorious.
Got out to the garden about noon today and finally started on my list of autumn jobs. Cut back and divided a few perennials, swapped two different daylilies from one bed to another, planted Iris reticulatas and white Fritillarias and was in the middle of digging up plants in the wavy bed to get some manure under them when I discovered a long, fairly thick root travelling right across the bed and disappearing under the path on one side and lawn on the other. Oh dear; all I could do was cut it off at both sides, reckon it must come from the huge (but utterly lovely) aspen tree in the large garden behind us.
So I didn’t get as much done as I had hoped but was well satisfied with my day when I came in just after dark.
These photos were taken on Sunday, lots of colour still to enjoy.
I didn’t plant these shrubs and perennials with this colour combination in mind; the changing foliage colour of autumn has created the pictures for me!
Euonymus alatus and Pittosporum ‘Irene Patterson’. The euonymus starts going a pale red in late September and deepens to this bright cherry red before the leaves fall.
The second photo is of Heuchera ‘Blackberry Jam’ with the viburnum bought at Crug two years ago (not growing much!) and Pulmonaria ‘Blake’s Silver’.
Hi folks,
I just thought I would check in to post some links to videos on my YouTube channel that you may find interesting. Unfortunately you will have to copy and paste the link to your browser. Thanks and happy viewing.
Revisisit of Tina’s House Plants…
Goodbye Dillon Garden…
Autumn Colour at Douentza
Removing a Stubborn Bush, Using Car & Tow Rope
October Greenhouse
Aeonium Propagation
Greenhouse Set for Winter…
Took a wander around the garden that is beginning to show signs of my neglect over the year. But there were still lots of surprises.
The two below are floweing away happily and still more blooms to open.
Hope your all keeping well.
Those of you who are used to me and my Rhodos will know that i am partial to the narrow leaved species such as those in the R.roxieanum family. R.proteoides is a really slow growing, dwarf species that hardly ever flowers (pink to white), but has fantastic foliage with beautiful indumentum. I already have R.pronum in the garden for a few years now, which is similar in that it hardly ever flowers and it is a smashing Rhododendron.
Finally i have an Azalea to show. It is A.koromu shikibu, a semi-deciduous Azalea which has strap like petals which is supposed to be amazing in flower when it is a mature plant. I look forward to watching it develop.
Hope these two journals were of interest.
Mr G. Nome intones in dire foreboding .’Mr Scrubber seems to be losing it’ ‘-oosing it -oosing it’ reflected from behind the acer Sanko ???. ‘I mean what is it he intends to do with the Scrub? Four Junipers two thujas, a Lawson cypress. and today six juniper in the Scrub and a juniper blue arrow in the lawn’ Is it an arboretum he intends and what will become of the Scrub itself? ‘ ‘Oh who will make the scrub great again?’ ‘Well akshually’ this from Micileen Dee ‘ I find those new junipers add a different dimenshun espeshially the four on the banksh.’ ‘and warming to his theme ‘And the junipersh in the wood are shurely shplendid with their feathery glaucus foliage’. G Nome just grunted which meant Micilin had scored. ‘And when Mr Scrubber puts the new daffodils around their bottoms…’cheeped in Cherub Cymbals who then stopped and reddened. ‘How do you know anything about daffodils/ ‘asked G. Nome. ‘Or indeed about anything!’ which was a very nasty remark even from G. Nome but he was still smarting from the Micileen put down earlier. Cherub Lute intervened here to protect poor Chrub Cymbals whose bottom lip was beginning to tremble. ‘I mentioned to Cherub Cymbals that the grey of the daffodil leaves would echo the grey of the Junipers and that the bright yellow would be a lovely contrast’. ‘Eggzhactly!’ agreed Micileen. Everyone else nodded vigorously, all very annoyed with Mr. G Nome who mumbled something under his breath about ‘all those Tetrapanexes’.
Mr. Scrubber himself was very pleased as he had been a little nervous about crowding the wood but the Junipers (Skyrocket) took up very little space and gave a lift to the area. He hadnt thought about the daffodils until Cherub Cymbals mentioned them and he will certainly include them-luckily he recently got 5kg of yellow trumpet which will fit the bill. And the Juniper blue arrow was so beautiful that it had to be a lawn specimen but also with daffodils!
Oh G. Nome forgot to mention the two new portuguese laurel!
I had to throw out my indoor Busy Lizzies a while ago as they looke awful, the leaves were curling back and they also had flies. But I spotted one little bit that didn’t look too bad and took it as a cutting and now its flowering and I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Had to remove a pullover while doing the roses today and though I must be coming down with something !!
Apparently the Bees agreed as they were very busy all day too . Enjoy as the weather and temp are meant to dip from Wed on … hope all are well .
As we all keep saying this year is really crazy. Here are my Osteospermums flowering away today in the middle of November!
Scrutinising Journals this year is interesting: what a number of plants flowering out of season.
Here is an Iris that is flowering even better than in June. There is another that has got a bit battered, but this one, although a little blown over at the time of taking the photo on 2nd November, did right itself (can you believe it?) when the wind chaged direction!
This week, due to storm and rain, I cut that stem and it is now in a vase!
At a time of the year when it is all about foliage and buds on Rhododendrons it is really great to have an Azalea in flower. It is A.simsii, which is grown as an indoor plant in this side of the world as it is tender. I take it outside once the last frosts have gone and bring it in before they start again. It was my wifes mother who gave it to her for mothers day a few years ago so i fell in for it and it has been a good performer.
The second photo is of the tree forming species, R.arboreum ssp cinnamomeum. I first saw this in the Botanic gardens a good few years ago and fell instantly in love, mind you i couldn’t find it when i was there a few months ago but i hadn’t much time. There are a fair few forms of R.arboreum, some hardier than others and some are very attractive. A lot of the old estates have them and they are magnificent in full flower. Like most species it will take a good many years to flower but the foliage is delightful with its beautiful indumentum. As i say it is large growing so not one for a small garden but for any of you with the space it is highly recommended
In a recent journal i wrote of the importance of giving plants a second chance when all seems fairly hopeless and i could have included Daphne bhloua ‘jacqueline postill’ as well. I had wanted that plant for a long time and was thrilled to add it to the garden a good few years ago but the two consecutive bad winters of a few years ago did an awful job on it. Hardly surprising as it wouldn’t be the hardiest plant in the first place and Daphnes being finicky didn’t augur well, but i noticed a couple of seedlings had taken root in the surrounding soil and hoping for the best i left them in situ and i am glad to report that all is well and i now have two plants side by side and look forward to when they will bloom again as the scent is divine.
The second photo is of R.mallotum, one of my all time favourite species for foliage, it really is splendid. It isn’t the easiest to grow and it takes a bit of extra care in its placement but by God is it worth it. It hasn’t got round to flowering yet, one of these years but it is a treasure.
I attended the Country Market this morning and although I had cooking apples, €1 for a kg, I sold nothing. In the afternoon, I took some photos of the Liquidambar, still showing folliage while most trees are bare.
After a few disasters in the garden I decided to make a Japanese style garden at the back of the house.
I made a small one in the front garden and was vey happy with the result. It included a pond, acers and bamboos and a lovely lantern.
The back garden is very open and windswept and as we are surrounded by open fields, weeds are a huge problem. As I do the garden on my own I found the acre site very daunting so have decided to break it up into smaller gardens. The tunnel stands on one side so on the other I decided to put in a Japanese style garden and enclose it in a bamboo fence.
I started it in March 2014 and work on it when I get time and when the weather permits. My pride and joy is a 5ft Japanese lantern which I got from a wonderful place in Tarmonbarry in Roscommon. It weighs about a tonne – honestly – and it took 3 of us to get it into my car and 4 of us to get it back out again. A neighbour very kindly helped me install it in the garden using his tractor.
The rocks came from the garden. It is impossible to dig without hitting a rock. I scrub them before setting them in the gravel then plant around them.
I plan to put in a dry garden and watefall next year and a pond if I can.
It always feels a bit strange starting the journals for our annual get-together when Christmas hasn’t even happened!
For the benefit of new members – there is an annual event when the virtual members from this site meet face to face. The original idea was to lift our spirits when winter weather prevented us from getting our regular garden “fix” and that is why it happens in January.
All are welcome!
It is a gathering of like-minded people ( gardening enthusiasts of all sorts) for a chat and lunch and we include a Kris Kringle with a top limit of €10 on the gifts. If you haven’t met Kris Kringle before it is a kind of “secret Santa” – each person brings a wrapped gift and the gifts are distributed more or les randomly – although we do have a system to try and avoid anyone taking home their own gift!Participation in the Kris Kringle is of course optional!
So here are the details for January 2017
Venue: Johnstown Garden Centre Junction 8 on the N7
Date: Saturday 7th January to coincide with Johnstown’s Annual Sale
Time:approx. 12 noon to late afternoon.
I am assuming that people want it to be run on the same lines as previous years but any comments or tweeks to the plan can be accommodated!
Timetable:
12 noon to 1 pm – Plant Swap in the car park – more of that later!
1 pm – bring your Kris Kringle gift to the Kris Kringle Elves in the Cafe area
1.30 pm lunch in the Garden Cafe. They provide table service for us on the day and reserve an area of the Cafe for our use. Once you have handed in yoru Kris Kringle you can take a seat and order your lunch.
2.30 pm Kris Kringle gift distribution.
3.30 pm Wrap-up of the event – leaving time for the weak-willed to indulge themselves in plants at the Sale price!
I will be putting up a journal nearer the time for people to let me know if they are coming as I will need to let the Johnstown people know approximate numbers a week before the event.
I’ll also put up a journal later looking for “on the day” volunteers.
I hope you like the photo – I decided this year instead of Christmas graphics I’d go for wacky garden ideas!
1st November already. This year has certainly whizzed by and October is literally a blur.
I havent been in the garden much, except to take the odd photo here and there. So it is literally like a wilderness. Leaves are everywhere, and I do mean everywhere!! Plants are covered over and the pathways are laden too. Thankfully no rain as that would just be dreadful. Some plants need cutting back, do I do that or wait til Spring! We will see later
So all going well today, the plan is to try and get out for an hour or so. I need to see what needs protecting from the frost. I’m really surprised at this wonderful weather. It didnt feel a bit like Halloween with such mild weather. Although the grandchildren had a ball as did we lol
The grass could also do with a trim, which in turn will lift the leaves. If I can do that I will. I noticed some plants are back in flower again. Some Geums are opening with more flowers. My Cosmos chocomocha is starting to flower now. And some lovely pink Mallow which I grew from seed and flowered well into Summer are putting out new flowers again.
I don’t like the months of October nor November as I find them very drab usually. But so far that hasn’t been the case. So roll in December and 2017. I can’t wait to start this whole process all over again.
Have a great day whatever you do đŸ˜‰
well around the patch,King Parrots are back adding abit more colour & abit of competition for the tucker.Trust you liked the short album tried to put more pics up the site must have abit of a prob.
Garden journals, that is. When I joined the RHS in September at Rosemoor, I got the September issue of The Garden and then spent all of October eagerly awaiting the October issue. Nothing popped through the letterbox, so I rang them. I was assured that it had been posted, as had the November issue, but they would send another. Then yesterday two envelopes arrived…with two October issues. So now I’m awaiting the November issue and The Irish Garden. We’re gonna need a bigger coffee pot when they all arrive!
Meanwhile I have an October issue going begging if anyone wants it…
Wonderful sunset last night so I’ve added a few pics for fun.
I am not a lover of variegated plants as a rule but Fatsia and the Alstromeria are an exception! The latter has some lovely purple markings on the leave.
Amicia zygomeris was brought in a few weeks ago. Having lost one this is being well cared for. It has got very big and flowering like a mad thing!
For those of you who are interested my order from Glendoick arrived today, too late to get them planted so i am looking forward to planting them tomorrow.
I spend many enjoyable hours during the year trying to decide what Rhodos to add to the garden trying to take into account their growing rate, hardiness, leaf size and flower colour etc and then trying to decide where in the garden to place them and until i have them in my hand i won’t make a final decision where to place them so an enjoyable day lies ahead tomorrow.
The first photo shows three of them, from left to right there is R.huanum, R.campanulatum ssp aeruginosum and R.sphaeroblastum var wumengense. The second photo shows from left to right, A.koromo shikibu and R.proteoides.
When i plant them i will give more information on each of them.
The third photo shows Mahonia x media ‘charity’ in all its considerable glory. This is a very imposing shrub when it is a fine size as my one is now.
in the patch today nice & warm & the colour continues to unfold.
I think the recent cold spell is turning me into a right wuss. The garden has been left pretty much on its own for the last couple of weeks, and more. But yesterday it was lovely to see some trusty summer blooms still doing their thing.
Whatever you do, enjoy your garden this weekend.
