A view of the garden (video)

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Mominthegarden

Abieskoreana (which we call our Christmas tree)

Hello! I am having a bit of fun with making videos. This one starts with an opening shot of what we call our Christmas tree (Abieskoreana) [sideways, I might add] and me saying “Hi, this is mom in the garden” … I actually laugh after saying that, realizing that it seems like I am the tree. Please smile with me! I’m still learning 🙂

Flower bed with Japanese anemone

In the picture above you can’t even see the new bed as it looks to be all grass! I managed to get about half of it cleared tonight (after my video). It was pretty dark when I finished! But I’m so excited to get the bed ready. My goal is to get roses in there this winter.

a slightly different view

I was in the garden the past two nights and both times I was treated to the most amazing sunsets. The only downside was that the way I was weeding had my back to the sun so I had to keep stopping to enjoy the show!

Another glorious sunset

I snapped this picture this morning. Still more to do, but huge progress has been made!

The video is just a quick hello and a short visit around the garden. I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by.

In peace,

Dana

Purpose driven flower beds … Gladiolus: The Dark Knights

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Mominthegarden

In the beginning…

I.Love.Flowers. I do. Over the past 6 years I have created quite a few flower beds (10 beds, actually!) because like Claude Monte I need flowers every day. 🙂

then came the first bloom

I am still learning and deciding which styles I like for beds, and how to display the flowers in the beds; i.e. in groups or dispersed throughout, one color / color theme or a mix of colors. I also like the idea of a ‘cutting flower’ bed, where the flowers are purpose grown specifically for cutting.

every stage of growth shows something new

This particular bed (photo at top) was created with the intention of using it for planting squash. I wanted to grow squash on a trellis. Maybe you’ve seen pictures on Pinterest of how lovely that can look? So I killed the grass with newspapers (that is shorthand for explaining how to kill grass without chemicals: cover with newspapers for minimum 3 months), dug up the soil, added compost, let it sit for a season and then it was all set for planting. The only problem was that we weren’t set for building a trellis (yet).

gladiolus with supports (calendula in the bottom left photo)

The squash lost out, because I decided that I was going to fill the bed with the 40 Gladiolus which I had bought the previous year. Of all 40 bulbs, not a single one bloomed in the containers I had planted them in. I was hoping that maybe in some nice compost and enough room they might be happier and I’d get a few flowers.

the blooms are quite large

What a turn-around those bulbs had after I planted them in the bed. They have been blooming since mid-July and it is now mid-August and they still looking all showy.

growing a bit sideways

About the colors… I like purple in the garden, and the picture on the package is purple and burgundy and nothing at all like the purple and red colors which have bloomed in my garden. It reminds me too much of Christmas! But never the less, I love them.

we get a lot of wind!

Can you guess which way the winds blow at our house? The poor stems were fighting a loosing battle. I’m not sure how much help our supports are for them either, since they are still leaning forward! But they continue to bloom and they are simply stunning.

between the bloom size and color and hardiness, I love these guys!

perfect flowers

cuttings from the garden

I have indeed cut stems and put them in a vase a few different times. The stems are so long that after the lower flowers die I can cut the stem a second time and continue with all new blooms at the top of the stem.

2nd half of the stems!

showy from across the garden, too

I really like how they stand out across the garden. Unusual colors for my garden, but I can make them work.

Purpose driven gardening, I like that. 🙂

In Peace,
Dana

Cormac’s Garden: The creating and naming of a flower bed

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Mominthegarden

in the beginning…

I love gardening. What a surprise, huh? I really look forward to the different seasons and watching as everything changes. Every year it is all new again, even though of course it is not new at all. It is even more fun when adding new plants to beds and seeing how they grow, change, and add to the atmosphere of the garden!

further along in spring…

It is fun to make new flower beds. Hmmm, I think I have to re-phrase that. It is fun to plant new plants and shrubs in a new flower bed! The making of a new bed is actually a good bit of work! I don’t use chemicals, so the first step involves covering the grass with newspapers, then covering with cardboard and then stones on top to hold down the cardboard.

Raspberry Ice Fusion Hyacinth adding some color to the bed

I don’t have a picture from the very start of this bed, but I’m sure you probably have a “lovely” picture in your head of what that would look like. A few months later, after the grass is dead, I (read: me and/or anyone I can get to help with this job) have to fork up the grass and turn it over. After the soil is left to dry, the dead grassy bits are easy enough to shake free of soil and add to the compost heap. Then the soil is forked over again to make sure there isn’t any stubborn grass!

spring time

Have you gathered the gist? It is a lot of work. But I think it is worth the work to avoid using chemicals. This bed has been named “Cormac’s Garden” because my son Cormac spent quite a lot of time forking over the soil.

The lilacs’ flowers and leaves are adding a bit of life to the bed, and a new hellebore (‘SP Frilly Isabelle’) was planted.

The hyacinth were added this past fall. I really liked the two different shades of pink which were offset with white.

bright colors for the start of spring (Raspberry Ice Fusion hyacinth)

a deeper color pink (my favorite)

My son is 17 and jokes that all of the beds should be called ‘Cormac’s garden’ as he is often roped into helping out. Let’s just stick with this one for now…

columbine blooming in May

The bed has: hosta, bearded iris, hellebore, Dutch Iris, columbine, lilac

The bed has: hosta, bearded iris, hellebore, Siberian Iris, columbine, lilac

I added one more lilac shrub this year, to the 3 already there. Yeah, I went a bit lilac crazy, but I love their scent!

Syringa vulgaris ‘Andenken an Ludwig Spath’ (my favorite!)

Iris & ‘Charles Joly’ Lilac

I planted some Siberian Iris last year. They apparently are quite happy in this soil because they look spectacular this year (says she quite humbly!).

Siberian iris

I have those same iris in another part of the garden and they don’t look half as nice as these here. Amazing how different the soil composition can be even in the same yard.

a single allium of three which were planted…

It has been fun watching the bed fill out. I liked how it started with shades of pink, and is now filled with different shades of purple. I’ll have to think about what colors to add for the fall. Oh, and I am at it again! I decided that the bed isn’t wide enough!

Hosta at the front, and a look at what it looks like while I kill the grass to widen the bed.

here we go again!

Having something new to look forward to in the following season is the best part of gardening! Don’t you think?

Here’s to new beginnings!

In peace,
Dana

Taking a moment to SIT in the garden

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Mominthegarden

Are you like me and constantly on the go? I mean I am constantly on a schedule. There is just so much to plan and do and enjoy…

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

I love this clock which I saw in Glasgow. “Go! Go! Go!”

But every once in a while, usually dictated by my body shouting that it has had enough, it is necessary to recharge.

Views in the garden today

Today was that day for me. Life has been pretty full for us lately, all good, but it has me rather run down. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to rest today, and really enjoy my garden (after a few chores, of course!).

Hawthorn tree in full bloom

What I really wanted today was a nap; but between the sunshine, and the neighbouring farmer working his field, that was just not happening. So I did a few jobs that have been on my list:

Turned over a new flower bed.

new flower bed

Turned over the compost.

Compost looking pretty good

Marked with stones the hyacinth before they fade away.

Pink & White Hyacinth from early spring

Same garden, but the pink hyacinth are replaced by purple flowers.

Same garden, but the pink hyacinth are mostly gone and now it is a purple garden with lilacs, allium, Columbine, and Iris.

After those jobs were done, then I sat in the grass and watched, and listened, and simply enjoyed the garden.

view in the garden toward one of our cherry trees

view of our “messy” garden that will hopefully be cleaned up this summer… You can see some orange California poppies

allium garden (*great* year for allium this year, following last year’s poor show…)

Blue Tit bird feeding babies in the basketball hoop pipe…

Wow, what a feeling that was. It was kinda strange because I really and truly have a hard time sitting and relaxing. The weather was definitely a huge help. We have had very sunny, warm and simply perfect days.

The bees were busy but hopefully also enjoying the good weather!

I hope that you are able to take some time out to enjoy all that is around you, too.

In peace,
Dana

Wordless Wednesday – Wildlife Wednesday: Butterflies

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Mominthegarden

the outside is white and orange (Orange-Tip Anthocharis cardamines)

It is Wednesday already! How time flies! Speaking of flying … the butterfly in the picture above spent ages flying around my front yard, with me following. There were so many plants it could have landed on, yet it continued to flitter and flutter about, with me following behind! Eventually it did land and click away with my camera did I. It is perched on a dead daffodil, but at least the sunlight was lovely. Pity I couldn’t get a picture of the outside of the wings as they were a pretty white and orange. That is what caught my eye in the first place. I haven’t seen one of these in my yard before.

Just two butterflies … (Green-veined White [Pieris napi])

Hmm, I never saw two butterflies like this before. Let’s just leave it at that…

Peacock butterfly

This lovely peacock butterfly was not in my garden, but in the Bay Garden in Wexford. I haven’t seen one in my garden just yet this season, but I usually do over the course of the summer.

Just a quick, “wordless” post tonight! I hope you all are well and enjoying some nice spring weather!

In peace,
Dana

Life is too short – plant those flowers

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Mominthegarden

Blushing Lady tulip

Life is too short so Plant flowers? Pardon me? Here is where I’m coming from: I know of way too many cases of terminal illnesses, or extremely serious illnesses, or instances of hardship. It is heartbreaking, and can really get me down.

early in the tulip season, right after some rain

Are flowers the answer to all of that heartache? No, they aren’t. But they can be a peaceful and beautiful diversion.

they are works of art to me

fully opened parrot tulip

I think it is important to do things that make us happy, bring us joy, or simply make us smile.

burgundy colored tulips (I am getting quite the collection of colors!)

Why not do something simple that brings such nice returns? You’d be surprised how just seeing flowers can improve your mood. Last year I posted on my facebook page some pictures of flowers which my neighbor grows in her “roadside garden”.

Flowers from a roadside garden near my home

They are so lovely to see. It seems I am always in a hurry and have too much on my mind yet when I see those flowers I just “stop” and enjoy that moment of beauty.

sure if you’re gonna stop and take pictures you’d might as well say hello to the animals too! 😉

For all of those people who are suffering in any way, I pray for you to find peace. May we all find ways to help those around us who might need that extra bit of kindness.

a little bit of sunshine opens up the flowers

I think I’ll do my part in planting more flowers, too, to hopefully bring more beauty in the world.

Flowers from my neighbor’s roadside garden

With warm regards,
Dana

Family time in the garden

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Mominthegarden

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Do you see what I see?

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Mominthegarden

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

purple ornamental cabbage

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

I see structure among the trees…

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

crocus under the trees

a bit of a curved yellow formation

the deep purple colored crocus are my favorite

white crocus

wild life 😉

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 and a hyacinth whose leaves have seen better days…

DCU woodlands … sort of

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

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? 😉

February brings Spring to Ireland … sorta

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Mominthegarden

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

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 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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Monet’s Garden at Giverny …

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Mominthegarden

Monet’s water garden

Now. It is time. Let me explain: We traveled to Paris four months ago and then I started a new work schedule, and then the kids’ gruelling swimming and Irish dancing schedules kicked in and life in general has just kept me all too busy to write about our wonderful trip to Monet’s garden. But now, following the terrible events in Paris on Friday the 13th of November, the situation has presented itself to me that to write about Monet’s garden will in some small way connect me to the people of Paris. There is too much beauty in our world to let the ugly acts of a few destroy that. So please, come with me on a little escape into the beautiful world of Monet’s Gardens…

beauty and tranquility

I enjoyed the water gardens immensely. There was something peaceful and beautiful in that experience, despite being surrounded by many, many people!

water lilies

I love the water.

collage of water lilies

splashes of pink

such a sunny day to enjoy the beautiful views

You are HERE

Before touring a different section of the gardens, here are a few pictures from the inside of Monet’ house.

looking out into the gardens

This room housed many copies of the artist’s work. There was a large, lovely window looking out into the gardens, as well.

another view

The dining room

Color played an important role in the house, as can be noted in the (quite) yellow dining room.

The working kitchen had beautiful blue tiles

The blue tiles in the working kitchen were my favorite, though.

View from upstairs in the house

My son was nice enough to take a picture of the rest of the family in front of Monet’s house

Let me now welcome you into the gardens at the front of the house.

View of the pink house with green shutters

The house is pink. Truly pink… with green shutters. 🙂

arches of flowers and so much color!

which angle is best…

of course there were chickens

I simply loved all of it

a picture with no people!

I loved how they worked this cooking apple tree into hedging

apple tree hedging

It was rather difficult to get a good view of “everything”

so I captured groupings of flowers and colors … or so that was my intention!

the orange section

the yellow section

pinks and purples and a piece of the house in the upper left corner of the picture

lots and lots of pinks…

my new favorite: a mimosa tree!

gorgeous colors all around the garden

You can almost feel the sun with these pictures!

I can almost feel the sun with these pictures

yellow collage

peach

more yellows

timeless beauties

splashes of color everywhere

There are sad times in our world today. But I hope we don’t stop showing compassion and love for one another, or stop enjoying the beauty which is all around us. Our prayers are of course with all of those affected by terrorism.
With Love and In Peace,
Dana

I'm not sure if it is so dreary now because of the world events and the recent weather, but the colors in this picture really jumped out at me...

a pop of color in what feels like “gray times”…

Mom in the Garden

Enjoying life. In Ireland. With my family.

Category Archives: Gardening

A view of the garden (video)

Purpose driven flower beds … Gladiolus: The Dark Knights

Cormac’s Garden: The creating and naming of a flower bed

Taking a moment to SIT in the garden

Wordless Wednesday – Wildlife Wednesday: Butterflies

Life is too short – plant those flowers

Family time in the garden

Do you see what I see?

February brings Spring to Ireland … sorta

Monet’s Garden at Giverny …