Spring Tidings!

Hellebores ,still a little short on height but looking lovely from my kitchen window, and just spotted the ladybird now!
Day Lilies greening up!

Monkshood sprouting nicely.
Heavenly Hellebores! I always cut off the green leaves once the flowers emerge,they seem to look better without them too.
Daffs. all in a row!
These I posted on the blog a few weeks ago and now they are so much better!
And now for something completely different.............and spectacular! I do not normally involve my family in my blog blatherings but drumroll please...................................my daughter has just published her first book!

As you can see the title is Mousetrapped and is an account of her experience when working abroad in Florida,disneyworld to be exact! It is an entertaining story of how she travelled all alone,knowing no one to Florida with a job secured at a hotel in the Disney complex,leaving a neurotic Mother behind in the process! Catherine,my eldest has always wanted to write a bestseller and with a novel completed and with her agent at the moment we are keeping our fingers crossed! This one went the self publishing route and is for sale with Amazon.com so if you would like to read more.............well you know what you gotta do!

Back cover!
Last weekend dawned lovely and sunny here in Cork,so on Sunday we took a drive to Tramore,Co Waterford a two and a half hour drive approx. Imagine our surprise when we came close to the seafront to be confronted with a sea fog so thick you could not see out to sea,and the cold was no fun either!We left the blue sky and sunshine behind us in Cork.After a quick walkabout we retreated to a local restaurant,Mistys,cheap and cheerful and a favourite since many years ago,and enjoyed a light meal before heading home.It rained on the journey back even to Cork itself.Next time we will head West!
You can see from this photo how dense the sea fog was!
The horizon is not visible with the sea fog,no blue sky here!
Lots of people strolling along the promenade,the fog is descending fast here and it was so cold!

Not Disneyland but the teacups and saucers ride in the amusement park in Tramore, Co.Waterford.Well you could close your eyes and dream I suppose!

St.Patricks Day

Well another Patricks Day has come and gone! In Cork City a food festival was held on the Grand Parade to mark the event complete with traditional Irish music as well and was a welcome sight over the few days. The weather for once was obliging and the crowds were out in force. A few pics of the proceedings follows! Hope everyone enjoyed the day!
Hilarious!
Mmmmm!
Pig on a spit!

Never too cold for ice cream!
All tastes catered for!
Even the iron railings turn into shamrocks on the day!!!!!



Traditional Irish music playing during the food festival
Advertising free tea at the food festival during the ST Patricks celebrations
A Cork Institution!



My "Green" outfit for St.Patricks Day!

St. Patricks Day

Well its nearly that time of year again! Time for all the paddywhackery to come out..........!

This video will give you all a taste of some of the myths surrounding this very Irish Day, take with a pinch of salt!

Springtime!

Its beginning to look a lot like Springtime......................................or so the song should go!

Its after been a cold foggy early start to this morning but a bit brighter now though the clouds look like rain is on the way!Yesterday was the first day I thought I felt a little warmth in the day!These are a few of my spring flowers peeking through at last and some in full flower.Lots of work to be done in the little patch but not until it gets milder!






On another note for those who are struggling with our various vices during the Lenten season, here is an inspirational little ditty that may get you through!Click to enlarge to read! So far I have gotten through a christening party and have a 50th birthday party at the weekend all without a drop of Sauvignon in sight.............so far! My exceptions will be Mothers Day and of course Patricks Day!Cant let the country down!

Fuchsia Alert!

Gardeners around the world have been alerted to a new disease called the gall mite which has been found in a number of European countries,including France,UK,Germany and the Channel Islands.It has not as yet been confirmed in Ireland.The microscopic pest causes severe disruption of the tips of the shoots and it prevents flowering.

The disease is ranked a notifiable disease which means that an outbreak must be notified to the Department of Agriculture.Do not import any cuttings of plants from abroad-apparently healthy or not-if you see the symptoms,report it to the Dept.

Hopefully we will escape this,I am already at the loss of a fuchsia from the severe frosts and have one left so I will be watching closely!

Lent

Today marks the first day of Lent(Ash Wednesday) a time when we traditionally give up something for the seven weeks or so.As you can see from the following photos my choice will be wine,no sauvignon blanc for me for the next while or so!

To Market................To Market!

Valentines Day, we visited a well known garden centre in the western suburbs where they were also holding a farmers market on the day. All sorts were there including live chickens,Alpacas,arts and crafts,food stalls,basketry and live music as well as the array of lovely plants and flowers.The day was cold but a lovely bright blue sky overhead ensured the crowd was up for the outdoor browsing and eating!A bit cold for gardening but lots there to tempt you to buy for the season ahead!

Alpacas getting up close and personal!

Live music too!

Lead the way!

Tea cosies going for 10 euros

Baskets for all occasions!

Lots of Snowdrops!

Polyanthus going for a euro!

Chickens, sorry do not know the breed!

The end product!

Catching up on the gossip!

They must have known it was Valentines Day!

Going home in the late evening, the sun was sinking in a ball of red fire! View coming down Summerhill North, Cork City.