Month: July 2017

July is the month that Clematis  are at their best and who in this world cannot love a clematis. 

It is a very messy evening here and not at all summer-like, more’s the pity. At least it suits the Rhododendrons.

The first shot I have for you is a general shot of a small section of the garden. The large leaved Rhodo is R. falconeri and I think the Hosta associates well with it. The dwarf Rhodo on the right is the rare R. pronum.

The second photo shows raindrops on some new foliage of R. flinckii. This is a very attractive species for foliage.

Talking of foliage, isn’t R.bureavii fantastic for foliage. The underleaf indumentum is just beautiful. This Rhodo should be in every garden.

I always forget that I have Clematis jackmanii until this time of year, when I spot purple flowers on my Viburnum tinus and Mahonia ‘Winter Sun’. It gives a second season of  interest to these Spring-flowering shrubs.

I love this time of the year when the garden explodes into colour. There is just a huge amount of plants erupting everyday. I love going out every morning to see what has appeared overnight.

Of course at this time the poppies are the real stars. Everyday something new is there, be it a fabulous flashy shaggy one, or just a simple single variation. But I love them all. 

Simple flowers too I really like. Cornflowers, Californian poppies, Cosmos, Nigella, Calendula, Achillea, I could go on! …..the usual stalwarts, can’t be without these either!!   

And of course the Dahlia are putting on a great show too  I’ve some in pots and others in the ground  I’m thinking this year I’m going to leave everything out…….all this in and out is just too much messing about. My Bishop of Llandaff  has never been inside and it’s doing great  and nearly flowering. So I’ll experiment this year and see, I might be crying this time next year!!! 

The garden is just full of life at the minute and it’s hard to see around the circular beds now as the plants are so high. Exactly what I wanted. That air of mystery that you can’t see all the garden at once. 

Nice day forecast if a bit cloudy. I don’t mind once it’s dry. I’m hoping to spend a bit of time out there today. Enjoy your day whatever you do 😉 

It is a beautiful July morning here in the sunny south east. The light was fantastic to take photos, so I ventured out before breakfast. I think it maybe too hot for gardening during the day, so maybe get a little fix this evening. Enjoy the day what ever you are up to.

But I’m so glad to see two of my favourite climbing roses ‘Teasing Georgia’ and Schoolgirl’ are now joining forces after a few years. I love this colour combination.

Hypericum ‘Magical Red Star’ is a magnet for the bees. Over the next week the berries will become more vibrant. It’s such an attractive Hypericum, and hard to resist.

Being gardeners youwill all  understand I’m sure what I mean when I say my excitement levels are about at bursting point!! 

LiliEs are my favourite flower of all. Last year when I went to see Helen Dillon’s garden I came across 2 huge amazing lilies she had in containers. Just gorgeous. So I googled their names and found a supplier and ordered them. Lillium Prescott Pink and Lillium Kushi Maya. These lilies have huge buds and I have 4 bulbs of each flower. Each stem has 4 huge buds too. 

So this week I noticed that L. Prescott Pink was about to burst open. On Tuesday night I photographed the bud and then all day yesterday I watched in amazement at it opening. 

Well when I say it is just beautiful and the scent off it is amazing. You literally can put your face right into the flower it’s that big and drink in the aroma. I’m on cloud nine lol 

Now this morning I see others trying to open so hopefully in a few more days all four in each stem will be opened together. Also L. Kaisha Maya isn’t far behind. 

This year has been the best for me so far in the garden. And this certainly tops it all!! 

Last Tuesday along with other members of the Westport GIY, we set off with some trepidation to visit a garden.  Most of us hadn’t even heard of this garden  – all we knew was that the final part of the journey would be by boat!!!!  So the journey began, first heading to Achill Island and from there travelling a couple of miles which took us down winding lanes, we arrived at a quay to catch the local small boat to Inis biggle.  The sea looked choppy but wearing our life jackets we calmed ourselves with the thought that people are travelling week in week out, back and forth on this mode of transport between the islands………..  arriving in Inisbiggle there was a bit of a walk before we arrived at the garden.  

Our journey was worth it, the garden was a jewel set in a windswept small island.  The owners had designed the garden with cleverly placed hedged windbreaks that enclosed different ‘rooms’.  This, of course, solved the problem of growing plants in an otherwise inhospitable environmen.   Plants included the black leaf Aeonium,  even cacti, a glorious large  Australian ‘bottle brush’, the giant Echium and the bedding echium, made a note of the latter as seeds were just thrown into a border, thus plants were growing in a lazy clumping manner, unlike the normal bedding style I know.  GLorious hollyhocks stood tall and straight contained within their sheltreed ‘room’.   And there  were two separate ponds, a large home-made lean-to.  A wonderful mixed hydrangea hedge took my eye as we entered the garden.    WOuld I like to live on this island – no no no.   DRawbacks, no shops and no school and I would not fancy that 10 minute boat ride in the winter!!!!      But I’d go back!!!!!!    I will see if I can put An album up.  3 photos here.

On Tuesday last Paddy and myself visited The Colclough Walled Garden near Saltmills, Co. Wexford. This garden has been restored in the last few years by volunteers, organised by Hook Tourism. The original layout of this Georgian Walled Garden has been reinstated as it was in the 1830’s. The walled garden is divided into two sections, the ornamental and the kitchen garden. The area in which the garden is suitated is surrounded by beautiful woodland of beech and Spanish chestnut, which gives a wonderful backdrop to the garden. 

During the restoration, the workers came across the foundations of an old glasshouse which has now been reconstructed with sponsorship from many locals. The various varieties of apple trees growing in the garden are also sponsored by locals and clubs in the area. This garden seems to have been a great community project. 

The garden is well worth a visit and deserves to be supported.

I have to apologise for the lily overload today!!

But this afternoon when I got home I found this beauty waiting for me. I noticed this morning that the bud was a bit bigger but didnt expect to see this!!

This was the first one I saw in Helen Dillons garden and it took my breath away! I just thought it was magnificent. Now hers are obviously a few years old and lots more of them in the container, she had them in and old bin, but they were spectactular. They dont seem to have a scent, but you know I dont mind. The colour is just fabulous and then the lily curls back when fully open!

Really looking forward to seeing the others open on this stem,it has 4 and then four more stems to come too!!

Little did I realise 7yrs ago that Calla lilies would survive so long here. In a planter with my much-loved Persicaria, and performing reliably with just ONE feed so far this year.

David’s butter beans are beginning to flower. I’ve never had them here before and their flowers are so pretty. Fingers crossed for a decent crop so David will be encouraged to keep gardening in the future.

Im nearly certain she is opening her garden for charity tomorrow. Every success.

Well I called into PC World and a very helpful young man managed to get the pictures from my phone to my laptop but when he tried again nothing happened so it seems as though I will have to upgrade my phone and then Im off again. I can however put up some phone pictures which I have not used so things aint too bad.

Spent a very tiring half day on Eileen’s bed lately. It had been neglected and ground elder was rife also a lot of straggly plants that I hadn’t the heart to uproot but this time I was ruthless!!! Am taking out anything that doesn’t really give a decent return. I have three big euonymus? And think they might give a bit of backbone to the bed and today I bought two large rhododendron in Glanbia which filled the boot! They were  gone over for this year so there was a bit off!-which was why I was able to have two! They are pink and early so should help to offset an over- abundance of yellow with the daffodils (Or easter bells as some nice German people down in a boat on the river informed me.) I ran them into Borris yesterday just to see the town and visit a pub-I didn’t join them as it was dinner time. But we were in Waterford last night and at the door when we came back was a box of very nice Lily Obrien chocolates with ‘Thank you for the taxi’ written on it. They had gone on upriver last night.

So the rhodos and euonymus might help to ground the bed. There are two more rhodos I have my eye on for my next visit!

Also my friend who makes my Obelisks has been asked to make me another! I just felt that theres a small step in the lower wall and if there were two obelisks they would enhance the step. So I shifted one closer to the other but now need to have one to replace that. Also Ian has offered me two gate posts .I already used one other to mark the end of a row of small roses-I was in danger of walking on and breaking them. They are lovely narrow square iron posts with a round ball on top and I visualise a tiny double gate hanging from them and framing a big step through hole in the wall. I kow its impossible to imagine without a photo. I find it hard to imagine myself! But Ian will know the best way to do it and it will be so beautiful down in the scrub that I cant wait! But Ill have to!

Such are the dreams of a very fallible gardener but often Nature gives us a little lift up and carries things to a higher level!  

This was the first cemetery mass since my Mam died (Last year) and my sister had organised the engraving on the stone, It was very simple and underneath the names was room for ‘Together may they rest in peace’ which was I though very beautiful. I did matching wreaths and will try to get them up to show you.In fact they were so matching I copied Dad’s twice bymistake-sorry!

A lot of essential errands to do today so gardening time was very limited apart from a bit of watering and feeding.

But delighted to spot my first Cosmos and my first Sweet Pea open. Not sure which variety the Sweet pea is, possibly Caprani or something like that. Will have a proper look tomorrow. It was a perfect gardening day. But hopefully tomorrow will be as good.

this is my shed border with clematis Hagley HYbrid and a yellow thalictrum, same as one that Jacinta has.  We (the royal we) emptied the compost bins yesterday- 2nd lot this year.   Verbascom seedling thriving on it!!!!

Last week my sister-in-law and I visited Elizabeth’s garden en route to a family holiday in Kinsale.  Quite apart from the anticipated joy of seeing Elizabeth and her beautiful cottage garden again after several years, a promised Daphne ‘Jacqueline Postill’ also awaited me, to be dug up while we were there.  I would mind it in our guest house over the following days … or so I said. 

We spent a delightful afternoon with Elizabeth, wandering round the gorgeous country garden she has created out of a 3/4 acre farm field, marvelling at the wonderful planting and in awe of the labour of love around us.  Then chatting over tea and cake, Elizabeth and I discovered we had more connections in common than either of us knew, which made the visit all the more special.  

So engaging was the conversation that we suddenly realised we were running late and departed hastily and (can you believe it?) without my Daphne!  So I had the pleasure of returning to collect it a few days later when Elizabeth was busy preparing for her forthcoming Open Day, along with her trusty helper Eddie. 

If you can get to Cobh on Saturday 22nd July, do go along to her Open Day in aid of Marymount Hospice.  You’ll be in for a treat and a very warm welcome too.  Thank you Elizabeth for a lovely visit and for your friendship.  

Yesterday was my Open Day. I’d like to start with a huge “Thank you” to the people who travelled from Clare and from Dublin to visit my garden and more importantly to support the Laois Hospice.

We don’t have a final figure yet as some people who couldn’t come on the day are kindly coming up with donations as I write. When the final figure is counted I’ll post the results.

Once again Brendan managed his magic so I had a lovely day for the event. It was hot in the sunshine and still very warm when the sun went in! The rain stayed away until 5 pm so if I do this again I will deinitely finish at 5 rather than 6 pm

Of course, i was far too busy talking to visitors to take any photos so instead I took some today when the garden has settled back into its usual tranquility!

I was really touched by all the lovely compliments the garden got – one lady was complimenting me on how weed-free the garden is ….. while I was quite distracted by a very large dandelion just behind her LOL

Thank you Jackie for the plants you brought – I hope the Pelargonium survives my rather hit-and-miss approach to plants that need over-wintering in the greenhouse!

And thank you to Elizabeth (Liztai) for the white campanula! 

The Plant Sales area made a significant contribution to the funds raised and I really appreciate Elizabeth’s work in this area. It was very poignant that her beloved husband Tony who did a fantastic job last time directing people arriving at the gate was no longer with us. We really missed him and i would like to dedicate the success of yesterday to his memory.

The pictures are:

1. Down by the pond this morning just dringing in the peace

2. This lovely Grass was given to me by Nuala (AitAileann) when we visited her a couple of years ago

3. This Alstromeria Selina was given to me by a kind .ier but my database needs their name please!

Evening all. The Hydrangeas continue to astound, what marvellous shrubs they are with such variety of flower colour, shape and form.

I know some people consider the lacecaps to be more subtle, but I love all types. Having said that, the lacecap in the first photo is splendid and quite beautiful.

The lacecap in the second photo has these lovely white flowers and these are very different in colour to the Hydrangea featured in the first shot. No names for either, I’m afraid.

The Hydrangea in the third photo is H. aspera macrophylla, which is very different in form from the other Hydrangeas in my garden and is just as beautiful.

I wonder what do others who open their gardens and offer plants for sale do with the plants that don’t sell?

Do they continue to pamper the plants until the next open day?

This year I put quite a bit of effort into the plants for sale, starting them off early in the year and nursing them through the weeks and indeed months! Many of my plants are prolific self-seeders so any weeding session is likely to result in a few more pots for the Plants for Sale area. Over the seasons these plants need maintenance  – weeding and tidying as well as the endless watering!

Thankfully there weren’t too many left-overs after Sunday. I put some by for the next meeting of my local Gardening Club but there were still a lot to deal with.

This morning I went around with the wheelbarrow laden with plants looking for a good home. I did manage to get rid of quite a few    

I got as far as distributing the pots but the planting of them will have to wait for another day or so!  

I spent quite a time cleaning up the Clematis Walk. The Clematis Wilt has been very bad this year. So I spent the day sorting them out. I felt it was a little crazy to be doing last miute tidying after the event – the horse has definitely bolted by now!

The last photo is just to let you know I haven’t completely lost the plot – I sat on the Swing seat and snapped that scene!!!     

I love Salvia’s. I’ve a good few here now and each one is lovely in its own way. 

But I really like Salvia Amistad. Even before it opens the flower buds are attractive. Then they blossom and fall off. Each stage as beautiful as the next……well I think so! 

And the ripening process begins once again, and earlier this year too.

I am just home again from a Gardeners’ Delight Trip to Scotland with Maghera Garden Group.  4 days.  Last year, we had a ball in Co. Carlow.  Some comments of the visits to great gardens and private nurseries will follow in due course….. ie. when I manage to get  in from my own garden before dark.  I have so many, so many, great plants to judiciously position in my garden.  A repetition of last year.  Last year’s treasures are all doing well.

Well, I am delighted with my blooming upper garden!  I haven’t actually done a comparison of pictures of this year and last year, but I feel we are perhaps a wek ahead, and the growth is certainly very lush.  Dampness, some heavy rain at night, and even strong wind, but plenty of pleasant warmth during the day.  So here are a few pictures of the amazing Watsonia which I only acquired 3 yrs ago.  Last year there a solitary bloom that had fallen over and got lost in the agapanthus.  I had never even noticed it.  

So, you can imagine my delight when I beheld this sight on my return. I have been wondering why I did not notice it coming on.  All due to other commitments, family visiting and 10 for Sunday lunch, then leaving Shroove the next day.  

A few pictures taken this morning.  

Need I say, that I am delighted with the penstemons which are quite manificent this year. The roses are doing well, particularly R. Ispahan, a Damask rose, which I got last year in Coolaught on my trip to Co Carlow with Maghera G. Group.  It is superb.  

The phlox are just beginning.  Aster x frikartii Mönch is beginning to show colour.  Early!  Should probably have given it the Chelsea chop at the appropriate time.  Perhaps I should cut back alternate stems to prolong the flowering period?  Any advice? 

New foliage unfurling can be extremely attractive and the first photo showing R. polar bear is a fantastic example. It will be flowering in a few weeks as well, so there is a lot to look forward to.

I have Stewartia pseudocamellia in the garden since 2009 and I am very fond of it. Mind you, it is very slow growing. It flowered the first year after I planted it and not a flower since, so I am very pleased that it has a flower bud this year. I know that Fran has this tree as well, his is probably flowering goodo.

We are constantly told that we should live in the here and now, but at times it is well nigh impossible not to look ahead. The reason I am saying this now is that I think my R. calophytum has produced flower buds for the first time, so if I am right, there is some treat in store next spring or early summer.