GARDEN TALES

Bulbs - Plant Now

2011-11-05T15:18:00.007Z

Lots of Bulbs like hyacinths, tulips and small bulbs such as crocus can still be planted according to Dermot O Neill (RTE, Radio 1, Mooney). Do the planting in dry conditions, not after heavy rain. Bulbs have all the nutrients they need to grow; no need for nutrients to be added to soil. Fritillaria imperialis is a big bulb with a hole on its top, when planting turn bulb on its side to prevent it filling with water. Use silver horticultural sand to mark area where bulbs are planted in soil. Dermot mentioned he bought terracotta pots (36ins to 40ins), made in Kiltrea Bridge Pottery, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Dermot has two of these pots; in one pot he will plant the Red crown imperial & in the other pot he will plant Orange Crown imperial. Note: Plant only one of these large bulbs per pot or container. Hint: You can plant winter flowering primulas and pansies in the top layer of these pots. Obtaining knowledge of bulbs is easy - just buy a few bulbs, read up on them, plant them either in soil or containers, when you have visitors you will be able to answer some questions about the bulbs.

New Gardening Website

2010-10-16T03:44:00.001+01:00

Yesterday Friday 15th October '10 I came across a new gardening website which was being previewed on BBC Radio 2. The website which is called GardenersClick offers plenty advise about various aspects of gardening. Check it out and see what you think. Afterall a gardening website is essential for all gardeners especially in this mobile internet age; gardening and horticultural information is now readilly available at the touch of a button.

Dermot O Neil

2010-10-04T00:39:00.018+01:00

RTE Radio One, Mooney Goes Wild, Monday to Friday 3pm to 4.30pm. With the long winter months just around the corner gardener Dermot O' Neill spoke about the importance of scented plants in the garden. These fantastic winter flowering shrubs which add both colour and scent should be arriving in garden centres over the coming weeks. Nowadays gardens are smaller and have become extended living spaces attached to our homes, hence scented plants can contribute significantly to the experience of your garden space be it a patio, terrace or decked area. Here are six plants which add both colour and scent to your garden during the winter months:

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postil'

Hamamelis mollis (Witch Hazel)

Lonicera x purpurea (Winter Beauty)

Winter flowering + scent:

Sarcococca humillis (Christmas Box)

Chimonanthas praecox (Winter Sweet)

Jasminum polyanthum

Some more plants which Dermot recommended as being good for both colour and scent. Obviously some of these plants are not winter flowering:

Matthiola bicornis (Night Scented Stock)

Rosa 'Abraham Derby'

Jasminum polyanthum

Pelargoniums

Dermot also suggested using a systemic herbicide to treat that difficult weed called Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). Be careful when using any herbicide as the chemical must be applied only to the plant to be treated, in this case the bindweed. Remember your own safety when using these chemicals; use a face mask, safety eyewear, gloves, wellington boots and an overalls.

Gardeners' World Magazine

2010-08-30T00:26:00.004+01:00

Gardeners' World Magazine is an invaluable source of information for the gardener. This month's issue (August 27th) is interesting as we move into the autumn season. There are lots of useful tips about how to take cuttings and build a vegetable garden. Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don impart their gardening wisdom.

About.com feature useful videos about various aspects of gardening and landscape design. Fact sheets are available on the website. Really useful if you have your laptop computer to hand in the garden you can look up this practical website.

Plant Pictures for Free

2010-07-01T16:02:00.002+01:00

While doing a Google search I found what is a really useful website: www.freenaturepictures.com offering plant pictures. The internet is undoubtedly a magnificent resource for all things horticultural. As a research tool it can enable you to increase your knowledge of gardening and plants.

cordyline

2010-06-28T15:46:00.003+01:00

Cordyline australis (Cabbage tree) along with other plants has suffered extremely during the harsh Irish winter of 2010. The snow and ice that lasted for almost four weeks in January caused many plants, even trees to become stressed. A gardening forum called The Helpful Gardener gives some pointers for the rejuvenation of Cordyline sp. Also useful for a broad range of information relating gardening queries.

Epicure

2009-12-03T16:58:00.002Z

Today I enjoyed a delicious tin of Epicure organic Mung Beans which tasted delicious. Eventhough the beans are from a tin they are stored in unsalted water which must be good for the natural flavour of the beans. Of course when a gardener harvests their own vegetables they taste like nothing on this earth. However, a tin of organic mung beans is the closest any gardener will get to fresh, organic vegetables this time of year.

Happy holiday gardening!

The Organic Supermarket

2009-12-02T16:20:00.002Z

While listening to Country Mix radio station I heard an interesting interview with one of the people associated with The Organic Supermarket in Blackrock, South Dublin. I think this new shop came into being recently, as in three to four months ago. Check out their website which offers online shopping (they also deliver your purchases). Its a great concept and I wish them success.

Could any one tell me if there are other organic supermarkets located around Ireland.

And now click on the Channel4.com link to find out the 10 garden jobs to do in December. A very good gardening website. Please forward links to other excellent gardening websites and blogs.

Happy gardening to all!

Marigold

2009-10-05T00:44:00.005+01:00

The other evening I was asked by a work colleague about Marigold plants and what methods of cultivation are employed. Here are some interesting facts about the plant known as Marigold.

Tagetes is a genus of 52 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae or Compositae). They are native to the area stretching from the southwestern United States into Mexico and south throughout South America. The different species vary in size from 0.05-2.2 m tall. They have pinnate green leaves, and white, golden, orange, yellow, to an almost red floral heads typically (0.1-) to 4-6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets.

Uses and Breeding
The foliage has a musky, pungent scent, though some later varieties have been bred to be scentless. It is said to deter some common insect pests (although it is recorded as a food plant for some Lepidoptera larvae including Dot Moth), as well as nematodes. Tagetes are hence often used in companion planting for tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco and potato. T. minutaTagetes are rich in the orange-yellow carotenoid lutein and as such extracts of T. erecta are used as a food colour (INS-Number E161b). (Khakibush or Huacatay), originally from South America, has been used as a source of essential oil for the perfume industry known as tagette, and as a flavourant in the food and tobacco industries in South Africa, where the species is also a useful pioneer plant in the reclamation of disturbed land. Some of the perennial species are deer-, rabbit-, rodent- and javalina-resistant. The petals of Tagetes are rich in the orange-yellow carotenoid lutein and as such extracts of T. erecta are used as a food colour (INS-Number E161b).

It can grow well in almost any sort of well drained soil but is best grown in partly sandy soil with good drainage. Although only hybrid varieties are used for cultivation, a good number of pure plantations are available. It is highly temperature resistant. Most varieties are seasonal and dry out after some good flowering phases.

Tagetes minuta or Mexican Marigold, a tall upright marigold plant with small flowers, is used as a culinary herb in Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Chile and Bolivia, where it is called by the Incan term huacatay. Huacatay paste is used to make the popular potato dish called ocopa. Having both "green" and "yellow/orange" notes, the taste and odor of fresh Tagetes minuta is like a mixture of sweet basil, tarragon, mint and citrus.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes]

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asrerales
Family: Calenduleae
Genus: Calendula
Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis
Found In: Valley of Flowers, Ranthambore National Park

Other names : Caltha, Ganda, Gols bloom, Garden Marigold, Gold bloom, Holligold, Marybud, Pot Marigold are the other names used for the Marigold.

Description : It flowers from July to September. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). It is hardy to zone 6 and is frost tender. The lower leaves are broad and spatula shaped. Upper leaves may be oblong, are smooth at the edges, and are arranged alternately along the stem. Seeds are crescent to horseshoe shaped with the rough exterior. Its branching stem grows to the height of 30- 60 cm.

Other Species : Calendula arvensis, Calendula bicolor, Calendula eckerleinii, Calendula lanzae, Calendula maderensis, Calendula maroccana, Calendula meuselii, Calendula stellata, Calendula suffruticosa, Calendula tripterocarpa, Calendula officinalis are some of the other species of Marigold.

Location : Marigold is cultivated throughout India. It is widely grown in the Valley of Flowers, Ranthambore National Park in India.

Cultivation : Marigold plant is propagated by the seeds. They are shown during the early spring. Marigold does not need cultivation but the soil should be free from the weeds. The seeds should be shown 2cm apart. Seeds should be planted in the sunny locations. Fertilizers should be added from time to time. They require damp to wet soil for the growth. The seeds are germinated in two to three weeks. It needs full sunlight for its growth.

Medicinal uses : Marigold is used for stomach upset, ulcers, menstrual period problems, eye infections, inflammations, and for wound healing. It is antiseptic. If the Marigold flower is rubbed on the affected part, it brings relief in pain and swelling caused by a wasp or bee. A lotion made from the flowers is most useful for sprains and wounds and a water distilled from them is good the sore eyes. The infusion of the freshly gathered flowers is beneficial in fever. Marigold flowers are mostly in demand foe children ailment. Externally it is used in the treatment of alopecia. Internally it is used to treat bladder and kidney problems, blood in the urine, uterine bleeding and many more.

Other uses : Bright yellow and orange Marigold flowers are used to make garlands. They are even used to decorate the religious places. The leaves of its flowers are used as salads. Yellow dye has also been extracted from the flower, by boiling. The burning herb repels insects and flies. Pigments in the Marigold are sometimes extracted and used as the food colouring for humans and livestock.

Cultural Importance : It is offered to the god and Goddess on the Durga Puja.
[http://www.ecoindia.com/flora/flowers/marigold-plant.html]

Further information about Marigold plants:

Explore what Graham Rice has to say about marigold plant Trials at RHS Wisley garden in Surrey, England.

Culture Sheet dot Org has practical information about numerous plants including marigold.

Caltha palustris (Marsh marigold)
palustris - perennial flower - yellow flowers - rounded leaves

Calendula officinalis (Pot marigold)
officinalis - annual flower - orange flowers - bushy appearance

Pictures of marigold flowers:
http://www.flowers.vg/flowers/marigold01.htm

India Flora and Fauna

2009-05-08T16:51:00.004+01:00

For any body interested in the flora and fauna of India then explore the Wikipedia online encyclopedia. Only yesterday I read an article in the Irish Times newspaper about how the Indian Ocean influences the climate of the entire Asian subcontinent, even as far away as Australia. Farmers in Australia are now making use of weather data gathered from RAMA. The following article from Scientific American demonstrates how the Indian Ocean weather data is being utilized:

"Data from the network, called the research moored array for African-Asian-Australian monsoon analysis and prediction (RAMA), would also help scientists better predict the impacts of phenomena such as the Indian Ocean Dipole, a fluctuation in ocean surface temperatures.

When it is in a negative phase, it creates cool water west of Australia and warm Timor Sea water to the north. In a positive phase, the pattern of Indian Ocean temperatures is reversed, weakening the winds and reducing the amount of moisture picked up and transported across Australia.

Australian farmers were already using forecasting data about the dipole to plan their cropping."

Scientific American, (Editing by David Fox), May 6, 2009

Amazing how such a body of warm water can have a such a far reaching impact.

Gardener's Question Time

2009-05-06T16:07:00.006+01:00

Wednesday 6.5.09

Here is the update to Gardener's Question Time from last Sunday's programme.

Two standard Bay trees which are growing in containers the leaves of which are turning brown. Possible causes could be cold easterly winds and water logging of the containers. For container grown bay trees the compost should be kept reasonably dry. It’s advisable to check the container drainage holes which might be blocked with debris. It’s best to pull the tree out of the container to ascertain this fact.

Also why do bay tree leaves which have turned brown tend not to fall off the branches? This fact is also noticeable with beech tree leaves which cling on for dear life even though they have turned brown during autumn. The reason for this is that the branches and stems are still alive which tend to cling onto the dead leaves.

Rosemary can be used to replace a lavender hedge or border over the years has become woody. Lavender becomes very woody in its stems and branches after a period of five to ten years.

A Smoke tree – Cotinus coggyria about nine feet high which is a good height for this tree, has split at the bottom of the trunk. At the end of March next year prune the tree back hard. Remember the Smoke tree is short lived and might not survive hard pruning, but it is worth a try. (Bob Flowerdew).

Club root disease can survive in the soil for up to twenty years. The pathogen ( ) will cling to any plant debris of soil organisms in an attempt to survive. Club root dislikes good drainage so grow brassicas on ridges of soil or raised beds. Increase pH by making the soil more acidic. Sow green manure such as mustard and when up plough the crop into the soil. This method will weaken the club root pathogen. However, this process takes from five to seven years to seven years to be effective. (B.F).

A lady lives in a flat and has a small garden. What plants can she grow which will encourage beneficial insects and wildlife to come and live in her garden?
Plant red currants, cherries, strawberries, coriander and Limnanthes (Poached egg plant) which will attract both beneficial and pollinating insects into the garden. Also place a little pile of sticks or logs in the corner of the garden which will encourage insects and birds to forage.

What is the best way to cultivate Clematis armandii? Before cultivating dig in plenty of well rotted compost of farm yard manure (FYM). Place old tiles loosely around the base of the plant which will keep the roots cool and moist.

Now some information about Beetroot { Beta vulgaris }

Beetroot probably originated in West Asia and the Mediterraneanand has been used as a vegetable since early Classical times. Originally beetroot appears to have been prized for its leaves, the roots being 'discovered' much later towards the end of the Middle Ages. As with many vegetables, in early times beetroot's ‘medicinal’ properties were more important than its eating qualities. http://www.lovebeetroot.co.uk/

How to cultivate Beetroot:
Prepare soil for sowing by digging. Remove weeds, large stones and rake to leave a fine finish.
Seed can be sown directly into the soil from April to July.
Make a 2cm (0.75in) deep trench with a cane and drop in two seeds every 10cm (4in). Cover, water and label.
Thin out seedlings when 2cm (0.75in) tall, leaving one every 10cm (4in).
Keep well watered and remove weeds from bed.
Depending on variety, harvest roots 90 days after sowing, when they're between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball.
If you have a tiny garden, beetroot are easy to grow in pots.

Information about beetroot http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/

Gardeners' Question Time

2009-05-04T15:41:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday Gardener's Question Time was broadcast from Kent. The following horticultural topics were discussed:

Standard Bay trees growing in containers - leaves are turning brown
Rosemary can be used to replace lavender
Smoke Tree
Club root disease affecting brassicas
Harlow-Carr horticultural college in North Yorkshire
What plants to cultivate in small garden to encourage wildlife?
Clematis Armandii
Brussel sprouts
Chicken manure
Geoff Hamilton
Monty Don
Kent garden clubs / Allotment sites
Tribute to Geoffrey Smith who died February 27th 2009 aged 80 years
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4903981/Geoffrey-Smith.html

Note: Due to time pressure today I cannot expand on the above topics. Future posts will endeavour to achieve this goal. Happy gardening to every body!

Gardeners Question Time

2009-04-27T00:13:00.011+01:00

Sunday 26.4.09

BBC Radio 4, GQT: Programme broadcast from 'The Potting Shed.'

Today the panel of expert gardeners were in the potting shed answering questions about the following plant related questions.

Ailing box hedge, the top of the plants leaves are going brown. Box blight was ruled out due to the following possible causes of plant damage. There is a path of concrete slabs beside the plants; water leaching from materials in the slabs could damage plant roots. Also path weed killer which is harsh and long lasting might have been used on the broadleaved weeds in the lawn and on the path itself; the residue from this persistent herbicide would cause damage to the plant roots, hence the uppermost plant leaves turning brown. Another reason could be soil compaction near the paving slabs which would constrict plant roots resulting in poor root development out into the soil and reduced ability of roots to absorb water and minerals from the soil.

What type of plants could be grown near the base of a domestic house furnace vent? Realize that this vent will be emitting heat and gas vapours which could damage plant foliage so care should be exercised when choosing and planting suitable plants. Phlomis fructicosa, Cytisus and Lavender are all Mediterranean plants that like sun and heat which could be grown in this situation. These plants are low-growing, but should be trimmed occasionally to prevent them blocking the furnace vent.

’More is less’ is an old gardening maxim that still applies today when planting a mixture of plants.

Alan Titchmarsh has a new soft back book about garden design (2009) which is available at Eason Bookstores nation wide. It can also be purchased online at www.amazon.co.uk and www.booksunlimited.ie

Yucca which has over the years grown to be a large tree reaching up to the height of upper window of a two storey house. What should be done to remove the tree which is blocking light entering the windows? The panel were of the opinion that this overgrown tree was in fact a Cordyline as it would be rare for a yucca to reach such a height. Note that the flowers of cordyline are very attractive to pollinating insects which is a good thing. Yucca produces knobbly roots which can be cut off and potted up. After about two years these roots will produce new plants. In the case of Cordyline, the tree can be cut right back to ground level which will ensure that it re-grows. Obviously it will take several years before it reaches the height of a two storey house. If the tree must be totally removed then it is best to employ the services of a qualified tree surgeon who will safely remove the tree and its roots.

Can asparagus be grown in containers? Container grown asparagus will not produce much of a crop due to the small amount of root space. A better planting option would be raised beds which will retain a certain amount of moisture and the plant roots can spread out into the soil. In a field in England asparagus roots have been found growing up to thirty feet in either direction of the main plant. The reason for this is that asparagus plants need room for their roots to spread allowing absorption of water and nutrients which are required to generate energy to produce numerous asparagus tips. Bob Flowerdew recommended ‘Gjnail’ which is a good Dutch variety of Asparagus.

The following plant topics were also discussed:

Pampas Grass which has stopped producing its fluffy white flowers
Pyracantha scab – what treatment is necessary?
Supermarket herbs are forced and will not re-grow
Sow vegetables from seed now! Full moon means that growth of seed will be extra good – Bob Flowerdew
http://www.wateronceaweek.blogspot.com/ an interesting Canadian gardening blog
A very helpful site all about growing vegetables for the your family:
http://www.vegetable-garden-guide.com/planting-asparagus.html

I will expand these points in the next blog post. Until then enjoy your garden even if it’s a humble window box or just two or three plant containers. Remember the old gardening maxim “More is less”.

Dig In

2009-04-24T22:11:00.003+01:00

Dig In is the new gardening website on BBC Radio 4, which promises to supply the knowledge or know-how you need to sow, grow and harvest your own food plants. On Friday I listened to the programme to discover that The National Trust says 60% of natural fruit orchards have disappeared since the 1950s, putting local varieties of apples, cherries, pears, plums and damsons under threat. Conservationists have warned that traditional fruit orchards are vanishing from England's landscape - with serious consequences for wildlife.

In 1999 The Independent reported that 'INTENSIVE FARMING and the unwillingness of supermarkets to stock home-grown fruit have destroyed more than half of Britain's apple and pear orchards.' Read the full online article to learn more about the decline of England's fruit orchards.

A useful website is The Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA) which is the only outlet for the purchasing of Native Irish Apple trees. The main objective of ISSA is to halt the depletion of our native agricultural biodiversity, and to support our plant resource by recreating orchards containing traditional varieties of native Irish fruit trees we want to encourage farmers to create and maintain apple orchards with specific varieties traditional to Ireland to ensure the survival of this unique resource. This will increase biodiversity of the local landscape and provide a habitat for wildlife on the farm.

Tidal Turbine Strangford Lough

2009-01-27T19:49:00.003Z

The following post is information which could be seen as closely related to gardening; since plants produce their own food in a totally 'green way' by using the energy obtained from sunlight and minerals from water and organic matter.

What do you think of the world's largest tidal turbine which is located in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland? This device which is called a SeaGen turbine is a 1.2 megawatt turbine which will generate clean electricity for approximately 1ooo homes. According to Marine Current Turbines this is a prototype turbine which it hoped will be replicated on a large scale over the coming years.

Explore Marine Current Turbines website for information and pictures about the SeaGen turbine. On the 18th December 2008 SeaGen Tidal Energy System Reaches full power. Check out this animation of SeaGen which shows how the turbine actually works underwater.

Advantages of the SeaGen tidal turbine:

The world’s first commercial scale tidal turbine, SeaGen is more efficient, safer, easier to maintain and best suited to the challenging marine environment.
SeaGen is based on MCT’s experience with its predecessor, the 300kW Seaflow system installed off Lynmouth Devon in May 2003 and still thriving in open sea conditions. Experience with large scale technology in offshore operational conditions lies behind the design process that led to the development of SeaGen.
SeaGen is more efficient both in the amount of energy it can extract from the current and in cost. This is because it uses a pair of pitch-controlled axial flow rotors, which for good reason are the technology of choice in the closely analogous low-head hydro and wind generator industries.
What applied in the fields of hydro and wind power seems unlikely to be significantly different in the field of water current kinetic energy conversion because similar laws of physics apply.
The rotor design also provides the capability for controlling a large power system as the rotor blades may be pitched into a neutral position to stop the turbine gently even at full flow – an essential requirement for any power generation system; by comparison fixed pitch turbines require a powerful brake to stop them and if the brake fails they cannot be stopped.
SeaGen’s rotor blades can be pitched to limit the power to a pre-chosen “rated power” at times when high velocities are experienced; this greatly reduces the loads on the turbine structure, the rotor blades and the power take-off – and reduced and controlled loads translate into reduced costs and safer and more reliable operation.
The most difficult engineering problems are the high structural loads to be dealt with and in effect solving the question of “how do you nail it to the floor?” The weakest material to which the turbine is attached is the seabed itself, even if it is rock, so the foundations need to be sized so as not to overstress the seabed and cause the turbine to move or break loose. In order to attach the turbine piles were drilled deep into the bedrock of the seabed.

Eucalyptus

2008-09-10T12:26:00.004+01:00

Do you like Eucalyptus trees? I like these beautiful plants because of their unique leaves which are lance shaped (lanceolate - long, wider in the middle) and the magnificent bark which has the following characteristics:

Stringybark - consists of long-fibres and can be pulled off in long pieces. It is usually thick with a spongy texture
Ironbark - is hard, rough and deeply furrowed. It is impregnated with dried kino (a sap exuded by the tree) which gives a dark red or even black colour
Tessellated - bark is broken up into many distinct flakes. They are corkish and can flake off
Box - has short fibres. Some also show tessellation

Ribbon - this has the bark coming off in long thin pieces but still loosely attached in some places. They can be long ribbons, firmer strips or twisted curls

cf: Wikipedia

Some vital stats about - EUCALYPTUS:

Eucalyptus are a diverse genus of trees dominate the tree flora of Australia
More than seven hundred species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Australia
A very small number found in parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippines islands
Eucalyptus' are cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics including the Americas, England, Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, China and the Indian Subcontinent

A gardener I know who visits Australia every couple of years told me he noticed that vast areas of eucalyptus forests were severely damaged by bush fires annually. The following Wikipedia extract explains the phenomenon in detail:

'On warm days vapourised eucalyptus oil rises above the bush to create the characteristic distant blue haze of the Australian landscape. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable (trees have been known to explode^[5]^[6]) and bush fires can travel easily through the oil-rich air of the tree crowns. The dead bark and fallen branches are also flammable. Eucalypts are well adapted for periodic fires via lignotubers and epicormic buds under the bark.

Eucalypts regenerate quickly after fire. After the Canberra bushfires of 2003, hectares of imported species were killed, but in a matter of weeks the gum trees were putting out suckers and looking generally healthy.^{[citation needed]}

The two valuable timber trees, Alpine Ash E. delegatensis and Mountain Ash E. regnans, are killed by fire and only regenerate from seed. The same 2003 bushfire that had little impact on forests around Canberra resulted in thousands of hectares of dead ash forests. However, a small amount of ash survived and put out new suckers as well. There has been some debate as to whether to leave the stands, or attempt to harvest the mostly undamaged timber, which is increasingly recognised as a damaging practice.' cf: Wikipedia

Apparently eucalyptus will regrow quite quickly after fire damage as their plant cells have adapted to overcome such events. Feast your eyes on these amazingly clear photos of eucalyptus trees growing in their sunny Australian habitat. Just look at those clear blue skies! If only we had that beautiful weather here in Ireland.

Tea, tea, tea

2008-09-01T00:13:00.006+01:00

Do you like to drink tea? If like me you drink gallons of the stuff then read on. Personally I find tea preferable to coffee. Although there are people who hold the opposite opinion. Here are some interesting facts about the age old drink known as 'tea'.

There are three basic types of tea:

Black tea is fully oxidized as part of its processing. Most Irish teas are of this type and yield an amber-colored beverage with a hearty flavor. There's good reason for that. It's often said that a good Irish cup of tea is "strong enough for a mouse to trot on."

Green tea isn't oxidized, has a more delicate flavor and is lighter in color.

Oolong tea is partly oxidized and has a distinctive taste that is different than either black or green tea.

Irish teas in recent decades have tended to use teas from East Africa and Sri Lanka, so much so that the high quality East African teas now dominate the Irish blends. It is possible to blend your own tea, on your way to making the "Perfect Cup of Tea." What "equipment" will you need? A porcelain or pottery teapot is best. A kettle is essential and an infuser is useful if you'll be using loose tea leaves.

Research shows that drinking tea can help maintain your health as part of a healthy lifestyle. The antioxidants, hydrating properties, caffeine and fluoride found in tea provide health benefits for you body.
Please note that the following information would also apply to tea drinkers in Ireland.

Health Facts and Nutrition Data (based on UK research)

Approximately 40% of the UK's fluid intake today will be tea
Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds around 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals and calcium
Tea with milk provides 21% of daily calcium requirement in 4 cups
Tea contains some zinc and folic acid
Tea with milk contains Vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and Thiamin B1
Tea is a source of the minerals manganese, essential for bone growth and body development, and potassium, vital for maintaining body fluid levels
The average cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine than coffee. One cup contains only 50mg per 190ml cup
Tea is a natural source of fluoride and drinking four cups makes a significant contribution to your daily intake
Only 11% of UK water supply has fluoride added
Green and black teas are from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, and contain similar amounts of antioxidants and caffeine

Tea 4 You - the UK Tea Council website enables you to discover the fascinating history of tea going back nearly five thousand years, and the important role tea has played in the economic and social development of the UK.

Chris Beardshaw's Inspiration

2008-06-29T16:53:00.002+01:00

Take a look at the RHS website and read the interesting interview given by Chris Beardshaw.

Gardening advice GQT

2008-05-17T01:39:00.004+01:00

In last Wednesday's Gardeners Question Time the following advice was given to gardeners.

Plants suitable for planting into a slope or a bank:

Mint - will spread rapidly & is late flowering (little pink flowers in middle of summer). More about the mint plant
Cotoneaster - excellent ground cover + roots stabilise the soil

Autumn & spring are the two periods when vine weevil grubs are most active. It is the grubs which do the most damage by eating the plant roots. If growing seedlings in trays or pots ontop of a metal or wooden bench you could put the bench legs into containers of water so that the adult vine weevils will not be able to climb up onto the plants. The adult weevils cannot swim.

Please note that there are many different type of weevil which attack various plants in the garden. Vigilance is the key to controlling this pest. The presence of the adult weevils is shown by semi-circular notches eaten into the edges of leaves, most notably on evergreen shrubs like Rhododendron, Euonymus, Azalea and Camellia. This damage by the adults is not fatal, just unsightly (although is a good indicator that there will be eggs, and larvae hatching in the autumn).

The real damage is done by the larvae which feed on the roots, often killing the plant, especially potted and young plants. The first sign of the presence of the larvae is usually yellowing leaves, poor growth and a wilting plant which does not respond to watering. Unfortunately it is often too late to save the plant. Rescue is possible if the damage is not too extensive, wash off all the compost to remove the grubs and remaining eggs, then replant in fresh growing medium. Some plants are more at risk from attack than others, eg. Sedums, Primulas, Fuchsias and Impatiens, but most plants in pots are at risk. So be a vigilant gardener!

Republic of Loose

2008-05-08T02:28:00.003+01:00

Has anyone not heard of the Republic of Loose - Irish rock band based in Dublin. In my humble opinion they are very, very good. One of their better known songs - Comeback Girl can be listened to on their website and also on YouTube. In September 2006 I first heard them play live at The Festival of Kerry in Tralee. Suffice to say they are a fine live band; they relly give a great show.

Anyway I was wondering if they have any interest in gardening or maybe even the odd plant or two.Obviously during the course of their touring they get to stay in some nice hotels which are usually adorned with exotic looking plants. As they become more famous they will no doubt acquire large houses with equally large gardens - then they will need a garden designer plus a lot of plants!

So who knows I might yet be showing Mick Pyro the best plants to grow in his new garden. So it's on that wishful note I say good morning to you my faithful readers in the blogosphere.

Bespoke Garden Dublin, podcasting

2008-05-02T00:13:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I saw this landscape design company Bespoke Garden Limited advertised on a van. So I googled them and their website is fairly well designed - plenty of links to explore. Bespoke Garden Ltd are a Dublin based landscape company at least I think they are. If anyone knows different please don't hesitate to correct me.

Now that we are beginning the month of May the weather is improving and hopefully everyone working in gardening and horticulture will enjoy a long, fine summer. Three cheers to that aspiration !!!

Also log onto BBC Radio 4 and last Sunday's Gardeners' Question Time - they discussed the current state of gardening and horticulture among other topics. Peter Seabrook had some interesting comments to make about his perception of the gardening industry. All in all he is positive about the future of horticulture and gardening. Listen to the programme to find out more and if you like you can download a podcast of the broadcast directly to your computer. Handy if you want to create a home gardening library on your computer hard drive. Of course you can also share your favourite podcasts online.

On an entirely different subject have a look at this Dublin based group of people who have recently set up a website: Balcony TV which features live music sessions , short films and other events. Don't know if they have any interest in gardening but it's novel and entertaining; best of luck to them.

Gardeners Question Time

2008-04-23T01:04:00.003+01:00

Last Sunday I missed Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4. But fear not the programme is available to listen again on the BBC Radio 4 website. For best results listen on the stand alone Real Player - the BBC iPlayer does not seem to work. If anyone knows a way around this problem please let me know. Ah, problem solved as I just got the BBC iPlayer to work - human error after all!

For anyone with an interest in plants or gardening in general I can only recommend that you begin to religiously listen to GQT which is broadcast live every Sunday afternoon at 2pm and the programme is repeated on Wednesday afternoon at 3pm. Of course you can always listen to the programme via the 'listen again' button on the GQT homepage.

Irish gardeners

2008-04-14T23:47:00.009+01:00

I would like to recommend the following excellent website by a County Galway
based horticulturalist and garden writer, James Kilkelly who also contributes
a weekly garden column to over 20 Irish regional newspapers.

He has also been working on an Irish horticultural resource; this new project
is an online forum and article site dedicated to gardening in Ireland:
www.irishgardeners.com

At last this is a very welcome Irish gardening website. It contains very
useful gardening and horticultural information. On behalf of all gardeners
in Ireland I wish the website and its contributors many years of happy
and healthy gardening.

Landscape Designers Ireland

2008-01-16T23:19:00.000Z

This morning as I was stopped in traffic approaching Dundrum village in South Dublin I noticed a Landrover Discovery, silver in colour just in front of me. It belonged to a garden design company called Landscape Developments. Their website is very professional, you can access a good deal of their portfolio of projects. I'm fairly sure they did the landscaping for the apartments at South Meade on the Dundrum Ballinteer road. Anyway Landscape Developments who are operated by Brian Considine and Alan Murphy have twenty years experience of working in garden design; hence the impressive designs which they complete are to be applauded.

Several posts previous I was discussing Irish garden and landscape design blogs, well here is a very useful and practical online service called Irish Landscaping Services. This website is your one-stop shop for finding quality garden designers and landscape contractors.

Savvy Landscaping, while this is not an Irish blog, the writer is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the USA, nonetheless it contains subject matter of interest to garden designers and anyone who likes well shot garden and landscape photographs.

Helen Dillon's famous garden is located only a stone's throw from where I write this blog. She is the well known gardener and plants woman who writes in the popular Garden Heaven magazine. She is also a prolific author having penned many books on the subjects of gardening and plant collecting. Her garden at 45 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Ireland is well worth a visit.

While GardenDesigner .com is not an Irish website it is however a very intuitive online garden design resource. I always believe that interesting design ideas emanate from the USA. Yes I could be wrong in this, but it must be said that the Americans produce some of the most outstanding landscape designs found any where on the planet.

In the next post I am hoping to have found a few more Irish based gardening/design blogs and websites. Also I will be researching garden and landscape design blogs - websites written by Irish people living abroad. So watch this space!

Forest of Dean BBC Radio 4 Open Country

2008-01-13T22:21:00.000Z

The Royal Forest of Dean is a twenty thousand acre woodland located on the Gloucester - South Welsh border in the UK. The Thames Estuary and the Wye Valley border the forest. People born in The Royal Forest of Dean are known as 'Forresters'. Apart from the size of this forest what really makes the place famous is The Sculpture Trail which runs for three miles through the forest. Beechenhurst is the name of the starting point for the Sculpture Trail. Carolyn Black is the project director for The Sculpture Trail. In 1987 Martin Orrom instigated The Sculpture Trail by encouraging artists to set works of art within the forest. Now in 2008 The Sculpture Trail is celebrating 21 years in existence.

Local materials and local mines in the area were key to the art pieces some of which are sculptures. In 2001 an entire oak tree was cut down and transformed into a wooden oak cube. About six to eight oak saplings were planted to compensate for the removal of this mature oak. A comment by one of the interviewees is food for thought: "The process of a forest involves the planting and cutting down of trees for the purpose of manufacture and production."

There used to be a lot of small coal mines in the area which amounted to a whole network of mines running underneath the forest; hence the terrain of the forest is very undulating. You could walk four and a half miles to visit all of pieces in The Sculpture Trail. Well worth the walk if you ask me! Just think of of the beauty of all those magnificent trees, the sculptures and the clear filtered air which when combined will bring you a beautiful and unique experience.

A magnificent stain glass window hangs in part of the Sculpture Trail. A comment by one of the interviewees made me realise just how important and interlinked art and nature are: "Art is not about numbers, it's about experience and interaction."

Rob Guest from Forest Enterprise is the deputy surveyor for the Forest of Dean. His job entails keeping an accurate and up to date record of all the trees in the forest; which means he is also responsible for tree conservation within the forest. Next spring and summer I will definitely be visiting The Forest of Dean where I hope to enjoy the natural unspoilt beauty of the locality. This should make for an extremely interesting trip - plenty of blog material plus lovely photographs! So without further a do here's to the year ahead.

Swamp cypress Dunloe Castle Killarney National Park

2007-12-28T20:18:00.000Z

Swamp cypress and quite a few other tree species grow prolifically in Dunloe Castle Gardens which is located close to Killarney National Park. These fine trees grow much larger in the damp climate of County Kerry. If you are visiting this part of Kerry you would be more than welcome in the pleasant surrounds of Dunloe Castle.

Gardening Blogs

2007-12-18T01:18:00.000Z

On line gardening blogs or musings by gardeners. Call it what you like, but it seems that gardeners everywhere are flexing their word processing muscles and putting their money where their mouth is. A quick Google search reveals a multitude of gardening blogs, the majority of them British or American. What about Irish garden bloggers? A bit thin on the ground it seems; which isn't surprising as our green fingered population is somewhat less than the UK or the USA.

Here is a growing list of Irish garden & landscape design blogs:

Garden Tales (my very unique blog)
Peter Donegan Landscaping Weblo g
Windywillow
Irish Sally Garden
Gardening in Ireland (more a landscaping ad page than anything else)
McAWilliams Photoblog (interesting plant & animal pictures)

In the next post I will hopefully have found some more inspiring Irish gardening blogs. Just as an interesting aside it is worth your while using RSS feed and Google Reader to keep up to date with the latest from your favourite blogs or other subjects of interest. Click on the links to discover how to use RSS & Google Reader. These two essential software programmes will improve both your blogging and your gardening knowledge. Learn to use them!

Horticulture Magazine America Gardening Blogs

2007-12-15T02:30:00.000Z

Horticulture Magazine is considered to be America's most trusted gardening magazine. It has been around for over 100 years and is now presented online which makes it accessible to anyone interested in gardening and horticulture. I found Horticulture Magazine while doing a Google Directory search for "horticulture blogs". A similar search for "gardening blogs" reveals a good selection of these type of blogs. Gardenstew.com is one such gardening blog directory which provides insightful topics about everyday gardening chores and more.

I also found this interesting gardening blog by a former BBC World Service journalist, Lila Das Gupta now writes a blog for the Telegraph's gardening section. Nice to know that a journalist can swap a word processor for the garden trowel!

In the next post I will focus on the online garden blog scene in Ireland. There is one well known garden magazine that is published in Ireland - Garden Heaven. Obviously the market here is quite small but it will be interesting to see how many Irish garden - horticulture blogs exist online.

So until a few days time have a good gardening week. Also I would like to wish all my readers a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year - hopefully it will be a fantastic year for gardening.

Dermot O' Neill, Irish gardener

2007-11-23T01:28:00.000Z

I always carry a good gardening book with me where ever I roam and perhaps one of the most practical and fact filled is Dermot O' Neill's Gardening Tips (Town House & Country House, Dublin, 2002). O' Neill is a well-known gardener and TV presenter on the same subject; he also makes regular gardening contributions to The Pat Kenny Radio Show on RTE Radio 1. Dermot O' Neill has been gardening for the past 25 years and in that time he has amassed a considerable knowledge about working with plants and all things gardening.

This handy pocket-sized gardening book is a must for any would-be gardener because it contains contributions from 25 of his friends who as you can imagine are all keen gardeners; some are professional while others are amateur and what they have in common is a hands-on approach to the profession of gardening. They come from various locations around Ireland and in the book they share their expertise about dealing with local soil and weather conditions; hence their advice covers a diverse range of gardening situations, while explaining how to solve numerous gardening problems.

As this was the first hand book about practical gardening methods to be published in Ireland it can only be recommended to every gardening enthusiast, whether beginner or expert. If you haven't already read this book then you will find it in all good bookshops and of course you can take it out on loan from any library.

Philip Roth, American Pastoral

2007-11-15T23:40:00.000Z

Why I would like the opportunity to be Philip Roth's gardener, even if it was only for couple of days or a week at most. A longer period like a month or more would be the ideal time frame in which to get acquainted with the American novelist Philip Roth. No doubt his erudite writing experience would rub off on me. At least I would get to talk with the man about writing and what it is like to live the life of a writer. But there is also the possibility that Mr Roth might be too busy to even notice that his new gardener was also a keen if not aspiring writer. Any way I'd enjoy the opportunity to meet Philip Roth - still it's nice to dream. Currently I'm reading his masterpiece, American Pastoral (1997) which I bought on the 17th October. Roth was awarded The Pulitzer Prize for this novel in 1998. It's an interesting book which is brilliantly written because it explores the American tragedy; the story demonstrates how life can go wrong even for people who have it all - 'the so called beautiful people' as my cousin Leon used to say. In this story Roth's protagonist, Swede Levov who was once a legendary athlete, has his life reduced to humiliation and despair by an act of political terrorism on the part of his daughter Merry. At this juncture I urge you to beg, borrow or buy American Pastoral because it is one of the great novels of the twentieth century and a book you will enjoy rereading again and again.

Some advice about what you could be doing in your garden - here are the top 10 gardening jobs for November:

Clear up fallen leaves - especially from lawns, ponds and bed
Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year
Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
Plant out winter bedding
Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem
Insulate the greenhouse from frost - bubblewrap works well
Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands around the trunks
Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden
Use a seasonal bonfire - where this is allowed - to dispose of excess debris unfit for composting

Forget-Me-Not

2007-11-11T22:30:00.001Z

I'm always impressed by flower displays in window boxes. And over the last few days one plant has continually caught my attention, Myosotis (Forget-me-not). An appropriate name as the deep blue flowers which trail out and over the sides of containers leave a lasting impression. Myosotis sp. is a native plant of New Zealand.
Have a look out for these attractive plants because their flowers add a colourful note to the lifelessness of this time of year.

November Gardening Tips

It is still possible to plant if there is no ground frost

Prune roses in preparation for winter, but not too drastically

Prune fruit trees as soon as they lose their leaves to rejuvenate them

Weed for the last time

Cover perennials with compost or a mixture of manure and peat

Keep tub plants frost-free and water sparingly

Aerate the lawn in dry weather by pricking holes in the turf using a garden fork

November's Gardening Chores
'We often get an encore of summer at the end of this month, it is wise to start preparing for winter. Still there is no need to rush. Weather permitting, there is always something to do or see for the true gardener. The garden can still look quite glorious with the last of the late-summer flowers in bloom.' excerpt from Bakker's website. Also have a look at Bakker's recommended links - very useful for all gardeners.

Blogged with Flock

Why the long absence...

2007-11-11T01:56:00.000Z

Just so that the readers of this blog are put in the light regarding the writer's absence from the blogging world. You are probably wondering why I have not composed even the slightest short blog in as many weeks (last post was September 9th '07); well to put it bluntly I got tired of the amount of effort and work that has to go into preparing a blog article. It is after all a 'creative process' and as such blogging is basically work. So much so that when one already has employment doing something that is very tiring well then it's down to choices - in life one always has to make choices.

The following is very appropriate advice from a well known blogger. I wont copy and paste their blog - here's a link instead to the article in question: Tips for Staying Writerly Motivated on Your Blog.

Not to labour the point I'll be quite blunt - from now on this writer will update his two blogs on a two to four week basis. That way content will not suffer and you the reader will not be left in the dark. So there that's out of the way and I look forward to writing a new fresh blog post tomorrow afternoon (I already have plenty material), so no more lazy excuses!
Also have a look at The Blog Herald it makes interesting reading for bloggers of all levels of competence.

Computer Plants

2007-09-09T02:26:00.000+01:00

Breeding varieties of plants using computers could one day become an alternative to field trials. I came across this interesting claim on the ABC.net website, which is an Australian science website. It's worth pointing out that the ABC website has many interesting associated web pages - some relate to the environment and nature.

Genetic benefits such as rapid crop growth, improved water and nutrient capacity based on the computer models could then be developed in the real world. Specific plant genes could be added by the scientists to achieve healthier more productive plants.

But first, the models have to be built. To do this, researchers have to have a thorough understanding of some of the most basic functions of a plant. The interactions between genes and cells will have to be studied in more detail so as to create a computer model of plant growth and development.

Researchers hope that by understanding everything about one particular plant - its life cycle, development and genetic characteristics - they will be able to build a virtual plant: a three-dimensional model inside a powerful computer, that behaves in like a real plant in the physical world.

As a gardener I look forward in anticipation to this amazing technology. Just think what it could mean for gardeners all over the world. Perhaps the greatest benefits will be seen by people living in third world countries. Any improvement in plant science is a tremendous bonus for these unfortunate people.

Last but not least - please feel free to explore my links and favourite websites. Happy surfing to everyone and anyone with 'green fingers'!

Home Planet

2007-09-05T17:10:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday I listened to a very interesting programme on BBC Radio 4 - Home Planet. The panellists discussed how fruit used to be preserved before the advent of refrigerators. In those days many homes had cold rooms which enabled the fresh fruit vegetables etc to remain at a cool enough temperature so as to stay fresh. Salt was used to pickle or preserve fresh fruit which was stored in glass jars. I remember my mother Bridget Mary doing just that. At the time my brother and I were small and all this seemed so interesting.

What a pity that the practice of preserving fruit is rarely carried out nowadays. There are books and websites which explain how to do it but it is obvious that the vast majority of people for one reason or another don't practice this art. Perhaps it's similar to organic fruit / vegetable gardening - too much hard work I hear you shout! Well, sometimes 'hard work' is the vital ingredient to producing any task that is rewarding. the above website will shed light on this and other hard work methods and models of gardening.

This morning I heard the sad news that Luciano Pavrotti passed away in Modena, Italy. He was 71 years old. May he rest in peace. He will always be remembered for his beautiful tenor voice. He will be remembered for his involvement with The Three Tenors

Newbiggin YouTube

2007-09-02T23:32:00.000+01:00

Here is some video footage on YouTube of the regeneration of Newbiggin seafront. I am interested in any information about flora and fauna in the Newbiggin area. Also I have no hesitation in recommending BBC Radio 4 as an excellent source of reference for all things horticultural and more besides.

Newbiggin by the Sea

2007-08-23T13:49:00.000+01:00

Strictly speaking this is not a gardening post but I feel it is a topic of considerable interest; especially from the point of environmental regeneration. Coastal erosion affects a large area of Ireland and the UK. Governments could be doing a lot more to protect our coastlines from the continual erosion of the sea and ocean. Valuable flora and fauna are being lost or forced to relocate; people who live near coastal areas are also affected. The following piece is very inspiring and encouraging as it shows that at least somewhere a local authority can take the necessary steps to preserve a beach which is a invaluable environmental asset to plants animals and humans.

Today while listening to You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 there was a very interesting feature on Newbiggin a coastal village in Northumberland in the North east of England; nearest city is Newcastle. Between March and September '07 £10 million is being spent on rebuilding the beach which has been suffering coastal erosion since the 1970s. The largest ship dredger in Europe was used to bring sand (500,000 tonnes) from far outside the bay and deposit it on the beach. A breakwater was then constructed to prevent this enormous amount of sand from being washed out by the sea. To cap it all a new man and woman sculpture, the UK's first permanent offshore sculpture has been erected on the breakwater which will it is hoped become a tourist attraction in itself. Have a look at the Newbiggin website (a beautiful website in my humble opinion) which displays information and some great photographs:
www.newbigginbay.co.uk.

Also check You and Yours on the BBC Radio 4 website for more facts on this story.

Back to My Roots

2007-08-22T00:38:00.000+01:00

Hi to everyone who has been wondering what became of me since the last blog post. Well I went on holiday back to my family, back to my roots, in County Kerry. I was there for an entire month and even though the weather was extremely wet and windy I did enjoy the time spent with my Dad, my brother and his wife. Also I took a lot of photos and these will be uploaded in due course.

So from a very mild and not so wet Dublin, Ireland it's bye for now.

GREAT DIXTER

2007-07-06T23:28:00.000+01:00

Gardens Illustrated is one of my two favourite gardening magazines. The other gardening magazine which I enjoy reading is BBC Gardeners' World. The other day I purchased the July issue of Gardens Illustrated at Eason's book shop in O' Connell Street, Dublin. What caught my attention was the cover feature - an article which explores Great Dixter, Christopher Lloyd's famous garden, located in Northiam, Rye, East Sussex. In a few weeks time I will be visiting this garden in England. For more details log onto www.greatdixter.co.uk

Christopher Lloyd passed away in January 2006 and he is greatly missed by many people in the gardening world. For many years he wrote a regular gardening column in the The Guardian newspaper and throughout his life he wrote numerous books about various aspects of gardening. My very good, late friend Liz Cowap visited Christopher Lloyd's garden; I remember her advising me to arrive early as the queues of eager visitors meant a long wait. It's a great pity that Liz and Christopher Lloyd are no longer with us. I would have enjoyed meeting 'Christo' in the company of Liz.

As I said I am really looking forward to visiting this magnificent garden and what better time to do this than during the summer - obviously I'm hoping for an improvement in the weather! Anyway I'll be taking loads of pictures and you can view them on Flickr and Picasa2. So watch this blog!

Some additional information: the head gardener is Fergus Garrett; the assistant head gardener is Matthew Reese. While the nursery manager is Kathleen Leighton who has worked at the Great Dixter nursery for the last 21 years.

Umberto Fiori

2007-06-24T21:52:00.000+01:00

Umberto Fiori is an Italian poet. This evening a good friend gave me the loan of a volume of Fiori's poetry entitled, Terminus (Translations from the Italian). Here is a lovely poem:

Gust

Under the scaffolding the tree
changes colour,
leaf by leaf
it begins to tremble
with the wind, and only now
I became aware of myself
who had been looking at it:
as when in a choir
in a row of faces
you see one of them
singing the same thing.

Why did I choose this poem? The imagery of the tree with it's leaves changing colour - this worked magic for my imagination. It is uplifting to read beautiful poetry because like tilling the soil it is lovely therapy for mind and body.

Gardening - what it really means

2007-06-13T02:04:00.000+01:00

Gardening is a wonderfully creative hobby and a way of life for some people. It is a pleasurable activity because it allows one to interact with nature in a way that is not possible in our busy daily lives. Ofcourse gardening is synonymous with people who have a house or some land as a certain amount of space is required to implement a garden. Modern city houses don't allow much in the size of a garden, it seems that a small 'postage size' garden is all that is allowed. This I suppose is understandable given that a lot of people now lead extremely mobile and busy lives. In short they don't have time to garden. What a pity! I think that everyone, no matter how busy they are, should make time for a little gardening or even an invigorating walk in the park. Remember that your local public park is a great big garden with a multitude of plants - so take time to enjoy plants and gardening.

Osip Mandelshtam

2007-06-10T01:59:00.000+01:00

Here is a beautiful poem by the Polish/Russian poet Osip Mandelshtam.

With obscurely breathing leaves
the black wind rustles
and a quivering swallow
draws a circle in the darkened sky.

In my affectionate dying heart
a quarrel drones
between the onset of the twilight
and a fading ray of light.

And above the evening of the wood
a copper moon has risen.
Why is there so little music
and such quietness?

Mandelshtam was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1891 and died in 1938 in Russia. This poem comes from Osip Mandelshtam - selected poems which were translated by David McDuff and published by Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative, 1983.

Mandelshtam's own prophecy was fulfilled when he said:

"Only in Russia poetry is respected – it gets people killed. Is there anywhere else where poetry is so common a motive for murder?"

A very good friend lent me this volume of poetry which I enjoy reading. Like reading and working at gardening I find poetry a very relaxing pastime. Please explore my friend's blog at: http://sillyoldtwit.com

Picasa2 - online Photo Album

2007-06-09T00:23:00.000+01:00

This morning I signed up to Picasa2 (http://picasaweb.google.com/); it's an online photo sharing programme. It's extremely useful as you can access millions of photographs. I uploaded several pictures which you can view in my public gallery on Picasa2.

If anyone has photographs of garden visits I would be grateful if you post them to Picasa2 (you'll have to create an account, very easy - just use your Google account).

In the meantime happy picture snapping and gardening to one and all!

Bloom in the Park

2007-06-04T00:27:00.000+01:00

For those gardeners and non-gardeners alike I hope you had a wonderful visit to Bloom - (1 - 4 June) 2007 which took place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. If anyone has taken pictures would they mind putting them on either Flickr or Picasa2; that way we can all enjoy some real, live photography.

The weather hasn't exactly been kind to the event as it rained all day on Sunday. Hopefully bank holiday Monday will see an improvement on the weather score. If there are any more gardening shows to be held throughout Ireland (North & South) please let me know and I will publicise them via this blog and my other bog:
gardentales.wordpress.com

In the meantime - enjoy your garden even if it only extends to a window box or a single house plant.

Gardening on YouTube

2007-05-20T23:24:00.000+01:00

If you want to learn something about gardening then you could do worse than log onto YouTube. While you wont become the next Alan Titchmarsh or Monty Don, you will learn something about the science and art of gardening.

I must admit that when it comes to learning anything about anything there is nothing to beat a good book or manual on the subject. Perhaps the best solution to learning any craft or discipline is to get to know a good 'expert' or teacher; that way you can be certain of gaining hands on experience of your subject.

The same applies to gardening and landscape design - books alone wont do the trick and neither will YouTube. But these media will certainly educate your intellect and you will gain a greater understanding of garden techniques.

To conclude - I am recommending any book about gardening by the Royal Horticultural Society (the RHS) and of course all that Alan Titchmarsh has written about gardening should be essential reading for every aspiring 'gardener' and landscape designer.

Aside from gardening - I am now available on YouTube. Hopefully over the coming days and weeks I will supply plenty of video footage...

Chinese Poetry

2007-05-18T23:50:00.000+01:00

I am still gaining great solace from Chinese poetry. I have the owner of the WordPress blog: sillyoldtwit to thank for that very kind act of lending me his book on Chinese poems by Arthur Waley. Here is an absolutely minimalist poem if ever there was one:

Self-Abandonment, by Li Po

I sat drinking and did not notice the dusk,
Till falling petals filled the folds of my dress.
Drunken I rose and walked to the moonlit stream;
The birds were gone, and men also few.

In the next post I will include some photographs I took last weekend while cycling and walking along Irishtown Nature Reserve which is adjacent to Sandymount in South Dublin. I hope all my readers will enjoy these beautiful, sunny evening pictures!

Chinese Poetry

2007-05-12T02:00:00.000+01:00

Chinese poetry is very inspiring especially when it comes to describing human emotions and nature. Take a look at the following Chinese poems:

Cold Mountain by Han Shan

You have seen the blossoms among the leaves;
tell me, how long will they stay?
Today they tremble before the hand that picks them;
tomorrow they wait someone's garden broom.
Wonderful is the bright heart of youth,
but with the years it grows old.
Is the world not like these flowers?
Ruddy faces, how can they last?

The Eight Formations

Your achievements overshadowed
any in the Three Kingdoms;
most famous of all was your design
for the Eight Formations.

Against the river’s surge,
they stand solid, immovable,
a monument to your lasting regret
at failing to swallow up Wu.

(translated by David Lunde)

Okay these are Chinese poems which have been translated into English so perhaps the meaning is lost a little by the translation, however I still think they are nice, soothing poems...

A good friend of mine gave me the loan of a volume of Chinese poetry called: Chinese Poems by Arthur Waley (Unwin Books, 1968). That's several weeks ago now and I am enjoying the soothing words of these great Chinese poets. All I can say is check out his new WordPress Blog: sillyoldtwit and you will discover that he has a lot of interesting subjects up for discussion...

Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea!

2007-05-08T14:00:00.000+01:00

The Chelsea Flower Show (22nd - 26th May '07) - ah yes I wish that I could be there! However, fate will dictate otherwise and I will be otherwise engaged. But I am happy to be able to keep up with events via the web - where would we be without this technology?

For those of you lucky enough to visit Chelsea enjoy all the exhibits and have a great time. Hopefully the weather will be nice and sunny. Also keep writing about the events in your blogs and hopefully you will meet Alan Titchmarsh & Diarmuid Gavin, plus many more garden designers.

Garden in a City

2007-05-06T14:03:00.000+01:00

As you would imagine they do everything bigger over in America. From May 13th to 21st there is a large landscape design exhibition in Chicago's Grant Park. The show will focus on urban horticulture and the greening of urban communities.

I would like to be there unfortunately I'm working so that's that; anyway there's always the next horticulture show - like the Chelsea Flower Show in London which will take place on 22nd to 26th May.

Plants for Window Boxes

2007-05-05T01:24:00.000+01:00

Well it's that time of year again when you will see a great many window boxes adorning the front windows of houses and ofcourse not forgetting the ubiquitous hanging basket(s) which brighten up many a drab house wall or garden wall. So what are the most appropriate plants to use?
Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina - their website gives a good deal of plant information. Also try the BBC Gardening page for some seasonal tips on how to create that eye-catching window box or hanging basket display.

Happy and successful gardening to one and all. Enjoy your garden during May.

Iris bulbs in Marks & Spencer

2007-04-30T16:44:00.000+01:00

Today I bought a packet of 20 Dutch Iris bulbs at Marks and Spencer in Henry Street, Dublin. I thought they were great value for Euro4.99. The variety or cultivar is 'Symphony' which has the following statistics:

Plant: March - May
Flowers: June - July
Flower colour: Butter - yellow
Height: 60cm
Position: Sun
Plant depth: 10cm
Plant spacing: 10cm
Bulb size: 6 - 7cm

For the past two weeks now I have noticed bearded Irises coming into flower throughout front gardens in Dublin. This particular iris sends up fans of sword- shaped broad leaves and simple or branched stems. The flowers are produced in a wide range of colours. Bearded irises are the most widely cultivated group of irises for garden display. They produce several flowers per stem from spring into early summer, sometimes again later in the season.

For more information on Irises and other plants have a look at the RHS Good Plant Guide which contains 3,000 recommended plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, bedding plants, fruits and vegetables.

In Memory of Liz Cowap

2007-04-19T00:00:00.000+01:00

The 1st anniversary of my good friend Liz Cowap is this Friday 20th April. It's difficult to believe she is no longer with us. But as the Chinese poet Han-Shan says 'I drink, while I may, the wine that lies in my cup, and all else commit to Heaven's care.' Lines from Thinking of The Past (AD 833).

What can I or anyone say in memory of Liz? Well maybe soothing poetry is most appropriate in times like these. Especially as poetry is the most concise and accurate means of conveying emotion and praise and a great many other sentiments.

I will close with a beautiful poem again by Han-Shan entitled:

At The End of Spring

If the Fleeting World is but a long dream,
It does not matter whether one is young or old.
But ever since the day that my friend left my side
and has lived an exile in the City of Chiang-ling,
There is one wish I cannot quite destroy:
That from time to time we may chance to meet again.

(AD 810)

Future posts will contain more of Han-Shan's gardening poems...

Rosemary & Choisya

2007-04-15T01:07:00.000+01:00

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) and Choisya (Starleaf or Mexican Orange) have been in flower with the past four to five weeks. I like these plants because of their scented leaves and colourful flowers. You will find some pictures of these plants in various parts of the Google search engine. The RHS and Wikipedia are particularly useful websites for plant information and pictures.

Why Bakker is one of my favourite Gardening websites

2007-04-11T18:36:00.000+01:00

Several years ago I came across a Dutch gardening website Bakker.com; they had just set up shop here in Ireland and had begun the process of sending out mail order catalogues. Bakker provide excellent plants of all description and are very competitively priced.

Bakker's website is one of the the best I have seen in the online gardening world. For example they include a monthly garden chore list which is invaluable for both the serious and the amateur gardener . But judge for yourself and I would be delighted to receive any comments or feedback. If you have found another online garden shop please do send me the link(s).

Pruning Early Flowering Shrubs

2007-04-05T13:37:00.000+01:00

Pruning early-flowering shrubs which usually flower on the previous year's growth, immediately after flowering is essential because it allows the young growth to develop which will provide the following year's flowers before the end of summer.
After pruning feed the plant using either Growmore or a granular rose fertiliser.

Tulips are here at last!

2007-03-29T23:30:00.001+01:00

Yes my green-fingered friends the graceful tulip (Tulipa)is here at last. I consider it an elegant flower because it looks just like an elegant woman and there are lots of those about at any time of the day or night.

Tulip (Tulipa) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. Its specias are native to southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia from Anatolia Iran (where the flower is suggested on the nation's flag) from east to northeast of China and Japan. The centre of diversity of the genus is in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes Kazakhstan.

They are perennial bulbous plants growing to 10–70 centimetres (4–27 in) tall, with a small number of strap-shaped, waxy-textured, usually glaucous green leaves and large flowers with six petals. The fruit is a dry capsule containing numerous flat disc-shaped seeds.

My mother God be good to her planted a lot of tulips in the garden when she came to live with my father. Those same tulip bulbs she planted still flower after some forty years.

Landscape Design Software

2007-03-23T23:37:00.000Z

Landscape design software is both an essential and invaluable asset to any garden designer or company. There are a lot of landscape design software products on the market. I did a quick Google search for the most rated and here they are:

There is a company in Northern Ireland who sell a very professional landscape / architecture design software package. I heard about them through a colleague. However, I haven't been able to locate their website. I will keep you posted.

Ribes and Berberis - two plants worth their salt!

2007-03-17T01:26:00.000Z

Berberis and Ribes are two of my favourite garden plants. Ribes or flowering currant is now producing copious amounts of new spring leaves and flowers. The blackcurrant scent from this plant is amazing; you can smell the scent of ribes from at least one hundred yards. Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant or Red-Flowering Currant) is a species of currant native to western coastal North America from central British Colombia south to central California.

There are some interesting pictures of Ribes and berberis on Google. As a gardener and designer of gardens I find the power of the web most useful when looking for plant information and pictures etc. So go ahead and use the resource that is the World Wide Web for your gardening information and a lot more besides.

Berberis or as it is commonly called barberry is not yet in flower. From mid-to late spring you will notice the orange flowers of berberis darwinii in a lot of front gardens; the blue berries appear in autumn. Plant berberis as a vandal-resistant or barrier hedge

Mary Waldron's Gardening Tips

2007-03-11T15:29:00.000Z

Mary Waldron contributed her gardening tips to Dermot O' Neill's book Gardening Tips from Dermot O' Neill and friends TownHouse 2002.

Always try to garden in harmony with the environment. Use as few chemicals as you can. Over use of nitrogen on the lawn, particularly on heavy soils seems to kill worms which help with aeration. Nitrogen can also get into ground water and cause pollution.

Pine needles can be used as an effective weed suppressant on acid loving plants such as rhododendrons and camellias. Pine needles are also a good slug deterrent; the needles adhere to the slug's slimy body which cause much discomfort.

Buy a bigger greenhouse / glass house than you think you need.

Grow something new from seed every year.

Prepare the soil into which you are going to plant. Dig it, weed it and feed it with organic matter. This work repays you with years of carefree gardening.

Grow the plants that like your soil and situation. This leads to happy plants and happy gardeners.

Plan your garden to look good in winter and it will look good all year round.

RHS - knowlege for all Gardeners & everyone else as well

2007-03-08T23:49:00.000Z

There are many reasons to garden but if you were to do nothing else please have a look at the RHS website. This esteemed gardening institution are a wellspring of gardening knowledge.

Advantages of Organic Seed

2007-03-06T00:29:00.000Z

Recently on Gardeners' Question Time there was a question from a gardener about the advantages of using organic seed as opposed to conventional or non-organic seed. Regular GQT panellist & celebrated organic gardener Bob Flowerdew gave the definite organic gardener's answer.

Firstly, organic seed is slightly more expensive than conventional seed. Having said that ordinary conventional vegetable seed is now quite expensive so it's probably only a slight difference of price between the two.

There are a few reasons why I would choose to use organic seeds. The first is that I tend to grow species which are native to my area. This means organic seeds do indeed produce better plants because they are growing in their ideal condition. Even, when I grow plants which come from other parts of the world, they are well established species, and the seeds have been developed over many decades which means they have evolved into plants which grow well in my climate. If something grew perfectly well in a Victorian garden, it really doesn't need assistance to help it grow in the 21st century garden.

The problem with non-organic seeds is that a growing number have been genetically modified, which has rendered them infertile. This means that you won't be able to save seed from them to use the following year because they won't produce any. This practice is good for seed producers because they can 'copyright' their product. In other words, you will have to buy new seed each time you wish to grow a particular plant. Now, I don't know about you but I find this a rather sad indication of the world we live in. For generations gardeners have traded seeds, cuttings and so on. And also used their existing plants to create new varieties. With increasing reliance on genetic modification this tradition will come to an end. I personally think this would be a tragedy.

It is true, that not all non-organic seed is infertile, but there does seem to be an ever increasing amount which is GM and which is unable to reproduce itself. Furthermore, the necessity for these modifications are not always as black and white as they are claimed to be. Producers will say that making these alterations results in stronger, healthier seed. However, if gardeners used varieties which were native to their part of the world, or which were heirloom/heritage varieties, these modifications would not be necessary because they would have plants which were perfectly adapted to their environment.

There is a longer term danger. Just suppose that one day, all plants are grown from genetically modified (GM) seed. Imagine the effect this could have on our environment. Species would be unable to cross pollinate, leading to a decline in plant life, and also insect and animal species which rely on those plants for food. Your garden may seem as though it just your personal bit of green space, but trust me it is more than that. To an endless number of creatures it is both home and a jolly good restaurant. Remove that food supply and you remove an important part of the food chain. The logical conclusion would be a very barren world indeed.

As a gardener you can do your bit to preserve our natural heritage, by choosing organic seed, and gardening organically. Try to grow local varieties, or if they are not available choose heirloom or heritage seeds and plants. These are traditional varieties which have proved themselves through decades of use in normal gardens. To paraphrase an Irish saying, we don’t own the earth, we are just keeping it safe for future generations. Organic seeds may be small, but they are a big part of this.

Further Reading:

Seeds of Change

Garden Organic

The Organic Gardening Catalogue

The catalogue for organic and environmentally friendly gardeners – organic seeds for vegetables, heritage and modern varieties, herbs, flowers and green manures, organic composts and fertilisers, biological pest controls, organic gardening books and gifts.

The Medlar Tree

2007-02-20T22:34:00.000Z

The medlar tree originated in Iran; it was the Romans who brought the first medlar saplings to England. it still grows wild in the forests on the south Caspian coast of Iran. This part of Iran does have severely cold winters.

The medlar is a compact tree which looks like a hawthorn; its restrained size makes it an ideal tree for the small garden. Medlar is not particular about type of soil - it will grow in slightly damp or slightly dry soil; it also tolerates a degree of shade.

The medlar fruit tree is a member of the Rosaceae family; however the fruits are never sold in supermarkets. You are more likely to find the fruits of the medlar tree in organic markets. Medlar fruit are best picked from the trees when hard and then allowed to ripen fully while in storage. Medlar fruit which tastes like a sweet stewed apple can be treated just like pear fruit.

Keepers Nursery in Maidstone, Kent specialises in growing unusual fruit trees such as medlar. The best known variety is 'Nottingham'. There are eight or nine other varieties, look out for the aforementioned - it was recommended by Tony Russell on Gardeners' Question Time last Sunday.

February in Your Garden

2007-02-16T00:58:00.000Z

Life returns to the garden again in February; during the brighter days of this month the sap begins to rise within all plants. It's also a month where the gardener can expect the four seasons to occur during the course of a single day. During mild spells lawns continue to grow. So now is the time to give your lawn the first cut of the year. However, if the weather is frosty or the ground waterlogged don't mow the lawn - wait until milder and drier conditions.

Sow broad beans and peas from mid-late February. They can be sown directly into the ground which has already been dug and prepared. Broad beans and peas will be ready for harvesting in early summer.

Dahlias are available in garden centres now.

Witch hazel - it's still a good time to plant this plant. At the garden centre or nursery you can select a variety of flowers so you know you're getting the one you want.

Potatoes - start them off now. Look for new varieties which are blight resistant. These are worth a try if you live in an area particularly prone to blight.

Roses - there's still time to prune roses. Traditionally in Ireland this garden job is done before St. Patrick's Day. Also mulch the rose bed after pruning with well rotted farm yard manure which will help to suppress weeds and contribute valuable nutrients to the plants.

Gardeners' Question Time

2007-02-11T23:31:00.000Z

Gardeners' Question Time was today broadcast from Essex in North east London. The panellists were Bob Flowerdew, John Cushnie and Peter Seabrook.

Yew (Taxus baccata) makes one of the most attractive hedges. The best way to propagate yew is by taking soft wood and/or semi-ripe cuttings. Take really big semi-ripe cuttings in August / September and dip them into rooting hormone before planting them in a pot of compost. Semi-ripe cuttings are the best way to propagate yew. The seeds of yew will germinate but semi-ripe cuttings guarantee a quicker and more robust plant. (John Cushnie & Peter Searbrook)

The best way to guarantee the quick germination of seeds is to place some well rotted farm yard manure (FYM) in the bottom of a large container, mix in a spoon or two of sulphur to get the FYM to heat up more. Cover the FYM with some compost or soil. Then place the smaller container with the seeds on top and in no time you will see the seeds germinating. (J.C)

Tomato & potato plants affected with blight can be put onto the compost heap. It is important to turn the heap to keep the heat going. When the compost is ready it is important to dig it into the soil - this will prevent any surviving spores from causing harm. Alternatively dig deep a trench (1 ft or more) in the soil and put the blighted plants into it, cover them with soil. This plant material will add moisture and compost to the soil. It is safe to compost all your plant material provided that you turn the heap and follow the rules for good composting. (J.C./ B.F./P.S)

powered by performancing firefox

How to create a new LAWN

2007-02-06T23:28:00.000Z

Over the past couple of days I have been asked what are the procedures or stages necessary to creating a new lawn. Firstly it is very inexpensive to sow a lawn using grass seed. There is no big outlay required as opposed to laying turf on a lawn; which gives you the instant lawn effect. Anyway there is an excellent website BBC Gardening which will answer all your gardening queries regarding creating a lawn or indeed any type of gardening adventures.

Alternative conifers to Leylandii which are suitable for planting as hedging plants are Thuja Plicata (Western Red Cedar) or Taxus baccata (Yew). Have a look at the list of plants for screening on the website of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Park Masters

2007-01-31T23:25:00.000Z

I listened to this extremely interesting broadcast called Park Masters on BBC Radio 4 about the creators of some of London's finest public parks.
James Pennethorne was the architect who designed Victoria Park in the East End of London. This park opened to the public in 1846 and is considered one of the best designed parks of its time - the Victorian era. Pennethorne studied architecture under the famous John Nash who designed Regents Park and many fine buildings throughout London.

Victoria Park was designed with social control in mind. Due to excessive overcrowding and appalling living conditions endured by the hundreds of thousands of working class people who lived in the East End of London a large public park was devised as a means to allow the workers to exercise and as a means of keeping them clean - two lakes were built where up to 5,000 children could wash at any one time.

Victoria Park also played host to political and trade union activism - William Morris gave public lectures there at least twice. Someone once referred to Victoria Park as being like the university of the working class.

Seasonal plant advice for all gardeners

2007-01-29T21:12:00.000Z

Lemon verbena and Mirabilis jalapa are two plants whose tubers have to be dug up and stored inside before the onset of winter. The tubers are tender and will not survive in the ground over winter (Bob Flowerdew).

Juniperus skyrocket & Taxus bacatta fastigiata (Irish yew) are very good plants to grow in pots. Alternative plants which can be grown in large containers outdoors include Buxus; Eucalyptus and Ilex spp. (Holly) (Bunny Guinness).

Now is the time to check plants which were planted last September - early autumn. The wind may have rocked the plants which will cause a check in growth rate. Using your foot firm around the plants. If the ground is too wet just apply bark mulch and wait until ground dries before firming, (John Cushnie).

Japanese maple is okay in shade - protect form cold east wind. Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel) will survive almost any soil or climatic conditions. Heuchera will do in deep shade. Digitalis (Foxglove) are okay in shade (Bob Flowerdew).

Go visit Coney Island in Northern Ireland!

2007-01-25T14:12:00.000Z

Today I was listening intently to Open Country a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Today's topic was Beautiful Coney Island situated on the south west corner of Lough Neagh. This picturesque part of Northern Ireland should definitely be on your travel itinerary. Why? Because of the unspoilt natural beauty of the local landscape. The place has inspired a German to live and work there for the past eleven years. He makes currach boats there.

Explore the fauna and flora of Coney Island where you will be surprised and excited by the diversity of the plants and animal species.

You can listen to the programme by going to the Listen Again Page which you will find on the top right of the BBC Radio 4 web page. Happy listening!

Garden Design for Visually Impaired Gardeners

2007-01-16T22:50:00.000Z

As suggested by a friend here are some guidelines and useful tips for designing gardens for visually impaired people.

The great difficulty for visually impaired people in gardening is that of orientation: knowing where you are, what part of the garden you have already worked on and where you are going. As an aid to orientation, the garden can be laid out with straight edges and right angles. Right angles for garden layout can be used with other aids and techniques in carrying out many gardening jobs.

Special design points to remember:

The plan should be simple - avoid curves and intricate patterns
Borders should be no more than 120 cm (4') wide if accessible from both sides, half that if accessible from one side only
Landmarks or reference points should be used to assist orientation

These can be:

Shrubs, trees, scented or tactile plants, ornaments and furniture
Sound items, including rustling plants, running water and wind chimes
Path materials such as gravel and bark

These reference points must be used with the following guidelines:

Use plants that are easy to maintain e.g. require little pruning
Plants should not overhang pathways and should generally be thornless
Scented plants should be used sparingly - as a mass of scent could confuse, and hinder orientation
Ornaments and seating should be recessed from pathways
Use vivid colours and bold materials as reference points for people with partial sight
Use changes of texture in paths to indicate changes in direction
Raised edging alongside the path can help to identify the proximity of a border or other garden features
Avoid steps if possible - a slope is better; if steps are unavoidable, provide a handrail

A specially designed garden is the rarely found ideal. Nevertheless, each visually impaired person's garden should be based on simplicity of design for ease of use while remaining visually attractive.

Seeking advice and even help from sighted gardeners might prove necessary and valuable; and it might be wise, if the situation allows, to undertake only part of the garden until confidence is gained. It is advisable for gardeners with poor sight to avoid sowing seeds in the open ground. Instead, seed should be sown in seed trays or other containers and the resulting plants planted out at an early stage. This has a number of benefits:

It avoids wastage of often valuable seed
It avoids the difficulties of weeding and thinning out
It ensures that individual plants can be planted out at the right distance for future cultivation
Seed can be sown individually in small pots, or in seed trays
containing 'modular'cells - readily available modular inserts for seed
trays

Later, seed trays or pots can be re-used, for rooting softwood cuttings. With outdoor work, a wooden or plastic right-angled aid can be used both to cultivate the ground and for planting. With planting, try using a length of string that has been knotted at regular intervals. When this is pegged down, the knots can be used for accurate spacing of plants.

Always make sure that the work you carry out in the garden is well organised. Rather than using a traditional area for vegetables, with long rows stretching across the ground, try dividing the area into small beds 1 m x 1 m (or 1 yd by 1 yd). Each small plot can be planted with one crop and this makes it easier to identify weeds and carry out other cultivation.

Ten Gardening Tips for Winter

2007-01-15T03:38:00.000Z

First of all I'd like to wish all who visit this weblog a very happy and good gardening New Year. Also I'd like to apologise for not updating this blog in the past five weeks. More on this in the next post. In the meantime enjoy your gardens.
The following winter gardening tips by Diarmuid Gavin appeared in Living in Dublin South Magazine, January 2007:

Clean and tidy - improve the look of your garden by tidying up. Get rid of any rubbish and junk lying around.
Look after your boundaries - fences, hedges and trellises frame your garden and give it impact. Clip hedges, repair and repaint fences and trellises.
Go organic - don't use chemicals; you are helping the environment. Using chemicals is dangerous since its easy to get the dose wrong and accidental spillages can occur. No chemicals means more weeds - attack these with vigour and you will keep them under control.
Give your patio and decking a facelift - hire a powerhose to clean up dirty areas.
Start a compost heap - all the leaves have now fallen; collect and compost them and you will be rewarded with rich leaf mould next spring.
Start browsing seed catalogues - seeds are an inexpensive way of adding colour to your borders and its terrific to see the results from such a tiny start.
Think vegetables - start planning a vegetable garden now. Growing a vegetables is easier than you think and extremely rewarding.
Get inspired... books, magazines and programmes are a rich source of ideas. This time of year is perfect for putting your feet up and immersing yourself in garden dreams.
Plant a tree - trees are kings of the garden; it's always a good time to plant a tree.
Keep gardening - there's nothing more exhilarating and refreshing than a day outdoors. Don't let the weather put you off.

Also keep an eye on Diarmuid Gavin as he appears on the second series of the RTE One show, I Want A Garden, which is due to be filmed in February 2007. Diarmuid is offering his garden design skills to create unique, high impact gardens. Well worth watching - you might get ideas and inspiration to redesign your garden.

Micropropagation of Plants - What the term means

2006-12-10T22:40:00.000Z

Today I was listening to Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4 and one of the topics discussed was micropropagation. I rarely miss this programme and if any of you have aspirations to be a better gardener then you would do well to tune in to this BBC Radio 4 broadcast. Bob Flowerdew went on to explain that this is the method by which most tree nurseries now use to propagate or grow their trees. the advantages are that this method makes it easier to grow plants in a uniform way; plants will have the same physical characteristics. The biggest disadvantage with micropropagation is that pests and diseases can more easily enter a plant, making it more difficult to control the pests and diseases.

The bottom line is that you can grow or propagate plants using the ordinary methods of planting seedlings or taking cuttings (root, stem or leaf). You will still get reliable plants - what matters is the aftercare. A little TLC goes a long way towards ensuring healthy, viable plants.

Plants and other organisms - how is global warming affecting them?

2006-12-06T00:44:00.000Z

Global warming is causing havoc with plant and animal species throughout the world. If more plant species are going extinct then one can only assume that the animals and other organisms which depend on them will also become extinct. Think of it like this - every living thing is part of a food chain; when there is an imbalance in that chain the net result is species being killed off. For a food chain to be successful it requires a diverse range of organisms to keep the momentum going. The influence of global warming is a direct threat to that essential balance which underpins all food chains.

I have an excellent website to recommend to all gardeners and non-gardeners which is Brooklyn Botanic Garden based in Brooklyn, New York. Very concise advice is given about gardening throughout the seasons. Put this site in your favourites! BBG explore a broad range of topics: gardening, horticultural, botany, garden design etc. Bookmark their site!

Planet Earth Under Threat...

2006-12-04T23:32:00.000Z

Every Monday night on BBC Radio 4 there is a very interesting programme called Planet Earth Under Threat which deals with the affect of global warming on plant and animal species around the world. Tonight the programme stressed that it's now official that plant and animal species are out of harmony with each other. Global warming means longer summers, longer growing seasons, milder winters and earlier springs.

All this dramatic change means that plants produce flower buds much earlier which are more susceptible to sudden frosts. Because autumns are milder the leaves of deciduous trees remain on much longer. This in turn has a knock on affect upon organisms that depended on the leaves falling to the ground and rotting. The nettle is one of the first plants to come into leaf and the peacock butterfly depends on the nettle breaking into leaf at a specific time in spring. Now that nettles are coming into leaf earlier this butterfly is finding it more difficult to use nettles as a habitat for egg laying. Plant and animal ecosystems are being ruined as a direct consequence of global warming.

Perhaps one of the most adaptable organisms in the face of global warming is the mosquito. Scientists have set up clinical trials to examine the adaptability of this small insect. The mosquito can evolve very quickly to overcome the changes of global warming. It can achieve this because as an insect the mosquito has a fast life cycle with many offspring. Contrast this rapid adaptability with the small family sizes of other organisms including humans and you get the impression that we as a species could become extinct very quickly! Let's hope the human race can adapt to the changes of global warming.

Scindapsus sp. - cultivation, propagation & maintenance

2006-12-03T00:53:00.000Z

This essential plant information is for the benefit of Dave and anyone else interested in cultivating Scindapsus (Devil's Ivy). Please be aware that this plant can only be grown as a house or indoor plant in this country or indeed anywhere that does not have a tropical climate. Although judging by the rapidity of global warming we in Ireland might not have long to wait before a tropical climate is established in the northern hemisphere!

Scindapsus ( syn. Epipermnum)
Name - Pronounced skin-DAPS-US.
Description - Leathery heart-shaped leaves. Some types have markings on their leaves. Scindapsus are climbers closely related to philodendron. Can be trained to trail down or climb upwards.
Origin - Solomon Islands
Family - Araceae, arum family
Care Tips - Enjoys bright filtered light. Allow to dry out between waterings, water moderately during spring and summer, ensure there is good drainage. Cut back stems to encourage bushiness. I would direct your attention to this last piece of information as these 'plant care tips' are what will determine the success or other wise of your Scindapsus or indeed any 'house plant'.

SCINDAPSUS

DESCRIPTION: This small group consists of twenty tropical, climbing plants native to South-east Asia. These plants are valued for their large, attractively variegated leaves, which may be heart-shaped or ovate. These plants, commonly known as Amapallo Amarillo, Devil's Ivy, Hunter's Robe, Ivy Arum, Pothos Ivy, and Taro Vine, also produce arum-like flowers with greenish-coloured spathes. These plants are excellent for growing in a hanging basket, training up a moss pole or wall, or for draping over a pillar. They are excellent as house plants. The most widely grown variety is S. pictus 'Argyraeus', which climbs up to 40 feet. Its 4-inch-long, heart-shaped leaves are mottled with silver on the top.

POTTING: These plants need a minimum temperature of 50º F. They should be sheltered from cold drafts and direct sunshine, although they do need bright light conditions. The best soil mixture for them is equal parts of peat and loam with enough sand to make it porous and a few small pieces of charcoal. They need moist soil during the growing season, but only water slightly during the winter. These vines need some humidity. To provide this, stand the container on a tray of moist pebbles and mist the leaves with water frequently. Pinch the tips of the growing shoots off occasionally to produce a bushy plant. Note: Make sure to keep these plants out of reach, as they are poisonous to cats and small children if ingested.

PROPAGATION: The tips of the shoots, about 6 inches long, can be taken off and inserted in well-drained pots of sandy soil. Set these in a propagating case with bottom heat until they form roots, after which they can be planted in separate pots.

VARIETIES: S. aureus & var. Wilcoxii, Marble Queen; S. pictus & var. argyraeus.

The importance of the oak tree as a habitat for other creatures

2006-11-28T00:11:00.000Z

Oak trees are a habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals. It is important that older oak trees where most of these microscopic plants and animals are found are allowed to grow unharmed. In Scandinavia and Northern Scotland it has been found that a certain species of tick is being dispersed with the oak seeds. Also due to global warming this tick species is carrying other diseases which are harmful for animals. This information was made available on the BBC Radio 4 programme Planet Earth Under Threat on Monday (27.11.06) night.

Another horrible aspect of rising temperatures is the bleaching of coral reefs which is caused by the algae leaving the coral and as they do they rip the coral cells apart. Thus the white bleached colour of the coral which then dies. All of this plant and animal destruction due to global warming. Let's face it human beings are 95% to blame - we have polluted the earth for several centuries. It isn't getting any better. One wonders where it will all end...tsunamis, earth quakes, volcanoes, floods, scorching heat, disease, famine, desert, total destruction of the planet???

Why I like Japanese anemone. Coppicing & Pollarding explained

2006-11-24T01:13:00.000Z

Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida) is one of my favourite late summer / early autumn plants for providing colour to the herbaceous flower border. This perennial plant is still in flower in gardens which have a sheltered aspect. Remember it's late November now and by right this plant should be gone from the scene; however the effects of global warming are ensuring that Japanese anemone and other types of plants will continue to flower into early winter.

As promised I used the web to find definitions of the following two horticultural terms: Coppicing & Pollarding:

Coppicing is the art of cutting trees and shrubs to ground level allowing vigorous regrowth which will also ensure a sustainable supply of timber for future generations.

Pollarding is carried out on large tree species in urban areas; these trees were often planted because they were pollution tolerant. They were pollarded (where the head of main branches are cut back to promote a more bushy growth of foliage) to prevent them outgrowing their allotted space, casting shade, obstructing electric wires and streetlights or blocking gutters.

The best time for pollarding many trees is in late winter or early spring when food reserves are high and the tree is not under water stress.
The least favourable time may be in the autumn when the wood is at its driest and can allow better access for decay fungi. The wood is also drier in frosty weather.

Pollarding is best started on young trees as young wood responds rapidly to wounding reducing the risk of decay. Initially the tree is grown to the desired height and branch framework.

Once pollarded it is important to continue the cycle of cutting. The weight and angle of the new branches can lead to renewed weakness, particularly where many branches are crowded together. Although having a tree pollarded regularly can be expensive, a lapsed pollard tree can require future surgery removing larger parts of the tree at a greater height.

Branches should be cut above the previous pollarding cuts, to avoid exposing older wood, which may be at an increased risk of decay. In some cases it is preferable to leave some living branches intact or to cut above a side branch. It is important to know what each tree will respond to. If this is not clear then I would recommend you seek the advice of an arboriculturist.

Gardening Blogs....

2006-11-22T01:21:00.000Z

The web has many useful avenues of research; especially if you happen to be a gardener with an equal interest in writing, even if it is about gardening. Gardening and writing have a lot in common mainly in that both pursuits require discipline if they are to be enjoyed. The following gardening blogs will answer your appetite for all things green and flowery. The writers demonstrate through their writing how it feels to be a gardener and lover of plants.

Ornamental Tree Nurseries & John Cushnie

2006-11-19T22:04:00.000Z

Ornamental Tree Nurseries
Terms used in describing ornamental and fruit trees:
½ standard - a tree with approx. 1.2 metres of stem before the head of the tree.
¼ standard - a tree with approx. 90cm of stem before the head of the tree.
A standard is a term used to describe - fruit tree on a 150cm. clear stem. Planted in orchards and usually budded on a vigorous, (M25), root stock.

Other horticultural terms which I will define in future posts include: Coppicing and pollarding.

Take a look at Gardeners' Corner (BBC Radio 4) with John Cushnie where you will find his bi-monthly articles - he has some great advice for your garden; his gardening advice articles cover everything from bulbs to vegetables to lawns to hedges.

When to prune Photinia x faseri 'Red Robin'

2006-11-15T02:07:00.000Z

This post is especially for Brendan who likes the red spring leaves of Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin':

Common Name:Christmas berry
Genus: Photinia
Species: x fraseri
Cultivar: 'Red Robin'
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Moist, Well-drained/light
Height: 400cm
Spread: 400cm

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' is one of my favourite shrubs, and it gets its name from the sealing-wax-red young growth. In that respect it resembles pieris, but it doesn't need lime-free soils, you can grow it on any soil. It grows very fast, but doesn't really need feeding unless you're growing it in a small container. It's a vigorous shrub, quite hardy, tough and easy, grow it outside.

You can prune it as soon as the colour in the young growth begins to fade away in the spring, and that will produce more red growth. If you keep clipping it you'll get red growth right through the year into the autumn. It's evergreen, and very easy to shape. You can train it onto a single stem as a standard, simply reduce the small side shoots until you have a central stem, keep that growing up with all the foliage at the top until it reaches the height you want, and then just maintain a bowl, pyramid or whatever shape you want.

Leaf mould has many benefits...

2006-11-14T18:04:00.000Z

Last Sunday on Gardeners' Question Time (GQT) a discussion took place about how to make 'leaf mould'. The GQT panellists who gave this lecture were Anne Swithinbank & Bob Flowerdew.

First collect all the leaves you can and place the larger ones on the ground; then using a spade or a sharp shovel chop them into smaller pieces. It also helps if you pass the leaves through a shredding machine prior to stacking them in the leaf mould area (which you can build using chicken wire). Leaves can also be stored in perforated polythene bags (bin liners etc). Once the bags are full of leaves create holes in the bags using a garden fork. Always cover the leaf mould area (prevents too much rain water falling on leaves) with an old piece of carpet or tarpaulin.

During dry periods apply some rain water to the top of the heap. It is also advisable to apply some leaf rotting compound to the heap. Animal or human urine can be used - this liquid will speed up the decomposing process. Human urine contains phosphoric acid which is a good decomposing chemical.

Leaf mould is almost devoid of nutrients - its main function is as a potting compost additive and it is excellent as a soil improver when dug into the top four inches of the soil. It can also be applied to the soil surface and allowed be absorbed into the soil.

Leonardo Da Vinci on Nature & Gardening

2006-11-08T01:25:00.000Z

Leonardo da Vinci was a great man for studying an assortment of diverse subjects which he likened to studying nature. This makes sense because like most things in life - nature is full of connections. For example: crops or plants in general need air, soil, water, sun, wind to grow successfully. Likewise the best plants and the best people need to be given the best diet and living conditions so as to thrive as organisms.

Leonardo was a perfect example of this maxim: he was born into a well off family, he ate the best food, he studied under the best teachers, he strived to do the best he could with his life. You could say if it wasn't for his being born into a privileged class the world would never have heard of this time honoured genius.

If I was alive in Leonardo's time I would have made my way to Italy and asked him personally would he take me on as his gardener. Okay, the man did move around a lot, but he would have needed a handy gardener/ sort of butler/ chauffeur (horse drawn carriage) to help him with his many appointments etc. So I would have qualified as his perfect servant. But I would have endeavoured to enlighten Leonardo about horticulture and the vast world of plants and their associated organisms. I'm sure Leonardo would have listened and debated with me at great lenght on these interesting subjects.

Naturally I would have had to be proficient in Latin in order to communicate with Leonardo; Latin being the language of the educated 'well-off class'. But I would have tried my best because I would have been inspired by the 'Master' himself to achieve my full potential....

Home & Garden - a woman's preserve

2006-11-04T14:27:00.000Z

Recently I happened to be listening to the BBC's Woman's Hour radio programme. I found myself listening to this interesting broadcast mainly because they were doing a feature on gardening. It seems that in Victorian England women set the ball rolling in the area of domestic gardening. The men were too busyworking in the factories that were the Industrial Revolution.

"A garden is a place of solace, a place of joy, a place to be enjoyed." I'm not certain who said these words, but they summed up what gardening is all about.If you have a garden, a window box or one plant in your room - enjoy it! Remember gardens are organic - they are alive; gardens and plants live and breathe the air that humans breathe.

The Olive Tree Story...

2006-11-01T23:44:00.000Z

The olive (Olea europaea) is perhaps the oldest tree species in the world. There are 13 million olive trees growing in Israel. The oldest olive tree has been identified - it grows happily in an olive grove on a hillside above a village in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. This valley is Lebanon's most important farming region - 40% of small farms are located here. This particular olive tree is certified as being at least 6,000 years old; which means that it predates Christianity and perhaps many other religions, even Islam. It would indeed be interesting if this tree could talk as it would have some compelling stories to tell.

More on olives and vineyards in future posts...

A Kerry Garden

2006-10-29T21:37:00.000Z

This is what a Kerry garden looks like at the end of November; well what more can I say except that gardening in this part of Ireland is a real pleasure. Why? Principally because the climate is mild thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream which flows all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. The result of this warming channel of water is an extremely pleasant plant growing environment in County Kerry and other parts of northern Scotland and Norway. Let's hope thst global warming does not change this welcome natural phenomenon.

Poetry and Gardening

2006-10-27T23:19:00.000+01:00

I am devoting this post to a favourite poet of mine, his name is Brendan Kennelly. He was born in Ballylongford, County Kerry. Brendan has been based in Trinity College Dublin for many years; he was a lecturer in English. I still catch glimpses of him as he walks about Dublin. If he has a garden I'm sure that it must influence his creative talent. Brendan has written many volumes of poetry and his excellent website enables you to listen to him reading his own poems.

Gardening or just having a garden or even a nice park to stroll through is a bonus when it comes to writing - poetry, short stories or indeed novels. The Greeks and the Romans used to meditate and walk in their grand gardens. It is true that most ancient civilizations were inspired by gardening and the selection of plants they could grow.

My own experience is that gardening affords one a quiet time to make planning and writing a totally natural and connected experience. You can also achieve this level of 'connectedness' with your creative self by strolling through a beautiful botanical gardens like the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. Take time to visit the NBG between now and Christmas - you'll be pleasantly surprised by the plant collection and the friendly staff.

Terry Wheeler & his Liverpool Garden in Dublin

2006-10-25T01:31:00.000+01:00

This post is dedicated especially to my work colleague Terry Wheeler. All his life even since his school days Terry has been an ardent Liverpool supporter. As well as all things soccer, Terry is a dab hand at gardening. Yes sir! He told me how he designed his own garden and planted it as well. Fair play to you Terry you might yet have a future in the old horticulture department!

For any of you visiting Liverpool make sure you check out Ness Botanic Gardens located in the grounds of The Univesity of Liverpool. Here you are sure to find a great collection of plants and even some wildlife.

Eugene Greaney a friend of mine from my school days in County Kerry is also a passionate Liverpool FC fan. I remember Eugene showing me how he had completely decorated his bedroom in all things Liverpool. Terry is similar and I remember him from a few years back driving his Ford Fiesta which had its interior decked out in Liverpool flags and emblems. If anything can be said about Terry it's this, he is a mighty ambassador for Liverpool FC; may he always inspire people to support Liverpool FC.

Over the last four to five weeks Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ (male) has been displaying its dark red flower buds. These flower buds will remain over winter and in the spring will open as fragrant heads of white flowers. No berries are produced but it will pollinate female skimmias nearby. Where space permits only one plant, Skimmia ‘Robert Fortune’ produces both flowers and berries. All skimmias tolerate pollution and coastal conditions.

Tribute to my Mom, Bridget Mary Carroll

2006-10-19T01:05:00.000+01:00

My Mom Bridget Mary Carroll passed away on the 19th October 2005; she was 64 years of age. This is her first anniversary. As a mark of love and respect to Mom I will be including tributes in poems and pictures in this post and subsequent posts.

Richer than Gold
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a mother who read to me.

...Strickland Gillilan

A Mother's Love
This world has jewels, money, land
position, power, and mansions grand
But a mother's love more precious far,
than all these other treasures are.

A mother nurtures, guides, protects
Her teachings each child's life affects,
and when in later years they go,
away from home, and friends they know
Those teachings will provide the stay,
to keep them on the good straight way.

Though some may stray to taste the fruits,
of worldly pleasures -- still the roots
of Mother's teachings, love, and care
will some day draw them back to where,
the Savior's love can them enfold,
and fill them with a spirit bold.

So children, each and every day,
honor your mother in some way --
To show that you appreciate,
she taught you how to love, not hate.
To comfort you, to guide, to lead,
to be there in your time of need.

But best of all, -- to show the way,
that leads to home with God some day.

...Brenda Ascott Fry

Mom I wish you sweet and everlasting peace. Amen....

Tales from the Garden & blue skies in Arizona

2006-10-16T01:20:00.000+01:00

I found this highly interesting garden blog and it is well worth keeping an eye on as the writers profile the development of their garden in the Pacific North West in the USA.

Also found this link to gardens in Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth being the birth place of the one and only Bob Dylan, the famous American folk singer who recently released a new album entitled: Modern Times. The gardens which I found through the above link to Duluth are nice and if you happen to be in that part of the world make sure to visit the gardens listed in that website.

And this link is for Tony Reil who emigrated to Phoenix, Arizona a good few years ago. The link is to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. We both went to Causeway Comprehensive, Secondary School. I think he left Ireland about 1989. Haven't seen him since. So Tony if you come across this post be sure to get in touch.

Larry Molloy an associate of mine said that he loves Phoenix, Arizona - he's been there three times already. Clear blue skies and warm weather the whole year round...doesn't the image just make you want to leave Ireland?

If Sean Dalton happens to be reading this blog - well hello there Sean! Hope that life is very good for you Jenn and family in Denver, Colorado. Will visit you sometime next year. Sean & Jenn have a fantastic Christmas. I Know it's a bit early to mention christmas but so what. The season of giving will be here very soon indeed. Naturally there is Denver Botanical Gardens to visit if you my faithful readers find yourselves with time to spare in the 'Mile High City'.

The beautiful Cape flower: Nerine Bowdenii

2006-10-16T00:52:00.000+01:00

Nerine bowdenii have been in flower with about three weeks now. They are South African bulbs which are widely planted in warmer areas for their very late display of rich flowers like elegant pink lilies. In colder gardens, give them all the sun and shelter available, plant in bold groups and be prepared to protect them over winter. Established bulbs gradually become overcrowded and force their way to the surface, an indication that late summer division may be needed.
The Royal Horticultural Society have given Nerine bowdenii their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Common Name:
Nerine
Genus: Nerine
Species: bowdenii
Skill Level: Experienced
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light
Height: 45cm
Spread: 10cm
Time to divide plants: February to March

Leonard Cohen and his Beautiful Garden

2006-10-13T13:42:00.000+01:00

Leonard Cohen, what more can I say except thank the man who created such wonderful music and lyrics and throughout the course of his life provided emotional sustenance to a multitude of people.
If Leonard has a garden I know that it must be 'his beautiful place'; a garden to relax and be inspired by the colour of the flowers, the shape of the foliage and the trees and shrubs. I'd love to get the opportunity to be Leonard's gardener. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to do the weeding around his flower beds and herbaceous borders. Ah well there are no limits when it comes to one's imagination.
Just a few nights ago at The Point Theatre in Dublin there was a musical tribute to Leonard Cohen. Various international music artists performed many of Leonard's majestic lyrics. The show proved so popular that a second night was added.
For anyone who has yet to hear Leonard Cohen then I urge you to visit his website where you can listen to his fabulous lyrics.

The beauty that is Saint Stephen's Green Park

2006-10-10T21:02:00.000+01:00

If you ever happen to be visiting Dublin city, the capital of Ireland make sure to stroll through Saint Stephen's Green Park which is located close to Grafton Street. The Luas trams also pass by the outside of the park. You will be pleasantly surprised to see a diversity of plants and mature trees in what is an excellently landscaped public park. St. Stephen's Green Park is administered by the Dublin City Parks Department.

Explore the following pictures of St. Stephen's Green Park. These pictures show the park at the height of the late summer bloom during July 2006:

I would also recommend this fantastic website which will educate the reader about St. Stephen's Green Park: http://www.answers.com/topic/st-stephen-s-green

For anyone with an artistic eye then this man's (David Sanger) photographic work speaks for itself:
http://www.davidsanger.com/stockimages/4-753-28.ststephens

October in Your Garden

2006-10-09T00:42:00.000+01:00

General garden tasks for October include:

Tidy borders, clearing weeds and cutting down flower stems
Compost all green rubbish generated by clearing the garden
Don’t put woody material or the roots of perennial weeds on the compost heap unless they are first put through a shredder
Remove fallen leaves from the crowns of plants to prevent rotting
Continue replacing summer bedding with winter and spring bedding as the flowers come to an end
Lift tender perennials and tender bulbs and bring indoors
Continue planting spring bulbs
Once the vegetable patch is cleared, carry out winter digging
Plant spring cabbage and over wintering onion sets. Plant garlic towards the end of the month or next month
Pot up herbs for winter use
Make a new lawn by laying turf
Reduce mowing and clear piles of dead leaves from the lawn to stop the grass turning yellow
Sow a new lawn if you haven’t yet, before the new grass gets hit by hard frosts

Those interesting Magpies

2006-10-07T23:05:00.000+01:00

A little while ago during a pleasant October evening I observed a solitary magpie foraging in the grass near a hedge in Herbert Park. What caught my interest was the way this medium sized bird hopped along the grass. He or she did this 'hopping along' when I got too near. This behaviour made me wonder if magpies were unique in performing this elegant little skip along. But I remembered seeing blackbirds and jackdaws also doing the exact same manoeuvre. Apparently these birds instinctively decide skip along the grass or undergrowth when they feel that a human is getting close. If they feel threatened in any way they have the option to fly away thereby disconnecting themselves from imminent danger.

The French for magpie is Pie bavarde; the Spanish call the bird Urraca; the Italian call the magpie Gazza; the German for magpie is Elster while the Irish for magpie is Snag breac.
Even more fascinating is the scientific name for the magpie - Pica pica. Pica is the Latin word for magpie, which is a member of the crow family - the Corvidae.

Magpies inhabit both broad-leaved and coniferous woodland. They prefer areas which afford the opportunity to forage on the ground, nest, roost and find shelter. This bird is also happy in urban areas including large cities.

Parasitic Plants

2006-09-29T00:53:00.000+01:00

Parasitic plants are an interesting species. They are inclined to grow in the direction of a host plant due to the affect of volatile chemicals secreted by the host plant. Volatile chemicals are secreted to a greater or lesser degree by all plants. Parasitism in the context of plants is a relationship in which one organism uses the nutrients and water of another plant, the host, to the detriment of the host. Parasitic plants belong to about 15 families of flowering plants.

Scientists studying this phenomenon at Penn State University in the USA carried out research which revealed the usefulness of these volatile plant chemicals. For example volatile plant chemicals could be biologically engineered to repel the growth of certain unwanted plants (weeds) in cereals and other tillage crops. Research is continuing into the future uses of volatile plant chemicals. Hopefully more groundbreaking developments will occur soon.

GARDENS ILLUSTRATED

2006-09-22T23:44:00.000+01:00

Perhaps one of the best British gardening magazines is Gardens Illustrated. This monthly publication is excellent because it has feature articles on plants; gardening people; garden places to visit; garden design; what to do in your garden this month and ofcourse readers' letters. I don't always purchase this magazine but at least six times a year I do, having been influenced by the content.

What particularly interests me is the magazine's new series looking at successful design solutions for the garden, which begins in the October issue. Andrew Wilson a Surrey based garden designer, teacher and writer explores and explains the thinking and issues behind structural garden elements. Andrew Wilson is the author of two books: The Book of Garden Plans (2004) and most recently Influential Gardeners. Both books are published by Mitchell Beazley.

Also in the October issue is a free offer when you subscribe to Gardens Illustrated. For doing this good deed you will be rewarded with a free RHS Good Parks Guide worth £12.99 (Euro 19). This guide details more than 500 of the UK's free public parks and green spaces. There are also beautiful pictures and colour illustrations of these man-made landscapes. Well worth the money I say!

Autumn Berries & Raised Terraces

2006-09-21T22:53:00.000+01:00

To ensure that pyracantha is covered with berries in autumn, prune it in stages. Prune some stems in early spring, then leave these for the rest of the year. The flowers they produce will turn into berries. Cut back some of the other stems immediately after flowering.

If the garden rises away from the house, consider creating raised, level terraces rather than a sloping garden, with a focal point near the end to keep the eye in the garden.

Three days of darkness and no Garden Luxuries

2006-09-20T20:24:00.000+01:00

Apologies to my faithful readers about my noticeable absence from ‘the world of blogging’; this was due to an electric power failure in the rented accommodation where I live. Thankfully an electrician arrived on Tuesday morning and the problem was repaired – at least for the time being. It’s an education to experience a lack of electricity and one can only imagine what it must be like to live in parts of the world where people don’t have access to electricity. Their lives must be radically different to ours. No electric power means no T.V., no computers, no internet, no pumped running water, no power tools, no fancy garden lighting, in fact no luxury gardens – only productive gardens. So life without electricity is radically different indeed. On that note my faithful readers and gardeners alike I will bid you adieu and always be quick to remember to be grateful for the electric current which illuminates your lives and provides you with a future in this insane, brutal world. You may not have a front garden, you might not even have a window box but at least you can visit fine gardens on the internet and dream grand dreams…

Poems for your Garden

2006-09-12T00:32:00.000+01:00

There are gardeners and there are poet gardeners. I think you will agree that the following poems exemplify this fact.

Hen and Chickens
The "Hen" is in the' garden,And the "Chickens" are there, too;
They've travelled far to get here,
Across the ocean blue.
Of course, they do no scratching,
The reason is they can't; They're not like other chickens,
For they are just a plant.

-JOHN CARROLL

The Garden
Across the road a garden grew, And bent among the flowers,
A spare old man stooped to his task Or he sat and dreamed for hours.
He had slaved away his early youth In a pharmacy day and night.
A pallid drudge year in, year out, He was starved for color and light.
He had no time for romance,He grew to shun mankind.
Too stingy to spend emotion, He closed his heart and mind.
He reaped the fruits of frustration, In that dull round of care.
A life out of doors, the learned man said, Might bring surcease from despair.The gay nasturtiums stirred his heart, Velvet dahlias woke his pride
The roses he loved like children,The lily was his bride.
He left this mortal plane long since,
But the garden calls him still:He walks there when the moon is low,
A bent form, dim and chill.

-FRANCES STRAWN LIVINGSTON

Herbaceous border gets 'the chop'

2006-09-07T14:54:00.000+01:00

This morning as I was taking a pleasant stroll in Herbert Park, Donnybrook, I was amazed to find the park staff busily cutting back the scraggly herbaceous border. What a surprise! I liaterally had to do a double take! Can't be happening I thought as the female gardener called Naidia snipped away with her secateurs at an overgrown clump of sedum. Anyway wonders never cease. This very same herbaceous border was the subject of one of my recent posts - I seem to remember being very critical of the state of the said herbaceous border and in particular the head gardener, Dominic Madden. Well my humble apology must be forthcoming to the aforementioned Mr Madden. It must be said that he was no where to be seen this morning - but he is afterall a head gardener with responsibilities that may necessitate his being present at other parts of Herbert Park which is quite a large public park at 32 acres (13 hectares).

Hopefully the current rejuvenation of the herbaceous border will continue and in due course the pruning back of all adjacent shrubs. We must strive to make Herbert Park a much better maintained public park. This will ensure that Dubliners and visitors from abroad will impressed by the maintenance standards of our parks.

There should in my opinion be a system of annual best maintained and managed public parks which would have a monetary prize as well as a trophy. Such a procedure would encourage the various head gardeners and their staff to make more of an effort to do a better job. Motivating the staff of the public parks would be a very worthwhile exercise. Not alone would they be empowered to do a better job but they would feel a personal loyalty to the park. In the majority of cases bonus incentives do make a difference to peoples' approach to their employment duties. But I suspect this radical change will not occur until maybe the next century!

Don't treat your indoor plants like a barber would!

2006-09-05T18:22:00.000+01:00

Today as I was getting my hair washed and cut at the barbers in Ranelagh, Dublin, I noticed they had a variegated ficus plant growing in a container just inside the front door. The ficus or fig plant in question did not look too healthy - leaves all turned toward the door and the large window; very few leaves and branches on the side of the plant facing the inside of the room. What does this mean? Simple really - don't ever place a ficus or any indoor container plant inside a front door especially a door which spends the whole day wide open. Indoor plants detest draughts and they need to be positioned in a prt of the room which does not suffer the effects of draughts. It is also advisable to rotate your indoor plant containers once every two to three days as this action will provide all areas of the plants with an equal amount of daylight and sometimes sunshine. Today I also had a pleasant conversation with Dave - a driver based in Dublin Bus Donnybrook bus garage. He told me that he had put up a trellis so that his indoor scindapsus - botanical name: Epipremnum aureum (Scindapsus aureus) - Devils Ivy plant could climb up along this wooden support.

Just last night another driver (Tyrone) revealed that sheeps droppings on sand dunes in Wexford were responsible for a plethora of mushrooms. These mushrooms are edible, but beware! There are poisonous mushrooms also and it is worthwhile to get your mushrooms checked out before going into a field and filling up containers of what are esssentially 'fungi'.

Crocodile Hunter killed by a stingray

2006-09-04T13:35:00.000+01:00

Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter has been killed by a stingray. Over the years I remember watching his wildlife programmes and thinking this person goes beyond the meaning of risk-taking. If you read any of the web information about Irwin you'll soon see that the man constantly jeopardised his life and once held his baby son while feeding a crocodile. If there's one thing that can be said about Steve Irwin and his 44 years on this planet its this - 'he lived life to the maximum'.

Steve Irwin and his legacy of wildlife adventures will live on for a very long time...

Taking about naturalists - Sir David Attenborough the English naturalist who is now 80 years old is perhaps the most famous of all wildlife explorers. His long broadcasting career has seen him travel the world in search of all creatures great and small. His many books and publications are a testamony to a man who is engrossed by the wild world of plants and animals...