Drive or Write?

Decisions early in the morning are just too much for the tired mind. When I woke at five this morning the thought came to me that it would be a good opportunity to drive the 160km to see and photograph a previously unseen orchid. I calculated that I could be there in two hours with …

Striving for the Gold Medal

"If being miserable was an Olympic sport, he'd be sure to win a gold medal" - there are many variations on this quip, simply substitute anything you wish for "miserable". My own ambitions lie in television personality abuse. I have been practicing for years and feel I am - through daily rigorous practice - reaching …

Just Taking Five!

The temperature dropped to a more comfortable level today and it was very pleasant. We both woke early this morning and between that and, I reckon, accumulated tiredness from the past week we were not in form for gardening today and decided to have a day of rest. Mary did go out to empty the …

I Spoke Too Soon!

Last week, I complained that it was too hot not realising that it was only warming up and that this week would be more like the gates of hell than an Irish garden. We had one afternoon with 28.2C [82.76F] and others almost as hot. Ireland had its first experience in twenty years of what …

Roaring along the Road.

The title, and the content, are more than a nod to Fionola's recent blog from west Cork in the Roaringwater Journal she and Robert write and which features all they have found of interest in their neighbourhood whether it be architecture, history, the great outdoors and all things natural. Finola's recent post was about the …

It’s Just Too Hot!

That was the week that was in it - it was just too hot! We had the rain last weekend - and it was very welcome - but the week quickly changed to clear days and scorching sunshine with 26C here on Wednesday afternoon. Common sense would have told me that it was not suitable …

Lismore Castle Gardens in 10 X 2

We have always visited Lismore Castle Gardens but this year we have become far more regular visitors. With the Covid pandemic restricting our desire to travel further from home or to mix with people to any great extent, we are enjoying locations closer to us more than previously. There is a great advantage to visiting …

The Corporate Ladder

It has been mentioned more than once, or twice, that I am becoming as wonky as the stepladder I use in the garden and around the house and that it is, perhaps, time to replace one or the ... well, the ladder! The comments haven't been that harsh! It has gone a little loose at …

The First Glimpse

It was to be expected, at least hoped for, that one of the pheasant hens which have been absent from the garden for some time would make a reappearance at some stage and it happened today. It was for a few moments only and I can only hope that the food that is put out …

You Wouldn’t Know What it’s Going to Do.

The forecast rain fell in torrents in many parts of the country but was little more than a nuisance with us. There was enough of it to interrupt normal gardening activities but not enough to be of benefit. The garden is dry and what rain we had during this past week did little more than …