A Bit of Blarney!

Last Sunday evening I paid a visit to Blarney Castle to see the snowdrops in bloom!As it was late evening I was a bit too late to justify an admission charge for the sake of half an hour so I relied on a free peek through the gates leading into the snowdrop laden avenue! Maybe I will get there earlier another time !

Some hellebores in the foreground too!


Daffodills and snowdrops.
The locked gates through which the drifts of snowdrops can be spied for free!
The avenue going into the castle grounds with clumps of snowdrops on each side.
The silhouette of Blarney Castle can be seen through the trees as the sun was going down.
A welcome coffee and muffin in Mackeys cafe afterwards!
Finally,spotted this great sign in the nearby Blarney Woolen Mills shop!

Happy Gardening!

Guerrilla Gardener!

Read this lovely story on the paper this morning,christened the guerrilla gardener ,this australian born guy is filling potholes all over the east end of London with little mini gardens complete with props which include,deck chairs,picnic blankets,golf clubs etc.!He uses is subversive gardens to alert city officials to the danger posed to cyclists when they ride over the potholes!The following pictures show just how artistic and creative he is though I am thinking how long does his work last before the next bike or car rides roughshot over it! He would be a busy gardener if he were to come my fair city of Cork!

Signs of Life!

Small signs of life in the garden at the moment...............

Hopefully this is my Lily of the Valley making a comeback from last year!

Narcissi tete a tete coming on.

These are my indoor paperwhites at the moment,lovin them! The scent is amazing while sitting in the room at night even!They came from the local garden centre and have since flowered and are a good 2 weeks in flower now and still standing tall!

What an alternative to growing your bulbs in soil!Spotted this pic in www.bhg.com(Better Homes and Garden)using Lego in one,very imaginative and colourful!

First tete a tete to flower this year in my garden,there are reports of daffodils and snowdrops and crocus flowering a lot earlier around the country this year due to the milder than usual weather!

A  solitary grape hyacinth peering through!

Snowdrops from last year..........returning!

More tete a tete in the garden which badly needs weeding now!

Campanula shining in the cold sunshine

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy and prosperous New Year 2012!

Christmas Clippings!

Its almost Christmas 2011,and as usual it flew from September to now it seems.Just a quick tour of whats been happening around here the past few weeks,must go and collect my turkey soon,hubby is hoovering,daughter C.has baked a few cakes,fridge is overflowing,and things are slowing down.The sun is even shining here in Cork!After the snow of last year the weather so far has been almost balmy!Days are already lengthing by 2mins.from today,yeah!!! Roll on springtime!
Daughter Claire (on right of picture)graduated in Retail Sales Management and her first cousin Stephanie graduated in Beauty Therapy!
Son John (in yellow jacket and eyes closed!) performing at the Cork Arts Theatre in a production of Mrs.Bob Cratchits Wild Christmas Binge!

Copied this idea from Kristy Allsop who made something similar on TV.
Sumptious chocolate cake for dessert,made to a recipe by Carla Blake.
Spot the humans! Seen in the city centre,a full band of musicians!
Just what the doctor ordered...................
Into Le Chateau (bar) on Patrick St. for a welcome Irish Coffee to rest up after the shopping!A happy,peaceful and healthy Christmas to all in blogland,see you in the New Year!

Weekend

Over the weekend I visited the markets in the city centre,a vintage show nearby and went holly hunting! Just a selection of photos from each,the park below is lit up after 4.00pm and is transformed for the little children who visit.Storytelling and gingerbread men and candycanes are all visible through the railings and fairydust is sprinkled over the park when it gets dark.Daylight does not do it justice!

Loved the signage!

Gingerbread men and candycanes!




Nearby tree all lit up!
Part of a vintage fair I visited over the weekend,there was also a vintage fashion show which I did not get to take pictures at,but was great to see the range of dresses,jackets,headgear,jewellery etc.on display.Vintage fashion is all the rage at the moment though at my age I think I would be just "dressing my age!"Best left to the mid twenties I think!
Went foraging for Holly this weekend(I had already spotted a lovely tree of holly growing in an old graveyard!)and after hearing on the radio that it would keep in water with plant food away from heat I decided to start gathering. As well as armfuls of lovely berried holly I got this tree shaped piece as well ,cut from the top branches.I intend to sit it in a large pot and make a mini holly tree out of it and decorate with some lights and leave it in the porch.
And finally.......a full vase of fruit on Monday..............

Same vase of fruit on Friday!

Happy Gardening!

Ferries and Festivities.

This passenger ferry the MV Julia is docked here in the Port of Cork for the foreseeable future having been placed in examinership unexpectedly in recent weeks.After a major campaign by interested parties last year to have the ferry reinstated to service the Cork /Swansea route between Ireland and England it enjoyed some success but the winter schedule had to be curtailed until next April at least.For now it is a towering presence in the city centre being visible from many angles and at times looks like it is stuck in traffic!Took a few snaps on a walkabout this evening.
Looks like a giant boot!

Reflections

Just one scene from the window of Brown Thomas department store depicting the legend of the Children of Lir.
On a quick trip to the city centre or "town" this evening shopfronts were looking very festive as the lights and decorations were on full display,following is a small selection!
Winthrop Arcade all lit up.



This store in the city centre is always decorated beautifully for Christmas!
A bit fuzzy!

Happy Gardening!