Know Yourself!

I was told yesterday that I should change the name of this blog to "An Irish UNDERgardener". The Dublin branch of the Alpine Garden Society had their annual lunch yesterday in the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and I had been asked to speak ahead of the lunch. Triona, their events organiser, persuaded …

The Watched Kettle Does Boil Eventually!

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 …

Just Perfect!

During the week Harold McBride, a gardening friend in Northern Ireland, forwarded a photograph taken at the recent Alpine Garden Society show at Cabinteely, Dublin. The photograph was taken by Paddy Smith of the A.G.S. and was of a plant displayed by Billy Moore, a long time AGS member and perennial exhibitor at the Cabinteely …

A Display of Gems

Each year in April the Dublin branch of the Alpine Garden Society holds its show at the Cabinteely Community College and it is an opportunity to view the most beautiful plant gems imaginable and, of course, an opportunity to meet some of the people who are gems of the gardening world. A visit to the …

Label that Memory

While cutting down a now large clump of crocosmias I came on a label in the centre which read, "Crocosmia Bristol/Severn Sunrise/Sunset." Check the name. From Anna Nolan. Sept. 02" . I know now that this is Crocosmia 'Severn Sunrise' and I have enjoyed it in the garden for the years since I received it …