Foxglove Love

Last week we were finally planting out the foxgloves into their final positions in the shady garden, bottom of the orchard and shady side of the cottage garden. We have never grown them on so well before so that we are hoping for a great show. That said, they are the size of large cabbages and therefore harder to squeeze in.

Beloved by bees, they are such a welcome sight in early summer. I love that the self sown plants vary considerably so that you never know what you might get - yes normally the common soft mauve with drooping bells on one side but sometimes, if you're lucky, they produce whoppers with beautiful markings and flowers towering above your head.

This year, we have sown lots of Suttons Apricot, some Excelsior, a few whites (they didn't germinate well) and a row or two of Candy Mountain whose upward facing blooms are packed tightly around the stem...supposedly perennial but I find that none of them is truly perennial. That said, I grew the grandiflora type last year - some of them flowered this year, indeed are still flowering - some of them not yet but still showing bonny clumps of foliage which is a good sign.

Foxgloves are an edge of woodland plant, and like dappled shade, although we have seen them thrive in full sun. If they like where they are, they will self sow quite happily however the foliage can overshadow and smother smaller plants nearby so that it may be preferable to sow into a holding bed and transplant in the autumn when there is more room. They seem to resent being transplanted after winter, in spring - it's best to let their roots settle in their final position no later than now.

Irish Mist

Just back from a fabulous weekend in Donegal. There's something about crossing the border into Donegal, passing through Letterkenny and heading towards one of the many beautiful "corners" of the county....you immediately feel relaxed, the pace of life just slows right down. With regards to scenery, you literally are spoilt for choice, from Portsalon through to Portnoo and many others along the way. We had never been to Downings before and the weather was on our side - wall to wall blue skies and sun, bitterly cold at the beach.

We drove round to Dunfanaghy and along the way passed Doe Castle at Creeslough - you can read more about it  here 

There are some beautiful gift shops in Dunfanaghy, especially Olivia's which, although small, stocked some lovely bits and pieces.

We stayed at Downings Bay Hotel and although it was quiet (the time of year) the staff were faultless, rooms spotless with really comfortable beds and the food superb.

For a treat, we headed to The Singing Pub as we had read great reviews on Trip Advisor and we certainly weren't disappointed. The Greek salad starter was zingy and full of flavour but the star of the meal was the seafood cataplana - a medley of fish and shellfish cooked in a copper sealed dish with a creamy sauce, served with saffron rice - I will drive back for this alone....delicious. 

Autumn Sun

A beautiful day today.....calm and sunny...the calm before the storm due tomorrow.

I really should have been outside but, yesterday, I was determined to complete all of the polytunnel work which should have been already done - potting on hardy annuals, perennials and wildflowers.

Cutting down the applemint which was completely overrun with brown mint leaf beetles - the larvae had been devouring the young nepeta and clary sage as well. Unfortunately, I didn't realise that they were a pest and merrily let them take over the entire tunnel!

They're not much of a problem in the garden but in the confined space of the tunnel, it's a different story.

My posts have been pathetically scarce of late - I must do better.
Jobs to do within the next month (do you think if I write them here, it will force me to complete my tasks?!)

• Plant tulips in crates to force in the tunnel for Mother's Day and spring. 
• Plant up spring bedding including bulbs.
• Cut down and burn all peony growth (to help prevent peony wilt).
• Plant remaining narcissus (bought in the sale) in the meadows.
• Move a few roses to more suitable positions (Ghislaine de Feligonde, Agnes & Mme Alfred Carriere.
• Take rose cuttings for favoured varieties....Hansa, Ispahan, Bonica, Cerise Bouquet to name a few.
• Finish transplanting the foxgloves & wallfowers to their final position.
• Move some Lily of the Valley to the side of the lane

The kitchen sink....I could go on forever but this is a good start!

I'm still drooling over online rose catalogues....I had hoped to buy 10 new varieties but having spent so much of my budget on bulbs and bare root plants, I think it may be only 6 or 7 - you can't get a rose for less than a tenner these days. Such a difficult choice with so many beautiful varieties but, then again, it's good to have a want.

A beautiful mix of roses from the garden.

The deliciously sumptuous Ispahan.