Month: June 2017

at each end of the plot in which grow the fruit trees and potatoes are these two, remarkably hardy, perennial and down-right strange plants. They were here when my family came 30 years ago and remain. They were at one stage identified as ‘stinkhorn’ but i am not sure. They certainly have an odour and i suspect they are infact, insectivorous. But I dont know. in these pictures the ‘frond’ (again i dont really know what to call them) is just opening for the summer. I dont particularily like them (the bulbs are very unsightly!) but they are there and that will remain.

I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for awhile now and said it to April today and she found one on sale about 20 mins from here for €18 which is good value I think. We went down and the one she took the photo of had lots of chips and was painted which was not great but the lady said she had another at the back of her garden. Went over and looked at it and was much nicer and not painted or anything so I offered her €15 for it and she accepted. Delighted with my buy I had to roll it down the garden and around the side to the car and it weighed a lot more than I thought but got it in and home it went. 

Got home and put crocks over the hole and made a good free draining mix and also put in some plants. 3 Lewesias, orange, yellow and pink. Sempervivum and a Delosperma were added. I will add some bulbs for spring colour and 1 or 2 small hardy alpines.

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When removing the lateral shoots from tomato plants I heard that these can be used to grow plants . Simply place in water and allow roots to develop before potting up. I’ve never tried this before . Has Dick I wonder ?? 

I remember planting these bulbs last Autumn but the names escape me ?  

Normally half-way through the growing season I realise that I should have staked this lovely Sanguisorba. But with so much going on in the past few weeks, I never got around to it. But I’ve never seen it looks so good. I think it looks way more natural letting it do what it does best, and free as a bird.

Confined to barracks now for a few days as I had a surgical procedure done yesterday and can’t wash my hair for ten days. Might be making my own bandanas out of tea-towels yet. LOL

Leptospermum flowers through Spring and is usually finished just before summer starts. This one threw out sporadic flowers throughout the winter and I thought that that was great. But it has flowered its socks away since January.

It just hasn’t stopped producing its eye-catching, dainty flowers, and doesn’t look as if it’s any way ready to give up just yet. And I wouldn’t mind, but I haven’t added ANY ericaceous compost to this bed so far this year, as most of the shrubs/plants in this area were due to be moved to a better location. Doesn’t look like it will happen this year either, but why fix what’s not broken. I have never seen it look so good.

Dianthus season is fast approaching. A couple of really pretty ones starting to open now. The ones that David took cuttings of two or three years ago are looking so healthy. But not enough blooms to warrant a photo just yet. Great plant for youngsters to start off with. 

But my favourite to date has got to be this sweet little one, D. ‘Coconut Sundae’. And they smell divine.

Let’s create journals, however insignificant they may seem to you! Others may find them interesting.

It’s already another scorcher out there now. Hoping to get some decent jobs done after lots of essentials. And if I can’t take the heat, there’ll always be ANOTHER pond to dip into. Gladiolus ‘Prinz Claus’ is opening now.

Have a lovely day, everyone. And take care in the sun.

Minimal tasks carried out in todays heat. Mainly watering and feeding, cutting back straggly branches of Camellias and dead-heading Lupins. Then I discovered some seedlings that needed potting on badly – Nicandra ‘Splash of Cream’, Cosmos, Nigella ‘African Queen’ and Didiscus ‘blue something or other. 

These two plants make a nice contrast.

Hello everyone, I’m back from an enjoyable week out west, sampling the Wild Atlantic Way and getting together with cousins for a long planned reunion.  Beautiful scenery and lots of laughs.

As usual, the weather was warmer in the East, so on my return the garden is looking good, with the roses in full bloom and other plants enjoying the warmth too.  I’ll take some photos over the next few days, as well as catching up on your journals and activities.

Hope you are all enjoying your gardens in this lovely weather. 

I always get such a kick out of spotting Dragonflies/Damselflies. I have been rather too busy with family commitments recently. So I finally got to see my first one today hovering over the greenhouse pond. I think it’s a male Blue-tailed Damselfly.

When Gretta and I visited Mary and Paddy two years ago, I was kindly given this little plant by Mary. The only gap in my borders at the time was down beside my Eupatorium ‘Joe Pyeweed’. Rather a silly place for it as we all know how large Joe grows. However, I spotted it yesterday and the only thing I can think of is a Sisyrinchium. Maybe Mary can confirm please.

It’s a cute little thing, and as soon as it has gone over it will be relocated to a more suitable spot before Joe Pyeweed smothers it completely.

Aruncus is looking exceptionally well in my mini Jurassic Border at the moment, and in particular in the second photo against a shady background.

I’ve had this Brugmansia about 4 years now. But this year, what with everything else going on, I’ve kind of neglected it, just giving it plenty of water and one feed so far. But yesterday I spotted two flower buds. Happy Days!

today I helped out at a local gdn, part of the clewbay garden trail.  Owner, Deirdre is mad on seed sowing.  Was given seeds to sow and pictured plant is the result.  We couldn’t think of a name, but now I am thinking cockatoo plant but that usually has red flowers.  Anyone ou there who can identify it please.

I bought this lovely Geum at the Mount Congreve plant fair last month €4 and just love it!!! Geums give such long lasting colour! 

The rain was badly needed last night! 

Have a good day!

Weather has been atrocious here for the last 2 days. Last weeks heat and sunshine lulled us into a false sense of security.

As a ‘pick-me-up’ I bought myself a lovely new rose in SuperValu today. Couldn’t resist its colour and it was only €9.99. SuperValu’s plant selection is improving.

If the photos don’t upload, that’s my journal invalidated as it is relying on photos.

The bees are loving snuggling up in the fluffiness of my Aruncus today. It must be like a heavy tog duvet for them today as it’s not warm. But at least the rain stayed away for most of the day.

This was a donation from member who has long since disappeared from this site. Although maybe he (Chilipepper) looks in on us now and then. I’d like to think so. It’s such a reliable Verbascum, and surprises me each year by throwing out extra shoots. The flowers are just a delight.

Went a bit mad at Bloom – I had a mission – get some more plants to fill out the Hot Border. When i removed all the blue plants that had sneaked into the Hot Border over time it left a considerable amount of space in the border. I raised  some of the non-hardy Rudbeckia and they have been scattered through the border. Since they are only about 4 inches tall at present we’ll have a bit of a wait!

My haul from Bloom – a nice rich red rose ‘Glad Tidings’ , Diascia Juliet Red, Marguerite Argyranthemum ‘Madiera CrestedSeries’, and three Dahlias ‘Dreamy Lips’ all red!

I already put in a couple of low growing Sunflowers so when the perennial rudbeckia start strutting their stuff, and the Lychnis Chaldonica produces its 5 foot tall orange red flowers alongside the Trolius Chinensis Golden Queen things should heat up a bit!

I’m definitely not gifted with patience when it comes to waiting for a border to do its thing so I’m very impatient to see this border develop. The only really zinging item is the magnificent perennial Papaver Orientale. I checked my database and I have two varieties recirded but the actual plants are all the same – a pretty dramatic red!

However, on the bright side, the border where all the plants from the hot Border were evicted to, is now definitely a Blue Border and is looking really good!

Oh! And here’s that Poppy!

Ive been to Bloom every year since it started. And I’ve always enjoyed the day………until now! 

My daughter buys me tickets every year. One for the weekday and 2 for the weekend. 

I headed there on Thursday myself and met with 2 lovely ladies, Margie and Geraldine, who were both at the Get Together in January. I had gone around myself before meeting up and I have to say I was disappointed  

I headed for the plant pavilion first and couldnt believe how ’empty’ it looked  Gone are lots of stalls from previous years, lots and lots of floor space……empty….and then a big central area for the Hub which was for any gardening enquiries etc . Where was everyone? Where was that lovely floral aroma when you entered? This area was about 1/3 of the pavilion and the rest was taken over by stalls for Tourism, clothing, bags, bric a brac, fashion show!!!! 

I did get some plants but they were just your ‘everyday’ plants, nothing special at all. 

Then I met up with Margie and Geraldine and we later went around the Show Gardens. Yes some were nice, but again I wasn’t  overwhelmed. Lots of the same colours, purple and reds/wines in all the gardens. Similiar to last year when it was all Foxgloves and Lychnis, this year it was Lupins, Alliums and Scabious. 

Then on to the Super Garden. I am never overawed with these anyway but…………

Yes I like the designer on tv and I loved his planters, again the purple/wine theme here too, but it was that awful rusty SHED at the back wall….remember these are city gardens, not your acres and acres of garden. So when you look out your kitchen this hits you in the face, I thought this was just awful. There were far nicer gardens in the show…….no definite it was not a winner for me!! Dreadful

I went back yesterday with Jimmy, we sauntered around and looked at the gardens again to see if maybe I was wrong and the pavillion too…….no it didn’t get the juices flowing I can tell you. 

Overall I was very disappointed. I’m not sure if I would go back again next year. This show initially was all about the garden element and that’s what drew me there. But now it’s family orientated, which is fine, but that’s not what I want. And it’s expensive enough to go there as it is and the plants available are also available in Lidl or others and are more affordable prices. Will definitely need to rethink this for next year 

Not going to bother with an album as I only took about 12 photos. 

What did you think Of your trip?

I haven’t been up to much in the garden over the last few days. But I got out yesterday with the intention of clearing the pergola area finally. After buying new garden furniture last year, I dragged all the old stuff down to the pergola to keep it out of sight. Cut up three chairs last year. And decided to leave the table and one chair there as they were handy for a work area, and the table doubled up as a potting bench. But…….enough is enough. It was a complete and utter eyesore.

I cut up the last chair yesterday, and while I was taking the table apart I thought that the top of it would make a nice feature. 

Gretta gave me a lovely Thalictrum a couple of years ago and it’s looking lovely now. I think it’s T. ‘flavum’. Correct me if I’m wrong, please.

Haven’t bought many new plants this year for practical reasons. But I was visiting my local veggie supplier a while back and couldn’t resist this pretty Lavatera. It’s called ‘Bluebird’ but is more lilac. Either colour suits me nicely. It’s opening now in my North-facing border. And I love it.