Here we are on Day 6 of Cathy’s meme ‘A Week of Flowers 2023’ over at Words and Herbs. What a great idea to remind ourselves of summer in these dark days! It also reminds me these scenes will return again. The world turns with us.
Someone featured Campanula earlier in the week, but alas my memory has let me down. This is a lighter variety with an almost unpronounceable name. Hardy, vigorous and persistent, Campanula portenschlagiana is an alpine, easily grown in rock gardens, on walls, in front of borders, having a mass of small purple bells in summer.
Here we are on Day 5 of Cathy’s meme ‘A Week of Flowers’ over at Words and Herbs, What a great idea to remind ourselves of summer in these dark days! It also reminds me that in six more months, these scenes will return again. It’s a beautiful world out there.
Yesterday, Cathy who is Rambling In The Garden posted her Alliums. Here’s one from here. Singular.
Here we are on Day 4 of Cathy’s meme ‘A Week of Flowers’ over at Words and Herbs, What a great idea to remind ourselves of summer in these dark days! It also reminds me that in six more months, these scenes will return again. It’s a beautiful world out there.
As we approach Winter Solstice, I want to cheer myself up by going back to Summer Solstice. Here in Dungarvan, The Dreary One occurs on 22nd December at 3:27am. Just another eighteen days and things will slowly begin to take a turn for the better here in the Northern Hemisphere. I just want to wish everyone well, and for myself, I’m wishing that my high motivation for garden writing will continue for many a day. I write to share my motivation, yet it’s primarily therapeutic. It’s my magic medicine.
I am intrigued by writers who garden and gardeners who write. The pen and the trowel are not interchangeable, but seem often linked.
Marta McDowell
A plant that flowers for four the six months between both solstices is Begonia. At the minute, these are in the glasshouse, depotted and the corm is drying out. The cycle will begin once again in late spring.
It’s Day 3 of A Week of Flowers, hosted by Cathy from Words and Herbs. What a great idea to remind ourselves of the beginning of summer in these dreary days! It also reminds me that in six more months, these scenes will return again. It’s a beautiful world out there.
Sorbus acuparia
There’s an old Irish saying that goes: “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.” A rough translation is that we live and thrive by sheltering in the shadow (support) of others.
I do love a good quote. Someone who said something which others found to be worth writing down to pass on to others, that I in turn want to pass on to others. I normally use Goodreads as my source, so I searched for “tree”. My favourite one is:
A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.
Some Greek fella.
I hope to care for this lovely tree for quite a while, and leave it to someone else to sit in its shade some fine day long in the future. He or she might even write about it.
Early March 2023
Joining in with Cathy’s Week of Flowers to brighten up the first week of December. You can find Cathy’s post here.
Here we are on Day 2 of Cathy’s’s meme ‘A Week of Flowers’ over at Words and Herbs, What a great idea to remind ourselves of summer in these dreary days! It also reminds me that in six more months, these scenes will return again. It’s a beautiful world out there.
Hello and a big wave to those I enjoyed reading yesterday. 👋
Grown from seed several years ago, Verbascum is a long-flowering perennial. Never have I seen a stem so covered in flowers so closely packed together
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Did you know? The leaves of some species are also known for their soft, fuzzy texture, which has led to their historical use as toilet paper or as a material for torches.
Verbascum, also known as mullein, is a genus of flowering plants in the figwort family. These biennial or perennial herbs are known for their tall spikes of striking yellow flowers. Verbascum has a long history of medicinal and cultural uses, and its leaves are often used in herbal remedies for respiratory conditions.
It’s frosty outside, and seeing this memory of June 2023 brightens my heart. Enjoy your gardening this weekend, even if it’s from the comfort of indoors.
Would you believe it? Two in a row! Dry weeks, that is. Here are a few bobs & bits from a second consecutive dry November into December week here on the SE Irish coast. We had three consecutive nights of light frost, but the remaining annuals are obviously as tough as old boots.
We have bumped up the air-to-water for indoor warmth and the machine is whirring on a more regular rhythm.
1. Salvia
It’s called Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, given to me by my friend Ann. I’ve featured this previously as there was a quirky story to the first time I bought this charming plant. It since died because I didn’t prune it and it snapped.
Ar aon nós, I bought it at The Market in town. Simon said it would be a great gift for Marion, given the Hot Lips name. Later, as I was passing by on my way for coffee, Simon was selling another Hot Lips to a woman. If I were you, he said, I’d not buy it. Just send your husband in to buy it for you!
I’ve a feeling he’d sell sand to the Arabs!
2. Cotoneaster
Planted here four years ago, the Cotoneaster ‘Carpet Queen’ has filled all the gaps. I’ll be able to get rooted cuttings from the edges as there is a two-centimetre covering of loose stone beneath. I’ll grow them on for a year, perhaps six or eight (plants, that is, not years), and plant some at the front of the house. I see some red edges appearing on the evergreen “leaves”. That pleases me.
3. Fuchsia
Three things happen at this time of the year.
The flowers on the Fuchsia are at their very best.
I can begin to see through it because the leaves are dropping.
The low sun from the west in the afternoon wafts through.
Photographs taken are very interesting, if I say so myself. In a few weeks, this will be bare, as a result of the cold, and I’ll cut it back to about 50 cm from ground level.
4. Agapanthus
The blue flowers of Agapanthus from June and July are well gone and only the skeletons remain. Generally I leave them in place until late winter. When I do pull them (literally they come away with a gentle tug), I make them into a posy. Below is one of the two bunches from last year.
5. Bacopa
This annual Bacopa is on its last legs. Two or three of these fill a pot to overflowing.
Here’s what AI says: “Bacopa, also known as “water hyssop” or “Brahmi,” is a delicate and beautiful flowering plant that is popular for its ornamental value and medicinal properties. The Bacopa flower is characterized by small five-petaled blossoms that come in shades of white, lavender, pink, and blue, creating a stunning carpet of color in Páraig’s garden. Native to wetlands and marshy areas, Bacopa is often cultivated in gardens and as a trailing plant in containers, where its trailing stems create a cascading effect. Additionally, Bacopa is highly valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its purported cognitive and stress-relieving properties, making it a fascinating and versatile botanical specimen.”
Thanks very much, AI. I wonder do government departments know that I bought two or three of these? I think I’d be concerned.
On a positive note, it’s a stress-buster so I’m not worried in the slightest.
6. Uncinia
I grew Uncinia from seed in 2021. There are half a dozen scattered around the front and back garden. I think this is an attempt to air-root. I may have lost my marbles.
As its the first day of December, and as its Day 1 of Cathy’s meme, A Week of Flowers 2023, I decided to go back exactly six months to June. What a great idea to remind ourselves of the beginning of summer in these dreary days! It also reminds me that in six more months, these scenes will return again. It’s a beautiful world out there.
Dianthus, commonly known as Sweet William, grown from seed in 2022. I’ll get another year from this biennial. More seeds sown last spring, so I should have a revolving supply. Looking forward to sowing more next summer. Some of he seeds are taken from this one. Will the flowers be same colour or different? Anybody know the answer?
Here what my friend Arty McIntellectoric sent me:
Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is a charming biennial or short-lived perennial flowering plant native to the mountains of southern Europe. This popular garden flower is renowned for its clusters of vibrant, multi-colored blooms that exude a delicate, sweet fragrance. The plant typically reaches heights of 12 to 36 inches and thrives in well-drained soil under full sun or partial shade. Sweet William is adored for its ease of cultivation and ability to attract butterflies, making it a beloved choice for borders, rock gardens, and cut flower arrangements. With its rich history and captivating beauty, Sweet William remains a cherished favorite among gardeners worldwide.
Páraig: “Arty, have you ever taken a moment to appreciate the beauty of Sweet William flowers?”
Arty: “I can’t say that I have. What’s so special about them?”
Páraig: “Well, for one, their vibrant colors are truly captivating. And the fragrance, it’s like a sweet, delicate perfume lingering in the air.”
Arty: “Sounds lovely. Where can we find them?”
Páraig: “They often grace the edges of gardens and rocky outcrops. They’re quite popular in cottage gardens too. I have a few I can give you.”
Arty: “Thanks for the offer. I’ll keep an eye out for them when I’m off hiking. Maybe we could gather some for a bouquet.”
Páraig: “That’s a splendid idea. Sweet Williams would add a delightful touch to any floral arrangement.”
P.
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