Catching the Sunshine

The sunshine comes and goes here in Ireland and, with that, the light changes very quickly from the glare of full sun and skies of blue to the dull grey of our overcast and cloudy hours – and I have not mentioned the regular fog we experience here beside the river, nor the mist and rain which are a common part of Irish weather. So, it is wise to take advantage of the brighter hours to take a few snaps of the garden.

This is my view from where I sit indoors and, as you can see, even a blue sky will have some clouds but I actually prefer them, certainly for photographs as they add to the sky, I think. 

This is Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’ in full flower and now the flowers are beginning to get that beautiful red tinge to the edges of the petals and this will continue to extend until the white flowers become entirely red.  (Shhhhhh! The hedges do need to be trimmed – this morning’s work!)

Near the top of the garden with the bright foliage of Acer negundo ‘Kelly’s Gold’ – The Oval Garden is at the other side of the bed which is edged in stone

A nice area to sit in The Oval Garden as it has a good view down the length of the garden.

Looking down the garden, a group of three hornbeams, Carpinus betulifolius, on the left, and a glimpse of the river in the centre.

A peep into The Shady Garden with a Robinia pseudoacacia backlit by the morning sun. This was grown from seed around 2000.

 

A little area started two years ago – a hedge of a small-leaved euonymous on the right which I think would make an excellent replacement for box hedging if blight continues to be a problem. On the left is a bed under a cedar which is planted with a collection of snowdrops for spring and these are overplanted with this Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Cambridge’ which I like very much as it flowers so well and is so easy to propagate – these are all from one purchased plant. 

Down the garden to this area between two beds. It is planted with spring bulbs – crocus, snowdrops, fritillaries, scillias, daffodils and camassias with some orchids yet to come. It is left to its own devices and the native flowers give a nice display. We have sown Yellow Rattle to reduce the vigour of the grass and give the flowers a better chance to thrive and it seems to be working well.

A different view towards the bottom of the garden with a small chestnut, Aesculus mutabilis ‘Induta’ on the left, followed by pink watsonias and a hawthorn, Crataegus crus-galli, in full flower. 

The watsonias and the hawthorn – thankfully, that hawthorn has grown well and I have lifted the lower branches. It has the most vicious thorns and I jabbed  my head on it innumerable times while cutting the grass – driving the lawnmower, watching the edge so as not to drive into the bed and going straight into the thorns, a very painful experience. 

And, so, back indoors for the morning cup of coffee!