A Little Bit of Sunshine in Your Life

“Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”                                                                        - attributed to Hans Christian Andersen. …

A Change in the Light

Inevitably the day comes, that day of change, that day that announces the progress of the seasons, that summer is gone and autumn is with us. The first sign this morning was the heavy dew on the grass, a feature of our north-facing riverside garden and a nuisance at this time of the year when …

On an Autumn Day

But it was not on Raglan Road with Patrick Kavanagh but at home on our own patch taking advantage of a clear spell after what has been a stormy, wet and windy week. On such occasions, when fortunate as we were this week, there is the relief when there is no serious damage done to …

In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker

In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: A Sikkim Adventure - by Seamus O'Brien My goodness, this is an extraordinarily good book! I had expected something wonderful along the lines of the author’s previous book, “In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry and his Chinese Plant Collectors” but this volume has surpassed my most hopeful expectations. …

Seaforde Gardens

Seaforde Gardens will be known to Irish gardeners as an outstanding source of rhododendrons. Patrick Forde developed the nursery to a very high standard and enjoyed a national and international reputation for the quality and range of plants he supplied. Such a garden, featuring rhododendrons, should surely be at its best in the earlier part …

Queen Olga’s Snowdrop

The snowdrop season has started! Yes, it may be hard to credit it but we are into the new snowdrop season. It begins with the watering of potted snowdrops in the glasshouse. These are snowdrops which will not grow for me in the open garden, mainly Greek species which demand a hot and dry summer. …

Meadow Saffron

Meadow Saffron is not a common wildflower in Ireland and it is a thrill to walk through a meadow where it is in great number and to even come across the rare white-flowered form which occurs now and again. There are a number of areas along the banks of the River Nore where it grows …

I Must be Mad; I’m a Gardener!

Gardening is so often promoted as an activity which is good for one’s mental health that I have begun to wonder if non-gardeners look askance at those of us who garden and wonder which form of mental ill health affects us. Depression is the most common conclusion – after all, it is has now become …