Yesterday was another very mild day. Mild enough for this large bee to be out and about, checking out all my glasshouse seedlings. Anyway, ar aon nós, she had wandered into the glasshouse and for a short while was unable to locate the emergency exits.
At the time I was checking last year's geraniums for water and greenfly when I noticed her, silently resting against the frame. Her, not me.
The geranium needed water added and whitefly removed. Happy again now. I moved two of the large geranium pots outdoors but I'll need to be alert to low night temperatures for another 6-8 weeks or thereabouts. They will grow better outside in a sunny spot, and I'll put them back inside if necessary.
The story had a happy ending when the bee buzzed off somewhere else.
Garden centres are gearing up for the mad rush and gardeners are gearing up for visits to garden centre. Its a win-win situation.
Before the mad rush, I visited my local Country Life yesterday and came away with nineteen plants for a tenner. A single Aubretia Kitte Blue, a container of twelve cauliflowers and six beautiful promroses. The variety is unknown. While primroses are generally known to be yellow, it’s not always the case: there are so many varieties and colours available now.
I chose the stunningly vibrant lilac/pink ones standing erect on tall stems. The petals are so precisely formed, and right in the centre is a contrasting yellow. Within an hour, I had planted them into larger pots and they look great among the other spring plants.
Later, during the course of several gun battles on television, I elected to open up my Irish Wild Plants book. Primroses are given a chapter to themselves. Here are some items of information relating to them:
Long ago in Ireland, people used to hang a string of primroses over the door at the start of May. It was said that the primroses would protect the house as the fairies were not able to pass.
In many places primroses given as a gift should be a very full bunch or else misfortune would ensue, and a single primrose brought into a house was an omen of death.
In herbal medicine primroses were considered useful to treat jaundice, insomnia, tuberculosis, toothache and anxiety.
Coughs in horses were cured using crushed primrose roots strained in breast milk and put into the horses’ nose frequently!
In Irish it’s name is sabhaircín (pronounced sour-keen)
Finally, the Druids often carried primroses during their Celtic rituals as a protection from evil. Fragrant primrose oils were used to purify and anoint during these ancient rites.
For the past number of years, I have grown some vegetables. In 2015 I had created two raised beds in order to make things easier for myself. Most raised beds are constructed using wood to a height of about 30 centimetres, but I decided to use concrete, and I raised the beds much higher.
One of my favourite vegetables is Brussels Sprouts. The interesting thing about sprouts is that they are also favoured by caterpillars and slugs. Back in 2017, I selected three plants from the row of seeds I had planted and set them about 60 centimetres apart. As the butterfly season approached I covered two of the plants with netting and left the third uncovered. The result was that the butterflies colonised this plant, while the others were saved for our use.
This year I intend growing vegetables again and I put a permanent netting in place. Nothing will be planted here until mid-April but I like the idea of being able to keep all the home-grown food for ourselves rather than feeding the invaders. I will need to do some further adjusting during the summer because the sprouts will rise higher than this netting. How will I stop the slugs? I think I’ve got it sorted.
The rain began at lunchtime yesterday and it’s still at it. There was a very brief respite for about two hours after dusk. I had intended doing my usual bit of cycling this morning, but I opted instead for some recovery time. Time to put other jobs on the long finger too, such as powerhosing the front driveway, getting pallets to make a composting area behind the glasshouse or starting the cold frame that will be needed in April. It’s not even the right weather to go taking some photographs so I am taking a look back through some shots taken since last summer. It’s a cheat day, really. Happy to reminisce.
Full moon and frost last night. Truth be told, the full moon is at 4pm today, but it looked full last night, measuring 99.3% just after midnight, clearly visible in a cloudless sky. That's why the frost arrived. Just as well, therefore, that I put in extra protection for the rhubarb plants. I had been digging a few days ago and I needed to remove the plant mulch and horse numna. While I was doing this I realised that an upturned terracotta pot (or two) would be good insulation. The height will be good too, as rhubarb forced in this way will grow to about 20-30cm before long. Unfortunately, forcing rhubarb robs the plant of valuable energy, and later summer growth may be compromised. It is recommended to do this only every second year.
The garden seats are put away and will not reappear until April. It's just not warm enough to sit outside comfortably. But it is definitely warm enough in the glasshouse whenever there's direct sunshine. Today was one of those days. I read my Kindle for a while and enjoyed the warmth. I'm reading Educated, by Tara Westover.
Let spring begin! These small daffodils are called tete-à-tete. Standing at just 15cm, they are not prone to breaking in strong wind. I will have many more of these over the coming weeks. These ones have been growing well for the past few years. I simply put the container away in a shaded corner after flowering and forget about it.
I've been watching closely. Nature is amazing. I had scattered plenty of sand and gravel on this patch of ground under the Acer. It is in dark shade during the summer and less so now. I had put the sand there to suppress weeds. It has worked well. Recently I noticed small almost- circular hollows, each one about 10cm across and about 3cm deep. They have been created by small birds, mostly house sparrows. They use the sand for their weekly dust bath. Even in winter, this area is dry because it is sheltered by the wall and it is banked up so that any excess water runs off. Dust baths, also called dusting or sand bathing, are part of a bird’s preening and plumage maintenance that keeps feathers in top condition. The dust that is worked into the bird’s feathers will absorb excess oil to help keep the feathers from becoming greasy or matted. The oil-soaked dust is then shed easily to keep the plumage clean and flexible for more aerodynamic flight and efficient insulation. Dry skin and other debris can also be removed with excess dust, and regular dusting may help smother or minimize lice, feather mites, and other parasites. (Credit: Melissa Mayntz, The Spruce)
I spent a while digging today. The soil was unbelievably dry and very easy to work. Actually, I have very little digging to do each year. Most of the garden is weed-proofed using loose stone over a layer of membrane. In other places, there are dense ground cover spreading plants. The only areas of bare soil are the vegetable bed and the annual flower bed. Today was a good day to get started. I didn't stay long at it because I was interrupted by a heavy shower. It was on this bed I had spread seaweed before Christmas, so it's now completely dug in. The vegetable planning can now move on to the next phase.
When I started doing a short daily update four months ago, my brother said that it would be hard to find something to write about for the winter. I had similar thoughts too. Anyway, I decided to stick with it, and as the weeks went by I realised I had not missed a day. It felt a bit like the award given at the end of the primary-school year: no missed days. At no stage did I find it difficult to keep it going, because there's plenty to see in the garden, even in winter. Because there is no growth and very little colour does not mean that there's no life. Plants are hibernating and staying protected from the cold, and when conditions become favourable they are like a little dog let off a leash.
This little thing is Phlox subulata. It is very insignificant during the summer because it is very small, perhaps a mere 10cm across. It gets dwarfed by the strong growth of larger plants. The variety is 'McDaniel's Cushion'. After I took some photos and this video, I looked it up again on my ShootGardening page. I am reminded to take softwood cuttings from April to July. I will be looking forward to having six of these next year.
Final thought: We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it is our garden that is nurturing us. ~Jenny Uglow
Mine is a small suburban garden. It's about 10 metres by 30, and it's big enough to keep me satisfied. On the other hand, the Waterford Greenway is 46 kilometres by about 2 metres wide. It is my extended wild garden. I cycled a section of it recently. Guess what I saw? Apart from the most beautiful wildflowers, wildlife and stunning scenery, the Valentine guys & girls have been getting in the mood. I think it's very cute. During the Middle Ages, it was believed that birds paired in mid-February. This was then associated with the romance of Valentine. Although these legends differ, Valentine’s Day is widely recognized as a day for romance and devotion. I can just imagine how neglected my garden would be if I were to be the devoted weeder and waterer only on one day of the year! Keep it going, folks. A puppy is not just for Christmas. Love is not just for today. ❤️ Keep digging, feeding and planting!
It's another beautiful day here in Dungarvan. It is mild and dry with just a blustery wind to move things about. Things like air and rotary clotheslines.
Today was an opportunity for me to return to my Three Things practice. Usually done before breakfast, I spend a few minutes with notebook and pen to jot down things I like and things that need doing.
Ajuga Black Scallop is looking great. The dark maroon is very distinctive and it is just so shiny! It loves a semi-shaded spot and it spreads quickly to suppress weeds. Now is a good time to divide it in order to spread it further so I'm adding that to my list of jobs.
The wallflower is about to bloom, and when it does it won't be just a few flowers. There are plenty on this one. The scent will be good too.
I have mentioned the Skimmia japonica Temptation several times in recent months. It continues to sparkle. The berries are dangerously red, and now the flowers are on the way. I'm certainly happy that I chose this for the patio area.
As always (except yesterday), there are jobs to be done. I'll get cracking on the Ajuga plants very soon and I will be able to get sufficient plants to cover a square metre gap between two Fuchsia shrubs. The shed needs another tidy-up and the front driveway needs to be powerwashed.
It's great to notice these jobs, but they don't get done immediately. I've got a long finger and these tasks get put there. Never fear, though! Everything happens in its own good time.
If you have a job that's been on the long finger, leave it there until Friday. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and all thoughts of such things need to play second fiddle to this very important day.
There's not much to do in my garden so we visited the beautiful town of Lismore. In the Vault Café, I was thrilled that they were happy to serve me a fried breakfast. Nothing very surprising there, you might think. However, as it was after 3pm, they might easily have said no. The served up a great breakfast (including yummy spinach) and I loved it! Afterwards, we took a short ramble around the Millennium Park to inspect the Bug Hotel and other environmental initiatives. These hotels are becoming a real fashion. Perhaps I'll work on a miniature version. Another project for the list. As we drove home, I listened to an inspiring radio interview on the Ray Darcy Show. Ray spoke to "Mr Ireland", a young Galway man who combines hurling, modelling and Mr Ireland competition. His story about seeking help for mental health issues resonated beautifully with me. This is also becoming fashionable. Men have tended to be like the ostrich until recently. Now, things are changing. As Bertie used to say: A lot done; more to do. In my case, I have a few strands to my bow: cycling (both leisurely and intense), gardening and writing. Each helps me in various ways whenever life circumstances become difficult. The cycling today was leisurely for 55km and moved to the intense side for the final thirty minutes. Just as the lovely downhill return from Old Parish began, somebody lit the fuse, to such an extent that I recorded my max HR as we approached the foot of the descent. Time for coffee. The Vault comes highly recommended.
I was given an apple tree back in 2012 (approx). I had loaned my spare bike to a student. She cycled regularly with our club while studying for her exams. As she headed away to college the following September she returned the bike and with it a columnar apple tree. She knew of my interest in gardening. What a most thoughtful gift! It has blossomed every year since then. The apples are tiny and we leave them for the birds. Last year the buds opened very late in March after the Beast departed. This year, they are very early. Very early indeed. Likely they will get a cold blast of Arctic weather before winter is finally over, but for the moment I am enjoying new growth once again. I had pruned the tree last month as it had started to encroach on the Acer beside it. A light pruning was all that was needed.
Cold on the bikes at 9am today, as we headed on to Clashmore and Youghal Bridge. The wind picked up and we dodged all the showers bar one. When I arrived home I realised that I had forgotten to open the glasshouse and when I did so I noticed that it was warm inside. The thermometer read 21.3 Celsius. That's just above 70F. So cozy there that I was tempted to sit for a short while with a cup of coffee. Not this time, as the bike needed to be hosed down and washed after bringing home lots of mucky mud once again.
The young seedlings in the glasshouse will put on a growth spurt on days like today. There's been clear blue sky since before midday and the strong sunshine is exactly what they need. Come to think about it, I'd be happy too! With that in mind, I grabbed the opportunity while it lasted and lounge happily for a while to absorb some vitamin D.
We cycled to Lismore into a dirty headwind this morning. A dirty headwind is defined by cyclists as a lazy wind because it goes right through you rather than around you. We were ever so glad to reach the warm comfort of the Summerhouse in Lismore. Later, on our return to Dungarvan, I decided to stop in to the small public garden beside the canal. I have cycled past this spot hundreds of times so it was good to have a closer look. I think it will be a great place during the summer for a longer stop. Perhaps a book and a little picnic too.
Ah, would ya look at that! New growth again. I have to remind myself to look very closely and when I do, this is what happens. The geranium is getting ready to burst into life once again.
The small pink flowers will be plentiful in early May. The plant is growing on a shaded section of an east-facing rockery, sheltered by the garden wall. Later in summer, it will be in deeper shade when the apple tree and the fuchsia come into leaf. For now, I am happy to notice that winter is coming to an end.
The sight of yesterday's colourful Allium from last summer has me searching again for purple. I didn't have to look any farther than the kitchen windowsill. Planted last November, the pansies are pretty unrelenting. The petals do suffer in heavy rain and they need regular dead-heading, but they produce so many replacement flowers. Last year, I was shocked to see how they became infested with whitefly especially when the warmth of spring arrived. I'm on top of it this year, spraying them every two weeks.
Here's an excerpt from Colour Meaning...
Throughout history, purple robes were worn by royalty and people of authority or high rank. Many believe this to be true because the rare occurrence of purple in nature made it one of the most expensive color dyes to create. The United States Military awards the Purple Heart to soldiers wounded in battle. In Thailand, purple is the color of mourning for widows.
The sight of yesterday's colourful Allium from last summer has me searching again for purple. I didn't have to look any farther than the kitchen windowsill. Planted last November, the pansies are pretty unrelenting. The petals do suffer in heavy rain and they need regular dead-heading, but they produce so many replacement flowers. Last year, I was shocked to see how they became infested with whitefly especially when the warmth of spring arrived. I'm on top of it this year, spraying them every two weeks. Here's an excerpt from Colour Meaning... Throughout history, purple robes were worn by royalty and people of authority or high rank. Many believe this to be true because the rare occurrence of purple in nature made it one of the most expensive colour dyes to create. The United States Military awards the Purple Heart to soldiers wounded in battle. In Thailand, purple is the colour of mourning for widows.
This is a throwback to last June. I have three Allium planted in a fine black pot, and this is what I'll be looking forward to again soon. It will be a bit different this year, though. You see, I've got a few extra ones from Farmer Gracy and they will be just stunning. When I say I've got a few I mean I've got 18, including some rare and unusual varieties.
Hebe rhubarb and custard will be a good addition to the garden. I really like the bright colour of this plant. I noticed it today when I visited The Arboretum. However, I did not purchase as I prefer to shop local. I will make enquiries this week. It will be good in a patio container and will grow to 60cm. Flowers arrive later in the year, but anything that is evergreen and variegated is a winner in my book.
It's a lovely spring day here in Abbeyside and temperatures are up a bit from last week. The glasshouse is filling up steadily. That's nine trays germinated, with three more in the propagator. There are about twenty more packets to be sown so this shelf and others will be overflowing by mid-March.
I'd better get cracking to make the cold frame. This is a sort of transition house before the little plants go outside in May.
This photograph goes way back to the summer of 2016. I cannot remember much about that summer but I remember taking this. It is one of my favourite photos. I think it's because of the light and shadows. There are a few drops of early morning moisture to add to it, without in any way damaging the flower. I looked back through my January photos and I thought a bit of colour is needed. This, of course, is a marigold, officially known as Calendula and was sown from seed. Time to grow it again as it is a wonderful plant to deter pests from vegetables.
It's that time of the year again. I'm forgetting about the plants for a short while to get the patio cleaned. Twelve months of grime being cleared away and it will look great when finished. It's a crappy job and usually takes about five or six hours. I am so lucky that the powerwasher cuts out after about 90 minutes and after that every five minutes or so. I don't know why, but I take it as a sign from beyond that a cup of coffee is calling my name.
Today is the beginning of late winter. Still cold, but we haven't had the severe frost that was forecast.
I always thought that the winter months were November, December and January and that the first day of Feabhra marked the beginning of spring. But it seems that all references to spring are now focused on March 1st.
In ancient Celtic times, the feast of Imbolg was a Gaelic traditional festival marking the beginning of spring. It was held on the 1st of February, or about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolg was believed to be when the Cailleach—the divine hag of Gaelic tradition—gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she wishes to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolg is bright and sunny so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolg is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.
Apart from all that, my Fairy Door is closed. The fairies will not be out today. I bought this last week and I was particularly happy to notice the spelling is incorrect. There's probably a fairy spell to fix that.
The little fairy tapped on the window while I was having coffee.
"Didn't you think about it? The powerwasher kept cutting out," she said.
Was it you?, I asked.
Well, to be honest, no. I wouldn't do that. But Mikey the Manic Fairy was all riled up yesterday and he said he was going to cause trouble.
What riled him?
You bought that Fairy Door in New Ross last week, and you just moved it to Abbeyside without asking.
What?
You can't be just moving fairy doors wherever you want. Mikey was all set to help Wexford score a few points in the hurling, and you took it all away. He's here in your flippin garden and he's not a happy fairy.
What can I do?
Well, if I was you, I'd face him head-on, coz he's a crazy fecker.
