Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener
Our garden, gardens visited, occasional thoughts and book reviews
Carol Gracie – you may remember her from those two fabulous books of hers, Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast and Summer Wildflowers of the Northeast – has just written the perfect book for that impossible-to-satisfy gardening nerd in your life. This is a book which has across the board – I suppose I should say … Continue reading Florapedia
Great Dixter, Then & Now is the title and I suppose “Then, Then and Now” would have been too cumbersome a title for this small volume but it would have reflected the contents more accurately for this is a pictorial tour of the garden illustrated with present-day photographs, others taken by Christopher Lloyd himself and … Continue reading Then and Then and Now!
He spends some time each day admiring himself in the glass of the glasshouse though the pecking at the glass might indicate he is not entirely happy with what he sees there. I suppose he imagines it is another cock in his territory and he could not abide that. On other occasions he will stand … Continue reading The Photoshoot.
We were sitting in Elsie Power's Bar at the bottom of The Fair Lane in Dungarvan, my father and I, when he took a notebook from the inside pocket of his sports jacket. After retirement he had been asked by a few families who had known him for many years to do some light gardening … Continue reading Just Tipping Around!
There was a breeze here today that would skin a brass monkey and the few minutes we spent gardening - repotting a few succulent plants - left our fingers feeling frozen so we quickly called a halt. The Head Gardener retired to the warmth of the house while I went over the road to see … Continue reading Seizing the Moment!
"Do you know what's looking nice at the moment?" is a regular comment in our garden with one of us bringing a plant that is looking well to the other's attention. Today it was Mary telling me that Lamium orvala was in full flower and was looking especially good. With the common name of "dead … Continue reading Sticky-Back Power
Waterford, south-east Ireland, Friday, 2nd April 2021 The return from the garden was greater than the effort given this week. Poor weather hindered any chance of doing a bit outside earlier in the week and other things interfered at the latter end but, despite my lack of input, there has been a wonderful burst of … Continue reading Bloomin’ Brilliant!
Here is an exceptionally good book, full or relevant information, practical advice and suggestions to enliven your gardening life. It is an absolutely superb handbook for the enthusiastic gardener. That should be “enough said”; you could stop reading here and go and order it immediately but paper never refused ink nor my keyboard the tapping … Continue reading A Year Full of Flowers…with Sarah Raven.
Waterford, south-east Ireland. Saturday, 27th March 2021 The title is borrowed from a new book from Thames & Hudson which they describe as "an uplifting manifesto in which David Hockney and his long-time friend Martin Gayford reflect on our extraordinary period of confinement, and art’s capacity to divert and inspire." Of course, those who are … Continue reading Spring Cannot be Cancelled!
Still looking good after a long day. The amorous activities are long under way before we reach the kitchen in the morning. Nothing deters this pheasant in his pursuit of the remaining two hens in the garden. It is our presumption that the other resident hens are already sitting on nests, perhaps already hatching eggs, … Continue reading Stamina with Style!
