Sunday, May 30, 2010

Poppies


After waiting days for the poppy flower to appear from its bud I got two at the same time, they appeared overnight just like the rain! The red ones are still tightly in their buds!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Summer Sunshine

Last Sunday with temperatures promised in the mid to high twenties we set off to a little treasure of a spot about 40mins.drive from our home and enjoyed these views! It is an area totally unspoilt with just a shop and a pub and a bird sanctuary nearby.There are picnic seats and tables where you can picnic and you can also bring along your sun loungers and place them on the grass and gaze out to sea ! The local beaches were thronged to capacity last Sunday owing to the meditteranean temperatures and traffic was a nightmare for some but here we nearly had the area to ourselves,granted no beach but look at the scenery! The area is in Aghada,Co.Cork.










A lovely home with lovely views!
Look at the blue of that sky!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bloom!



Irelands largest gardening ,food and family event returns to the Phoenix Park Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend from Thurs.3rd-Mon.the 7th June,entitled Bloom in the Park,for all info. go to www.bloominthepark.com. There will be 25 large,medium and small show gardens,a floral pavilion featuring displays and the best of Irish plants and flowers. There will be a food market with over 40 stalls of artisan food producers,demos of forgotten skills such as cheesmaking and apple pressing and cookery demos from top chefs!
Bloom has something for everyone young or old!
Having attended last years event which was a resounding success I can recommend it as a great day out,transport to and from the city centre of Dublin and the main train station was very well organised with shuttle buses to bring people to and from the event.
Children are well catered for with entertainment and various programmes during the days.
The growing (no pun intended)! numbers of people who are and want to grow their own will find inspirational ideas at the show and a feast for the eyes and senses is promised and delivered!Below are a selection of photos from last years event.

Pictures of various scenes from last years Bloom in the Park event,during which we were blessed with sunshine!
Floral displays in the pavilion.

Great looking tool shed!
Attentive listeners at one of the many demos!

Amazing colours!


Plenty of comfortable seating available for everyone!

This group of barbershop singers gave lovely impromptu performances throughout the day at various points in the park adding to the atmosphere of relaxation and fun!

My sister and I enjoying our treat of strawberries and champagne in the glorious sunshine,what could be nicer!

Plenty of ideas for growing your own!
A new take on "recycling"!





Aidan Cotter,chief executive of Bord Bia,co-ordinators of the show,said,"Bloom aims to educate,inspire and inform visitors with something planned for all ages". See you there!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Random Pictures

Here are a few photos of whats looking good at the moment on my patch,a little more sun would be lovely to warm things up,its been dry around here for a while and watering may have to commence soon!


My pride and joy each year,acer palmatum it is spreading out onto other plants now and is looking magnificent!
Tulips came on since last year,I think parrot is in the title!
Saxifraga
Arabis

Rhododendron
Clematis Montana in flower up along its new home!
Heuchera
This beautiful bowl of colourful pansies was "rescued "from a cemetary bin! A lovely basket and this bowl caught my eye on leaving the cemetary after a visit and I had to bring them home with me for some TLC! The pansies were all green at the time a few weeks ago with just a few buds coming on and after a little watering and care they are flowering non stop!Thrown out too soon it seems.The basket had a heather growing and something next to it that looked dead so I planted the heather in my front garden with other heathers and emptied the basket, I will find a use for it soon I am sure!I told my husband its called "recycling " when he gave me a look coming out with my "finds"!
An unfurling hosta in my patch out back!
A pink cherry blossom,shedding its flowers.
This was taken in a nearby suburb,pink snow and pansies!