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Schefflera taiwaniana
I've a bit of a thing for members of Araliaceae, a love affair, an obsession you could say, but on one proviso, they have to be hardy (for the most part) to get a place in my garden. Another criteria...
View ArticleFine, I give in!
I've had a niggling nagging voice yacking in my ear for quite some time telling me it'd be a good idea to start a blog.Up until now I've resisted, I've even been told not to do it. Besides, who'd want...
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They're weeds Jim, but not as we know them.
While having a walk some weeks ago I came across stands of wild garlic Allium ursinum. Now, there's nothing at all unusual about that. It's a common plant, found growing abundantly throughout Europe...
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Crimes against horticulture
Yup, they're pretty tacky looking, yet a small part of me kinda likes their psychedelic colours. :-s This little guy couldn't take it, the dyed cactus spines were just a step too far for him.I'm never...
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An obsession?
You could say that, but it's one that I'll admit to, even in polite company.I grow numerous types and I'll cover each of them in turn over time.Normally most Asiatic Lilies that you see offered are...
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Colour in the autumn garden
In Ireland, on a windy and wet autumn day like today it's easy to believe that there's no chance of any more good weather at this stage, the concept seems like a dim and distant hopeful dream. But it...
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Tiger Lily
I love it when Lilium lancifolium 'Supebum' starts to colour up in late August every year, and will point it out to anyone who is interested, and frankly anyone who isn't, cos hey, it's too good not to...
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Autumn dig.
Its that time of year when succulents that I'd bedded out in the garden for the summer must be lifted.My location is normally very mild, with -3C being an exceptional low during winter. I won't mention...
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Munch, munch.
When digging up my succulents a few weeks ago I found that the Echeveria came up a lot easier that it should, it just popped out of the ground."Uh oh" thought I. Yup, damned vine weevil grubs had...
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Autumn harvest
The last of the tomatoes have been picked, I say that last but they're also nearly the first as they were so late going in that they took some time to get going (I'm a terrible and neglectful vegetable...
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The Dillon Garden, Dublin. July 2013
There are some gardens that you visit that you just can't wait to see again, The Dillon Garden is one of them.The garden is the creation of Scottish born Helen Dillon and her husband Val, located in...
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Lilies of summer
I've just been looking at pictures taken in the summer, in some ways it seems like I was snapping them only a few weeks ago. Yet, being outdoors today with a cold cutting wind blowing it was very...
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Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
Slugs, they're a bit of a problem.Many gardeners are in a bit of a quandary when it comes to them. They feel slightly guilty about controlling them, especially using poisonous pellets in these...
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Bargain bulbs
Ah crap, I've done it again.When is a bargain not actually a bargain?When you buy an excessive amount of anything, including bulbs.As I said, Crap.That's pretty much what I'm thinking now that I have...
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Happy New Year!
Well tomorrow marks the beginning of another year, the festive period is coming towards its end and soon this years decorations will be coming down.It's been a great year all in all. The garden has...
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Book learnin'
It's winter, I'm not a fan of winter. I actively dislike it.That's not entirely true, I like the first sniff of coldness in the run up to Christmas with frost in the air, when it's chilly but dry. Then...
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Dhu Varren Garden
Back in July 2013 a few of us intrepid Irish exotic gardeners arranged a meet with our friends Mark and Laura at their garden, Dhu Varren outside Milltown, Co. Kerry.Mark is originally from Northern...
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Winter colour
My favourite plant in the garden this week is the sedge Carex oshimensis 'Everillo'. I say this week but it's really a year round plant.I grow this in a raised area underneath a Sycamore (in the UK a...
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You've got mail
I love ordering stuff online, be it books (either garden or food related), guff from Ebay (almost always garden related) or plants.In Northern Ireland there are very few nurseries that supply the sort...
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