Author Archives: Mominthegarden

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About Mominthegarden

I'm an American enjoying life in Ireland. I live in the country with my family. It is so beautiful here! I've been creating our garden from "scratch" and having fun doing it! I blog about my gardening adventures, and a bit about Ireland, too.

Family time in the garden

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The ditch wall garden full of color

The ditch-wall garden full of color

Working in the garden is not something that my kids would consider a “fun” past time, (or even my husband, ahem…) despite my best efforts to convince them it is!  But yesterday, Easter Monday, we were all outside and at one point we were all working in one garden bed when my older daughter laughed and said “isn’t this nice?”!

The Center Garden ever so slowly being transformed

The Center Garden ever so slowly being transformed

YES, yes it was!  What I call the “Center Garden” is where we were all working.  Over the past few years I’d had a wild-flower garden here, but it went terribly wrong with more grass this year than garden.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time turning the soil/grass/sod.  Yesterday we were able to shake the sod and get rid of the grass while leaving the soil.  What a painstaking process!  It was so wonderful to get the family’s help!

dark pink Hellebores

dark pink Hellebores

A bit of a side note from our working in the garden, but I’ve taken a real liking to Hellebores in the garden.  They can add color all through the winter.  These (above) are a dark pink color, and although they love to get black spot, after I cut off their leaves they look really pretty.  They look like pink bells to me!

Another section of the ditch wall uncovered.

Another section of the ditch-wall uncovered

Another big job the family helped me with is clearing a second section of the ditch-wall.  It was all brambles, ivy and nettles!

close-up of the new section of the ditch wall

close-up of the new section of the ditch-wall

What a job that has been! The wall is in very poor shape.  I’m trying to be careful to keep it as much in tact as possible.  I’m focusing on the bottom section now that the stones are cleared. Believe it or not,  I am hopeful that I’ll be able to plant here this summer.  That is my motivation!  I still have a lot to do to pull up those ivy roots.  If only my good plants were so strong!

full view of "original" ditch wall

full view of “original” ditch wall

Just a few yards up from the new clearing my “original” ditch-wall garden is showing lots of color!  I planted some aubretia last year and it is just starting to bloom.  The daffodils are also just starting to add their color.

sunlight makes everything beautiful

sunlight makes everything beautiful

The key expression around here is … all in good time!

I hope that you and your family get to enjoy time together in the garden, even if not for pulling weeds!

In peace,
Dana

Running Late… Whimsical clock in Glasgow, Scotland

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Running out of time, running late, running on time, which is it for you?

Running out of time, Running late, Time is running out, or Running on time: Which is it for you?

We are at the World Championships for Irish dancing in Glasgow, Scotland and this picture is the first I took in Scotland.  I LOVE this clock!  I instantly thought it depicted “running late” perfectly!  Only afterwards did I think about other options that didn’t involve being late.  Just goes to show that I am always running a teeny, tiny bit behind schedule!

I hope everything is “running on time” for you!

In peace,
Dana

Wordless Wednesday: Pulmonaria

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Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria

It has been a busy week.  Hence, another Wordless Wednesday post instead of a meaty post.  Ah well, I’ll keep at it!   I have, thankfully, at least been able to do bits and pieces in the garden so all is not lost.  But for now, just some pretty pictures of the Pulmonaria which is just coming into bloom.  They will look even nicer when the daffodils around them bloom!

In Peace,
Dana

Pulmonaria with daffodils in the background

Pulmonaria with daffodils in the background

a lone daffodil

daffodil with pulmonaria in the background

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria

Do you see what I see?

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stay tuned for this view in bloom...

stay tuned for this view in bloom…

My husband and I work for two different entities that are both located at Dublin City University.  We walk around the same grounds and, technically, we see the same things.  It turns out though, that we see completely differently what is right in front of both of us.  Funny how that is.  🙂

Looking at the back of the DCU front entrance

Looking at the back of the DCU front entrance

lovely rows of plants

lovely rows of plants

I tend to look at the trees, shrubs, flowers, and whether the environment feels inviting.  It’s no secret that those things bring me joy, so I seek them out.  My husband, not so much.

I guess I like to see things neat and orderly

I guess I like to see things neat and orderly

This whole conversation came about when I asked my husband if he liked how the crocus were planted among the daffodils, as we walked past them.  Maybe you can guess his response:  “What crocus?”  followed by “and what daffodils?”.  These flowers are in front of the Nurses building where we often meet for lunch.  I love the combination!  How did he not *see* them?

Crocus among the daffodils

Crocus among the daffodils

A non-close-up view of the crocus/daffodil combination

A non-close-up view of the crocus/daffodil combination in front of the nurses building.

I love the tall structure of the evergreens along the pathway.

the other side of the pathway near the Nurses building

the other side of the pathway near the Nurses building while the picture below is from the other side of the other side!

Looking out towards the tall structured evergreens

A boxwood oval formation with rocks and shaped boxwood inside the figure.  Hmmm, interesting look?

I really like the grounds at DCU.   I love seeing flowers.  I think they create an inviting atmosphere no matter where they are.

Near the front reception of DCU

Near the front reception of DCU

If there is “sun” in the weather forecast I throw my camera in my bag, because you just never know what you might see on your lunch-time walk.

ornamental cabbage in the park

ornamental cabbage in the park

Take this ornamental cabbage, for example!  What a pleasant surprise to see this in the park.  I must try growing these at some stage because it is wonderful to have some color in the garden at this time of year.

color in the garden with ornamental cabbage and primrose

color in the garden with ornamental cabbage and primrose

purple ornamental cabbage

purple ornamental cabbage

The loop around the park is a wonderful walk during lunch break.  It is peaceful and beautiful.

I see structure

I see structure among the trees…

But if you look closely underneath the trees, you will see these lovely crocus:

crocus under the trees

crocus under the trees

a bit of a curved yellow formation

a bit of a curved yellow formation

deep purple are my favorite

the deep purple colored crocus are my favorite

white crocus

white crocus

wild life ;-)

wild life 😉

an Irish robin in the park

an Irish robin in the park

The tete-a-tete were just starting to bloom when I took these pictures last week.

tete-a-tete (dwarf daffodil) with one anemone

tete-a-tete (dwarf daffodil) with one anemone

tete-a-tete and hyacinth

tete-a-tete and a hyacinth whose leaves have seen better days…

DCU woodlands ... sort of

DCU woodlands … sort of

I call the above picture “anticipation”!  So much bloomin’ potential!

crocus in the park at DCU

crocus in the park at DCU … I love the play of sunlight.

I hope you enjoyed “seeing what I see” while walking around DCU.

In peace,
Dana

There is so much more to this picture than just a building. Do you see the hedges, trees, monument, paving???

There is so much more to this picture than just a building. Do you see the two layers of hedges, tree lines, monument, paving?  😉

Wordless Wednesday: The grass (or feed) is always greener…

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the next section of the field to eat...

the next section of the field to eat…

The contrast of the two sides of the field is what first caught my attention.  Then I saw the cows lined up along the fence and just felt the need to take their picture.  The farmer has been moving the fence little by little each day to allow the cows their fresh food.  It seems that along the fence line is where they then tend to “hang out”! (perhaps waiting for the next meal?)   I think it is sugar beet in the field.

This Wordless Wednesday business is not my idea of full fledged blogging, but when time is short it will have to do until I can get my “real” post finished!

I hope you enjoyed my Cow Picture!

In peace,
Dana

Wordless Wednesday: Winter weather in spring time!

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Corkscrew Hazel tree

Corkscrew Hazel tree (with snow in the background)

We have had such a confusing time with the weather.  Mostly it has been horrible. (I’m sorry, that sounds so negative, but it is so true!)  But there have been glimpses of the wonderful weather that Ireland does have to offer!   I so hope that more good weather is on the way!

Ditch Wall Garden on a gorgeous sunny early spring day

Ditch Wall Garden on a gorgeous sunny early spring day

Happy “Wordless Wednesday” to you!

In peace,
Dana

Brighten your day with cheerful colors

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In the beginning...

In the beginning…

I love flower arranging.  My husband knows this and he very kindly bought bunches of bright cheerful colored roses for me to “play” with.  Isn’t he sweet? 🙂

Adding colors one by one

Adding colors one by one

I started with the orange roses.  I trimmed a bit off of the bottom and then took most of the leaves off (just my personal preference).   The orange color is really pretty.

Natural lighting in our front hall

Natural lighting in our front hall

The yellow roses were the largest roses and I really like them. I only trimmed the tiniest amount off of the stems to keep them nice and tall.

Full view

Full view

I prefer not to have all of the flowers the same height in order to give the arrangement some depth. So I cut some pink roses quite short and have them throughout the middle and the outside of the vase.

Outside lighting

Outside lighting

The colors all went so well together.  To me, it is quite cheerful!

Cheerful colors for everyday

Cheerful colors for everyday

What a lovely “pick me up”!  And so easy to do.  The vase is a very plain large opening glass vase, which was perfect for the amount of roses.

lighting just not working for this picture...

lighting just not working for this picture…

It might be St. Valentine’s Day tomorrow, but really, why not have flowers in our lives everyday?

Happy “Flowers Every Day”  to you!

In peace,
Dana

February brings Spring to Ireland … sorta

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signs of spring

signs of spring

Hmmm, I am wondering how I somehow sneak back into blogland after not posting anything for three months?  Do I just jump back in and pretend I’ve been here all along???  Or maybe I list the five million reasons why I haven’t been able to blog??? No, I think I’ll start with:

I have REALLY missed taking pictures and blogging!!!

O.K., now to my list of excuses 🙂   Suffice it to say that working, coaching, parenting kids who swim and Irish dance, and traveling 700 miles a week has kept me out of the garden. But it has been during this time when I couldn’t be on my blog that I discovered how much I truly enjoy working on my blog, and I really miss it.  So once again, I will do my best to stay on top of my garden and reporting all things beautiful to you (while hopefully maintaining a level of sanity)!

Daffodil bulbs - more signs of spring

Daffodil bulbs – more signs of spring

What could be more beautiful than the greens from bulbs pushing their way out of the soil?  I see this as new signs of life and hope for all things beautiful to come!  I can even ignore all of the weeds and ONLY see the new greens from the bulbs … because why spoil something so exciting?

Tulips pushing through

Tulips pushing through in the Rose Garden

Look at the stones in my soil!  I clear them away all the time, and new ones appear.   Ha!  The same thing happens with the weeds!

Winter Sunshine Helleborus

Winter Sunshine Helleborus

I bought this lovely “Winter Sunshine” Hellebore last year.  The flowers are really pretty!

Helleborus Winter Sunshine

Helleborus Winter Sunshine – look at all of those flowers!

Have I mentioned our weather to you? I titled today’s blog “February brings spring to Ireland … sorta” because the weather we have been having is more  “winter storm-like” than spring-like. We haven’t gone more than a day without rain, and I mean a lot of rain. The bad weather has been relentless since November. November!  We’ve had major (rain & wind) storm after storm after storm.  The funny thing about Ireland is, though, that the sun will peek out for a short amount of time every now and then… just enough to keep us from going completely crazy. Good thing!

Helleborus Winter Sunshine

Helleborus Winter Sunshine

O.K.,  now I have a picture that could win a prize for “Worst Garden Ever” due to the bed being completely taken over by grass.  This is why you should never have a wild flower garden where you really want a proper flower bed.  Lesson learned!

Grass is everywhere!

Grass is everywhere!

I definitely know that anything can be achieved by starting small. Just look at any of my gardening projects and you’ll know I have patience and perseverance. But this bed has me running for any other job in the garden!   I’m hoping one of these days I’ll just dive in and dig up that grass (again)!!!

Weeping Cypress Nootka

Weeping Cypress Nootka

Elsewhere in the garden… My weeping Cypress Nootka is well settled in now. I simply love it.

Abies Koreana

Abies Koreana

Almost directly across from my Weeping Cypress Nootka is my newest tree, an Abies Koreana.  It shouldn’t grow too big, and has a lovely “Christmas tree” shape.  We grow our garden one tree/plant at a time!

Ditch Wall Garden

Ditch Wall Garden

The color in my ditch wall garden is really striking at the moment, don’t you think?

Favorite Winter Flower - Anemone

Favorite Winter Flower – Anemone

I probably have too many pictures of my anemone, but I love the color they provide in the winter and very early spring months!

It was so lovely sharing my garden with you.  I hope you enjoyed it, too!

I hope that no matter what the weather is where you are that you are able to enjoy it! … and I also hope that the rain in Ireland eases up a bit so we can enjoy more time in the garden!

Happy Winter/Spring! 🙂

In peace,
Dana