Gardening in Ireland, our own garden, gardens visited and book reviews
This glaringly red poppy, Papaver orientalis 'Allegro', has been in and out of favour with us since we grew it from seed and planted it in the garden almost thirty years ago. So disgusted did we become with it at one time that we dug it out only for some remaining roots to send up … Continue reading The Thug in the Rain
The blooming of the exquisite Paeonia ‘Souvenir de Maxime Cornu’ is a moment of the most wonderful beauty. It is a moment to appreciate the work of paeonia breeders of the past and to anticipate the main flush of the paeonia season. When Paeonia delavayi and Paeonia delavayi var lutea were introduced from Yunnan, in … Continue reading Beauty Beyond Compare!
No doubt, you will have had the experience of your eyes falling on a plant and then your jaw drops; your mouth opens; you oooh and aaaaah; you go weak at the knees, your heart flutters; you wonder - just for a very brief moment before morals regain the upper hand - that if you … Continue reading The Watched Kettle Does Boil Eventually!
“Anonymous Euonymus” might be a suitable description for eleven months of the year but, even for this generally dull plant, its moment to shine arrives. The Chinese Spindle, Euonymus planipes, is a large shrub or small tree – which it is becoming here after nearly twenty years – which doesn’t catch the eye for most … Continue reading This is my Moment!
I was a small child, always the youngest and smallest in class in my school days, and one teacher constantly sought to console and encourage me by telling me that the best goods came in small parcels. There may be a nugget of truth in the saying and we certainly delight especially in beauty in … Continue reading You Little Beauty!
Phylis Lady Moore was wife of Sir Frederick Moore, Keeper of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin - now, the National Botanic Gardens. She was a very enthusiastic gardener with an eye for a good plant and she grew this form of Iris pallida in her garden at Willbrook. Dr E. Charles, formerly taxonomist … Continue reading Iris pallida ‘Phylis Moore”
Those who grow and those who see Primula 'Dark Rosaleen' are unfailingly cheered to see it come into flower - as I was to see it do so in my own garden today. The dark purple flowers with their yellow stripes match beautifully with the bronze foliage making it a delightful plant. It was raised … Continue reading A Róisín Dubh – Dark Rosaleen.
