Archives: journal

Got to move on some beetroot[Boltardy[] to single pots.Some pansy also moved on.Not bad weather today with Sunshine at times.Moved out some hardy plants to the greenhouse this evening.Hope to give the windows in the greenhouse one final rub tomorrow evening to have all going to plan.Still disappointed with my zebra plant in the house.It is still not looking the best even though it has been treated with all thats needed.[heat,food.etc.]

Hello everyone, it has been a gorgeous day here lovely sunshine and warmth for a change, yesterday was blustery and cold so I was out in the garden today.  Everything is growing well and lots of new shoots in the borders, it rained during the night and the sunshine is making it all grow now. Potted up my blue Agapanthus bulbs and placed them in my greenhouse also some Nerines which are starting to grow in the plastic bag. Smudge our cat enjoyed dozing in the sun next to me.  Started to remove some weeds and generally tidy up and trowel over the soil.  I have a hernia and my doctor has given strict instructions not to dig in the garden which is most annoying as I want my new border done for all my plants which are starting to grow.  I have my eye on an erythronium which is rather nice, lovely leaves and pale yellow flowers, may buy it in the next few days. Happy Gardening
Spring Flowers

Spring Flowers

I think spring is here so got out and planted a good lot of my veg. seed, Sweet corn, courgettes tomatoes. Peppers,  My garlic, onions sets ,  shallots and sugar snap peas are all up in tunnel , hopefully the ground will dry up  outside so I can get my potatoes in.

We had a lovely day here in Mayo and I was outside all day. I dug the ground under the black plastic today and yesterday. There were no weeds as the plastic was down for 7 months and the soil looks good. I find it really does help to put plastic or old carpets over the soil for the winter. I think I’ll plant the spuds here next week.
new spud patch

new spud patch

I didn’t keep the name of this daffodil but I think its one of the ‘split corona’ varieties and it may have come from ‘Bakker’.
'frilly daffodil'

‘frilly daffodil’

I have decided to dedicate most of the (back) garden to growing fruit and veg. I have always has two narrow raised beds for veg running the length of the garden along my neighbours fence with a large lawn in the middle. But I rarely use the lawn and intend to build more raised beds on approximately half of the lawned area. The plan it to grow gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, blueberries, etc., and root veg along the existing beds and use the new beds for "over ground" veg like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.

Here’s hoping it works out!

Sooooooooooooo 2008 was a bit of a washout eh?  Clearly since my last post 288 days ago nothing much happened due to said washout.  With blind optimism I am hoping that this summer will be far better, time will tell…

The garden is a bit barren at the moment except from some purple flowers on the Vinca Major that never fail to show each March, great to see the first bit of colour of 2009 at last.  The clematis Montana is totally covering my pergola now so that should be amazing in a while when it starts to bloom!  I received the nicest compliment ever as a gardner last year from a neighbour who said that every time she looked out her window at the Clematis (which was in full bloom at the time) it made her feel happy!  What can I say…I was delighted that mt garden brings other people some happiness.

From the 3D models I posted last year, I did actually start the curved decking area outside the kitchen window, but the weather got in the way and it never got finished, bit it WILL this year, there is no doubt about that!  As soon as I finish my exams in May it is number 1, 2 and 3 on the priorities list…

So that’s it for now.  I hope everyone is well and I look forward to chatting with you all here over the next few months…

Ronan

Over the past week or so, I’ve added a Bramley Apple and a Pear tree to our garden. Our Daffs have started to bloom which shows up "wild bank" at the back of the garden. Finally got our Mower serviced. Looking forward to better weather over the next few weeks to get things going.

 

 

I planted this Peony root on 6 Feb this year and it is already showing a flower bud. This is really good going in my experience. Will it be the first flower in my new greenhouse?

Anyway, this morning I was sad to see that the plant was bending over, in a wilted manner. It didn’t seem to need water but I gave it a good drink anyway. It was quite sunny so I was wondering if that had had a detrimental affect on my would-be flower.

I came back just now to check on the greenhouse and, lo and behold, the Peony has bounced back. How great is that! Maybe it needs a bigger pot.

White Peony

White Peony

Hi Folks, did I mention how busy I am….well bet you all are too. In the garden all day yesterday…planted strawberry plants…made a new herb patch…planted 3 Agapanthus…..replenished soil in one of the flowerbeds….sowed parsley seeds…started to prune Fuchia bushes…but alas only got one and a half done as it got dark….great day to be out in the fresh air…enjoyed all that hard work. Back out again today for more of the same. Happy gardening everyone.

March issue of ‘The Irish Garden’ have arrived by post today.

Susan, thanks a million for copy and for lovely card!

March issue

March issue

So refreshing to have a good gardening program on last night, and wasn’t John Massey’s garden just gorgeous. It was very heartfelt too when Carol went to Thirsk and saw the Harebells which reminded her of her mother and Lancashire to her old home. We need more of these type of programs on telly, lovely.

Very blustery here today so not done much in the garden, potted on a few plants in the house and potted on my organic tomatoes gardener’s delight.

Gardeners Delight Tomatoes

Gardeners Delight Tomatoes

I browsed through local shops of indoor plants and found yellow crocus ‘Geel’, and 2 succulents – sansevieria and haworthia fasciata ‘Big band’.

I’ll share crocus with my friend, and make a group from succulents.

Spring is in the air!

Saturday finds

Saturday finds

I sowed my Courgette seeds today at last – four types, two of which I bought in France last year.

I also sowed some of Lorraine’s Dahlia seed and Romneya Coulteri (hope that works out for me).

I did about an hour’s weeding before going to Springmount Garden Centre for a talk on "Spring in your Garden". I learned a couple of things – like now is the time to prune your Photinia, despite its red top leaves.  Needless to say, I put my secateurs to action once I got home.

A lot of plants were looking extremely tempting at the garden centre and I really had to try hard to resist. I did, however, buy two Yucca Gloriosas and a small Dicksonia Antartica.

Courgettes & Dahlias

Courgettes & Dahlias

Had an early start in the polytunnell,and been able to prepare the final set of small beds.The main beds there app 3/4 filled with some root crops.[potatoes beets etc]yesterday evening.Gave a final raking to some outside beds and then started to weed out the flower bed.Rather back breaking but the summer sun and the flower colours make things worth the effort.Had a quick look at the coldframe to have all set for to take some trays and to prepare what need be inside it. 
Spring lovely Spring.

Spring lovely Spring.

Hello, dear garden friends! Welcome to my wee indoor garden. I have a collection of indoor plants – different sorts and appearance. I love bulbous plants and have red amaryllis, clivia, crinum and since risently – yellow crocus. 

I have some succulents – haworthia, 2 kinds of sansevieria, 2 kinds of krassula, nolina, cactuses.

Also on my windowsills there aregeraniums, orange trees, dracaenas, kalanchoe, codieum, senpolias and  chlorophytum.

I always plant something colorful on the balcony, this year it will be lobelias, petunias, dwarf phloxes, pansies. I’m looking forward to have my own garden, and hope to make some outdoor experience this summer.

Good gardening to everyone!

Hi fellow gardners. 

We built our house 3 years ago.  1/2 Acre site with the house in the middle.  Have successfully planted 3 new flower beds and am continuing.  Need to do this on a shoe string what with the kids and all.  Have the patio built, and hopefully the green house will be set up soon.  I like a mix of colour and favour the country cottage style.  I like a mix of shrubs and perrenials.  Need the garden to be inviting while also housing the trampoline, climbing frame and goal post.  This to me is a long term plan that I can modify as the children grow.

 

Poppy 

The other day I was digging the last of the carrots which I had left in the soil over the winter. I stumpled across a beauty that brought a smile to everyone who saw it lying around in the kitchen so I couldn’t help myself but take a few pictures of it. Nature’s art.
1 of 3 (photos Mar '09)

1 of 3 (photos Mar ’09)

my garden is 100 feet long and needs work done to it its boreing and need help

The variegared Aloe I got at Snaily Garden last summer now has lovely salmon coloured flowers that look very exotic.  It was on the kitchen window sill and hasn’t had any special treatment which leads me to the conclusion that it flowers very easily.  There is a little offset growing at the side of the pot which I plan to separate and pot on as soon as the flower spike has faded.
Partridge Breast Aloe

Partridge Breast Aloe

 

Here is a warning of how NOT to prune your Forsythia. See how mine has no flowers from half way up the stems? That’s because I cut them after flowering last spring – silly me.

I have started a new photo album – Early Spring 2009 – in the photos section.

Badly Pruned Forsythia

Badly Pruned Forsythia

I live outside Clonakilty Co. Cork and  my garden is one acre. Because of the proximity to the sea I find it a challenge to grow  pretty and unusual plants. I have a large vegetable plot which is my pride and joy, as I love to share my veg with friends.  I keep trying to add interesting areas in the garden and last year I put in a small pond that is very pretty.

Because of my love of gardening and gardens I set up a garden tour company a few years ago.  It is the best job imaginable.  I get to show amazing gardens in this most idyllic of locations surrounded by the most beautiful scenery imaginable.  Why not check out www.essenceofireland.ie  I would love any comments you may have.

 

 

I did some weeding today but it’s so boring I had to stop and do something much more enjoyable. 

I potted on a number of my house plants in the greenhouse and gave them a good feed.

I’ve had my Bougainvillea for a year and a half but it hasn’t flowered for me yet. Maybe this year…

Bougainvillea to Begonia

Bougainvillea to Begonia

hi everyone hope you enjoy paddys day tomorrow. got my fruit patch done saturday and sow some strawberry plants that i bought in the morning, along with four tomato plants. i have both sown from seed but just wanted to get a head start. i also planted rhuburb, my darling hubby got a good start on the veg patch, when i told him my cabbage and carrot seedlings have shown their heads, everyday when i look in the tunnel there is always a surprise. i had left my frutileria bulbs in the bottom of a tower of shelves, to my surprise they have come up big time, now when i open the tunnel in the morning i get this really strong smell from their leaves, it puts a pep in your step to see things changing everyday. i sowed more seeds last nite you should have seen my kitchen, like a bomb hit it.but it was fun. i have alot of pricking out to do at mo, i went mad sowing loads of sunflowers more than i can handle so if anyone wants some of them they can have them in welcome. hope to get my fruit trees that i bought in heatons last wk planted and rasberry bushes changed by the wknd. well happy gardening everyone   bye for now  michelle

Hello, dear garden friends! Welcome to my wee indoor garden. I have a collection of indoor plants – different sorts and appearance. I love bulbous plants and have red amaryllis, clivia, crinum and since risently – yellow crocus. 

I have some succulents – haworthia, 2 kinds of sansevieria, 2 kinds of krassula, nolina, cactuses.

Also on my windowsills there are geraniums, orange trees, dracaenas, kalanchoe, codieum, senpolias and  chlorophytum.

I always plant something colorful on the balcony, this year it will be lobelias, petunias, dwarf phloxes, pansies. I’m looking forward to have my own garden, and hope to make some outdoor experience this summer.

Good gardening to everyone!