In, Out and Back Again!
It was how the past week went – in and out and back again. We went out on two days to walk, see wildflowers and visit a garden, all very welcome from our now usual stay-at-home living because of Covid 19 and recent numbers indicate that it is very likely we will have to continue this withdrawn lifestyle for some time to come.
It was a search for an orchid, one uncommon here in Ireland, that brought us to Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, a very beautiful village about a 40 minutes drive from home. There is a very peaceful riverside and woodland walk from the centre of the village which brings one to Woodstock Arboretum and Garden with return to the village, and parked car, along a quiet country road. It is a very beautiful and peaceful area and well worth a visit – the village itself is also especially beautiful and interesting and one could well be tempted to stop there, not walk at all, but take in the atmosphere and, perhaps, a few pints!
View of Inistioge 
The ten-arched bridge 
View at the start of the walk 
Green-leaved helleborine 
Epipactis phyllanthes 
Woodstock Arboretum and Garden is historically very interesting, it hosts a significant collection of trees and is a good family venue – woodland walks, picnic areas, a play area for the younger ones and room to wander about in pleasant surroundings. Read Woodstock for a longer account of my visit.
The ruins of Woodstock House
Fern-leaved Beech 
Monterey Pine 
Monkey Puzzle Walk 
Noble Fir Walk 
Parterre and Turner Glashouse
There were wildflowers of interest at home also, in the grass mainly. I refer to them as wildflowers and not as weeds for if I truly regarded them as weeds I would have taken steps to eradicate them. There are two small lawns to the front of the house – these are lawns and are kept as such, treated to eliminate weeds, fed, cut more frequently, sport stripes etc – while to the rear of the house the green areas are simply “grass” and the standards of maintenance, certainly regarding wildflowers, are not as stringent as for the lawns. Here is my selection and the Thyme-leaved Speedwell is an especially good find for me.
Common Mouse-ear 
Creeping Buttercup 
Scarlet Pimpernel 
Field Pansy 
Field Pansy 
Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Eucomis (Pineapple flowers/Pineapple lilies) are highlight plants here at the moment. Some are growing in the garden and others in the glasshouse. I have found them difficult to please in the open garden as we have a high water table in winter and the wet conditions do not suit the bulbs. Some, that are planted under trees, have fared better as the ground is drier there.
Eucomis bicolor 
Eucomis bicolor 
Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ 
Eucomis ‘Pink Gin’ 
Eucomis vandermerwei
Hydrangeas are coming to their best and the regular rains we have had in the past few weeks have suited them very well. Last year’s summer drought put a number under great stress and they haven’t recovered fully yet. Indeed, I removed one this week, partly to allow a narrow pathway through a very wide border but also to simply give up on nursing a struggling plant which was unlikely to ever be as good as it was – sometimes, it is time to give up and move on. Thankfully, there are other hydrangeas which are strong and healthy and looking well at the moment.
Hydrangea bed 
Mixed hydrangeas 
Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ 
Hydrangea aspera ‘Velvet and Lace’ 
Hydrangea aspera ‘Velvet and Lace’ 
H. quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ 
Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ 
Hydrangea ‘Hot Chocolate’ 
An anonymous hydrangea
Finally, some views – some out the garden and some in:
Looking out – a field of oats 
Looking to the river 
Front garden lawn 
Dieramas gone; yuccas in place 
Acer griseum 
To read more Six on Saturday blogs go to The Propagator’s entry for today: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/08/six-on-saturday-08-08-2020/ scroll down to the comments and you will find other bloggers have posted links to their Saturday entry there. Lots to read!
Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener 
lovely!
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Fabulous! You have had a great week and thank for sharing.
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The Eucomis plants catch my eye. Are they commonly found in parts of the world?
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They are native to South Africa and do reasonably well in our climate – as long as the ground is not too wet as this rots the bulbs.
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Great Six. Wonderful views in and out of your garden too.
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Thank you for sharing such a variety of interesting flowers. I love “weeds!” My favorite “flower” as a child was the scarlet pimpernel, which was called “chickweed,” although that is really something different. I actually bought seeds last year, but they didn’t volunteer any plants this year.
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Those views must keep you smiling, Paddy. Your hydrangea selection is outstanding.
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Hydrangeas do well for us except for last summer when it was very dry. They require very little work and give a great reward, long flowering period etc.
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Your post is an absolute delight. I enjoyed the little walk through Woodstock Arboretum and Garden and admire the photographs of your Eucomis. The Hydrangea bed is stunning, as are the views you provide at the end.
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Many thanks for your very kind comments, Catherine!
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I enjoyed reading your post. I read the post on Woodstock Arboretum. It seems such a same that the garden is not better looked after, but the beauty of what is there was well worth sharing. I love the intricate iron work planters and bench and the Monkey Puzzle walk.
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Yes, it is a wonderful place and has so much which has been saved but I so wish more could be done! Gardens don’t make money, I suppose and this work can only be done with the support of the public purse.
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all looking fabulous there Paddy. eucomis is an interesting looking plant, i’ve never grown it. from what you say it would probably be ok here, i have pretty free draining soil.
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They should do well for you and you could always put a few in pots to be sure.
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and looking at the views in your garden. I’m very impressed with your hydrangea collection, and your Eucomis. I have a couple of Eucomis, but after seeing your impressive collection I will try and find some different ones. Lovely photos!
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Many thanks for such kind remarks.
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