The strive for a greener garden centre.

And gardening is meant to be therapeutic

2011-01-24T16:50:00.006Z

In less than a week two journalists from the same paper have left me somewhat surprised by their comments.

The first was Fionnuala Fallon, who did an excellent feature in the Irish Times on Thursday 20th, giving sound advice on growing potatoes. However at the end of the piece Fionnuala recommends a variety of potatoes (Mayan Delight) and lists the supplier, an English Garden Centre.

So explain this - an Irish writer in an Irish publication recommending an English Garden Centre. Hardly supportive of Irish retailers of potatoes, who need just as much support in this difficult economic climate, if not more. What's more, when the product is available in Ireland it is not really an environmentally sound suggestion either.......

So my blood had finally stopped boiling when on Sunday, I opened the Home section of The Sunday Times and read Plot 34 by Mark Keenan. His even less helpful quote was as follows:

"DIY stores and garden centres are expensive and, if you come to rely on them your food -growing efforts will cost you money rather than saving it."

Such a sweeping statement! As an owner of a garden centre I disagree, and not because I wish to live a life of luxury with the multi-millions I make every year (I wish). More that this statement is damming of the free advice, free courses,recycled materials and all round hard work that we as a team put in every year as passionate gardeners. Mark may have his own views but I would suggest he take some responsibility before he tars us all with same brush......

All I can say is thank goodness that there was one lovely garden writer at The Irish Times this week (Jane Powers)and she provides a calming balance in her feature......

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/property/2011/0120/1224287935465.html

Snow

2010-12-19T13:47:00.005Z

Snow is something that as a child I craved, it brings back memories of making snowmen in the garden, great snowball fights and the pleasure of being sent home from school. On the close I grew up in, collectively adults and children would dig two tracks up the hill to every drive to allow the cars to return safely home. The sense of achievement was incredible and not once did we complain. Life went on as normal with the snow, and in my memory the snow was deep and remained on the ground for many days. From my bedroom window I would look out to Rivington Pike and the mast on Winter Hill (part of the West Pennine Moors).

Roll on many years and a different country in which I live and snow seems to be making a regular return. Does it create the same feelings?

In our adult lives the awareness of the impact of the snow and cold temperatures brings a different thought process. As a small business owner the impact in a rural location is one which we have quickly learnt kills off trade. The ability to get out and about becomes one where the decision is based on risk and whether it is essential. The number of road deaths in Ireland is already high enough without the majority of roads receiving any treatment. I am aware that snow can leave others isolated and even our wildlife needs an helping hand.

On the other hand I still get a feeling of excitement at seeing how the simple structures around us are altered, how the landscape becomes even more beautiful. I love the light levels at night when the moon makes everything look magical and mostly I love the pleasure it brings to my own children. I hope their memories of snow remain, as do mine....

Bird Watch Ireland Winter Garden Bird Survey

2010-11-29T20:23:00.005Z

On your marks get set start recording.....but not until the 1st December.

Our most popular survey, the Garden Bird Survey (GBS) helps us to keep track of the fortunes of Ireland’s garden birds. It attracts over 1,000 submissions each year. As the Irish countryside changes, gardens are becoming increasingly important havens for many species, and it is vital for us to know how their populations are faring. The GBS does this not only by giving us a good idea of how our garden birds themselves are doing, but also an indication of how the environment is faring in general.

All you have to do is send in your recordings between December and February. You submit your records through the online form or you can print off a copy of the survey. Full instructions are included.

An activity with no cost, it can be educational for the litte ones,it relaxes the mind and avoids the misery of our current news......

Go on get recording check out www.birdwatchireland.ie

We lead where others follow/copy

2010-11-27T11:08:00.003Z

Delighted to see that my local 'competitor' from the Kiskeam area with the word 'one' in his name has joined Facebook.

Thought they may have been a little more creative in their page description. They have copied and pasted our text and have just altered our name for their own. Not surprised though not the first time and unlikely to be the last.....

My own Facebook page

See the image below of my competitors page ad read the two descriptions on the left hand column............

2010-05-08T22:06:00.003+01:00

Sadly I saw this on Saturday evening. So due to lack of awareness and a cold breeze there was no naked gardening at The Secret Garden Centre. However on Mondays when we are closed I am glad we are in a secluded location....

Get ready for the Fifth Annual World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD)! People across the globe are encouraged, on Saturday, May 8, 2010 to tend their portion of the world's garden clothed as nature intended.

Gardening has a timeless quality, and anyone can do it: young and old, singles or groups, the fit and infirm, urban and rural. An elderly lady in a Manhattan apartment can plant new annuals in her window box. Families can rake leaves in their back yard. Freehikers can pull invasive weeds along their favorite stretch of trail. More daring groups can make rapid clothes-free sorties into public parks to do community-friendly stealth cleanups.

Why garden naked? First of all, it's fun! Second only to swimming, gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude. Moreover, our culture needs to move toward a healthy sense of both body acceptance and our relation to the natural environment. Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us--even if only for those few sunkissed minutes--that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet.

"The body seems to feel beauty when exposed to it as it feels the campfire or sunshine, entering not by the eyes alone, but equally through all one's flesh like radiant heat, making a passionate ecstatic pleasure glow not explainable."

- John Muir, founder of The Sierra Club

All that's involved is getting naked and making the world's gardens--whatever their size, public or private--healthier and more attractive. WNGD has no political agenda, nor is it owned or organized by any one particular group. Naked individuals and groups are encouraged to adopt the day for themselves.

Events like WNGD can help develop a sense of community among people of every stripe. Taking part in something that is bigger than any one household, naturist group, or gardening club can move gardeners with an au naturel joie de vivre toward becoming a community. And in the case of WNGD, it's fun, costs no money, runs no unwanted risk, reminds us of our tie to the natural world, and does something good for the environment.

Dancing in the fields epitomizes the spirit of communion and back-to-basics living.

So what should you do? First of all, on May 8, 2010 find an opportunity to get naked and do some gardening. Do so alone, with friends, with family, with your gardening club, or with any other group collected for that purpose. Do it inside your house, in your back yard, on a hiking trail, at a city park, or on the streets. Stay private or go public. Make it a quiet time or make it a public splash. Just get naked and make your part of the botanical world a healthier and more attractive place.

Secondly, tell someone about your experience. No one owns this event, so it does not really matter whom you tell, but tell someone . Tell your friends about your day of naked gardening; write down what you thought of it and email it to your local newspaper; post your thoughts and images onto an Internet site; submit stories and photos to your club newsletter.

WNGD will be the first Saturday of each May. Visit theWNGD wiki site for updates, reports, and more info as May 8, 2010 draws near.

Magnolia

2010-04-25T08:41:00.003+01:00

It would be hard to find a more spectacular flowering shrub or tree than the Magnolia. The older soulangeana varieties herald the end of winter with their stunning mass display of purple and white flowers on the bare branches.In small gardens there is always a place for either the bushy star-flowering stellata varieties, the tulip-shaped liliiflora varieties or one of the eight "Little Girls" which are crosses between these two.Magnolias love well drained soil, rich in organic matter. A good feed of organic fertiliser is spring is very beneficial as is a thick layer of mulch. They prefer a slightly acid soil.They have very few pests, but snails and slugs love the foliage. Occasionally scale may be found on the branches. In wet springs, the leaves often suffer from leaf spot. Preventative spraying with a copper fungicide should help, but sometimes it is easier to remove the worst affected leaves.Magnolias are best when grown in a sunny position, too much shade will cause leggy growth and poor flowering. It is best to avoid a very windy position as the flowers, especially the large one, can bruise very easily. The evergreen varieties prefer protection from icy winter winds.

It has to be one of our favourite plants at this time of year and although not the cheapest of plants it should be seen as an investment piece for the future.

My first memory of a mature specimen was at the Nymans Garden in West Sussex if you follow the link below you will see some of the stunning images of this wonderful garden.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-nymansgarden2.htm

Earth Hour - Add the Earth Hour Logo to your site to show you're proudly committed.

2010-03-27T04:09:00.003Z

A small contribution can make a large statement. Dont forget to switch off. For more details

http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/?id=26

The Secret Garden does earth hour by candlelight......

Gardening jobs this month: March

2010-03-14T08:16:00.004Z

■ In mild areas, sow peas, broad beans, parsnips and carrots.

■ Continue planting lily bulbs.

■ Order onion sets, shallots and seed potatoes. Stocks are already running low.

■ Cut back hedges before birds start to nest.

■ Prune large flowered clematis.

■ Start to prune roses, removing dead, damaged or diseased stems.

■ Sow sweet peas.

■ Plant winter aconites and snowdrops ‘in the green'.

■ Keep off the grass during frosty weather.

■ Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries back to ground level.

■ Prune fruit trees, removing dead, damaged or diseased branches.

■ Keep feeding the birds.

■ Trim and tidy evergreen grasses and cut deciduous grass back to ground level before growth starts

■ Prick out seedlings before true leaves develop

■ Sow tomatoes, peppers and aubergines from seed in a heated propagator

■ Dig in over-wintered green manures in preparation for planting in a couple of weeks

■ Sow peas into lengths of guttering ready to slide them into position in the garden later this month

Continue planting new trees, hedges, climbers and roses especially where you have had winter losses.

Camellia's the perfect flowering shrub for March.

Something for the weekend......

2010-03-13T13:43:00.004Z

As we all know gardening is not just for the weekend.........

With the lighter nights we all want to be getting outdoors for some digging or seed sowing. For that reason we have returned to our normal closing time of 6pm Tuesday to Sunday. So you can visit whenever suits you without the need to make an appointment or wait till the weekend.

And on Bank Holidays we open all day so for the early riser we are open from 10am.

And we still offer great quality plants at great prices and with money back through our loyalty card, The Secret Garden Centre is worth discovering and not just at the weekend.

2010-03-06T20:40:00.001Z

We name this building

2010-03-06T15:41:00.004Z

After lots of deliberation we have come up with a very simple name for the building we opened at the end of the summer last year.

It is going to be the T Room, as it is a place for training, therapy (both horticultural and retail) and of course tea.

Just think we could have paid some creative media types thousands for this.

We hope you like it.

Bord Bia Garden Centre - Quality Award Winners 2009/10

2010-03-01T21:13:00.011Z

The awards took place on this Friday night just gone, sadly without our involvement this year. We chose not to enter last year with all the building work going on with the new classroom, car park improvements and the creation of the organic kitchen garden. The thought of an unannounced visit from the judge while all this was going on made us decide to take a year out. This would have been our third year in a row and we would have loved to have retained a three star award and perhaps even a special award.

Our first year of entry was a fantastic achievement as we got our aimed for three star status as well as the Best Specialist Garden Centre. It was a night of celebration and followed up with fantastic coverage which certainly drew in new customers.

I was interested to see who had got what awards and what really surprised me was that there were only 22 garden centres out of the whole of Ireland this year. This really is a very low number and perhaps something that needs to be reviewed by Bord Bia to ascertain why there is such a low take up. Yes it does cost money to enter, however for new entrants or for garden centres who have not been involved for five years there is a reduced fee. There may be the fear of being audited however the process is one to assist entrants increase standards.

I had also wondered about whether some garden centres and I include myself in this that it would be hard for some garden centres to progress beyond a certain level. However Lusks Garden Centre have proved this theory is not entirely true. In 2006 Lusk's Garden Centre entered into the An Bord Bia Garden Centre Quality assurance awards. After the preliminary adjudication the judge awarded Lusk’s with a two star rating. In the successive years 2007 and 2008 Lusk’s climbed the rank with a three star award in 2007 and four star award in 2008. Well even better this year they achieved the five star status as well as the following awards Plant Centre of the Year, Best Plant Quality and the Continuous Improvement Award.

One clearly has to congratulate the owners for this well earned achievement

Perhaps if the categories of garden centres was altered to have small, medium and large to reflect the true diversity in the range of garden centres there could be an increase in the number of entries. For example the winner of this years Small Garden Centre of the year was deservedly awarded to Cois Na h’Abhann Garden Centre. However certainly not a small garden centre in my opinion.

We shall see what The Secret Garden Centre does next year, until then we shall be focusing on The Green Awards next week where we have been shortlisted as finalists in two categories.

Full details of the award recipients can be seen on the Bord Bia website

Fairtrade Fortnight- get swapping

2010-02-22T21:13:00.003Z

Follow this link and make the swap a permanent one.

www.fairtrade.ie

I am a gardener not a terrorist.....

2010-02-21T20:08:00.004Z

So you have been on your holiday to America seeing family and friends, and on the morning of your flight you decide to do some last minute gardening maybe using some fertiliser as your plant knowledge is utilised before your return.

Several hours later at the airport you have gone through all the security measures and are looking forward to getting on the plane and going home, when you are called for another level of security. This one involves having your hands wiped with a trace detection swab. It tests positive and suddenly you are public enemy number one.

Why because the system apparently makes false positives if you have handled plant fertilisers. This would certainly make the heart race and woe betide if you were already using some cardiac medicines as these can also cause false test results. So my gardening friends with weak hearts maybe it is time to reconsider your trip to the states. And if you don't go think how much lower your carbon footprint will be.

National Nest Box Week

2010-02-16T20:21:00.001Z

Such an easy thing to do and full of rewards. So I encourage you all get out buy, build or borrow a box and give the birds a home. Our nest box with camera proved such a hit as well as a learning curve for those who watched the scenes of nest preparation, to egg rolling, feeding time and finally an empty nest box last year. So we are looking to see if we can stream the footage on our web site this year.

For more information on the event follow the link below.

National Nest Box Week

Online garden centre

2010-02-06T11:23:00.006Z

Our online gardening shop has now been open for the last two weeks. We had done a pilot test and with good feedback we have decided to open up the range of gardening tools, plants, sundries, gifts and seeds to the whole of Ireland. It seems a little unfair not to offer our wares beyond Munster.

We have carefully selected our range to reflect our own environmental stance. So the seeds are all organic and our gardening sundries are not harmful to the environment The wildlife range is from a supplier, who has been making products with an environmental bias for over 10 years. Products are made from either reclaimed or FSC certified timber and are finished with water based paints and stains which are good for the people who make them, and good for animal, bird and insect tenants that move in!

I shall shortly be adding a small and select range of some of our more unusual plants.

So sit back get online and enjoy our garden shop from the warmth of your home or alternatively come and join us at the garden centre for an equally warm greeting.

To get onto our shop site go http://www.thesecretgardener.com/

Spring Alive

2010-02-02T11:29:00.006Z

The Spring Alive project is a simple birdwatching survey that we can all take part in. All you have do is register your sightings of Swallows, Swifts, Cuckoos and Penguins(well it has been cold) through the online survey.

The information that is collated is then used to look at bird migration patterns in Europe.

The website is a great resource and with games included it is a useful tool both at home and in the classroom.

www.springalive.net/

Even greener.....potentially

2010-02-02T10:02:00.005Z

I opened a second email yesterday from the Green Awards Ireland 2010 thinking that it was a duplicate of the one I received on friday in my sleepy state. On reading it properly today I am delighted to say The Secret Garden centre has also been shortlisted as a finalist for The Green Retailer catergory.

A horticultural holiday

2010-02-01T09:54:00.009Z

Europe's first horticultural theme park will be opening in April 2010 in Angers France, and its theme is purely plants and their role in daily life in an educating and fun manner.

It sounds an interesting concept, when I suggested it at the breakfast table I certainly got strange looks however once I had the web site up and the sounds and virtual tour images had the boys captivated.

It would seem more like a day trip and at most two days with a over 110, 000 sq.m of gardens, aquatic areas and greenhouses with 40 attractions and presentations and is described as a multidimensional experience of plant life from all six continents. If you want to take a look the English version of the website is through http://uk.terrabotanical.fr/#/accueil

For a more detailed description of the site the press pack is well worth looking up on the web site.

I am glad to see the environmental aspect appears to have been taken into consideration in the construction process of the park, the green walls of the buildings look incredible.

For the moment though I will stick with Glengariff Bamboo Park and when back in London Kew Gardens

The Green Awards 2010

2010-01-29T18:21:00.003Z

It is wonderful to see that our strive to be a greener garden centre has been recognised as we have been shortlisted as a finalist in the above category. This award is for Small to Medium Size Enterprises that can demonstrate a 'ground-up' green strategy designed to minimise the impact of their business activity on the environment.

Have to say we are delighted, we now have to wait until March 2010 to see if we will be the winner of this prestigious award.

Doneraile Wildlife Park

2010-01-17T16:48:00.005Z

As it is our last weekend off before we open, we decided to spend some time at the local and rather lovely Doneraile Wildlife Park. The gardens were landscaped in the early eighteenth century in the fashionable Capability Brown style. The illusion as you look down or even up at the house is that nature has created the cascading water naturally surrounded by large specimens of yew, cherry, weeping copper beech and planes.

One of my favourite places to sit.........

All I can say is if you are ever in the area it is well worth visiting. It is a great place for families as there is a new play area and the herd of deer certainly will keep young and old entertained for several hours.

Don't be afraid of the 4x4

2010-01-17T15:22:00.008Z

The one area that my green credentials have been challenged is the vehicle I choose to drive. Yes indeed it is a 4x4, well it can be if I choose to. The 4x4 had become the bete noire of the environmental motoring world and I know the much respected Ken Livingstone once described owners as 'idiots'. However with the recent weather I feel my vehicle choice is a good one particularly as I live and work in areas where the roads can be treacherous in any weather.

I was pleased to see that in today's Sunday Times ingear supplement this issue is broached in an article 'From green pariahs to white knights" by Joseph Dunn. The summary of the piece was that where previously 4x4 owners were vilified for driving planet killers they have recently been lauded for rescuing snowed in neighbours. I know that I was able to get out and about over the Christmas and New Year period when I had to and this gave me the option of offering the chance to bring back much needed provisions to neighbours who were not able to get out and about.

When I made the choice to buy this car I did so taking in the pros and cons of the environmental impact. At the time I was running two vehicles an old Volvo 850 and an even older Renault Traffic, one as our family vehicle and the other to do garden centre deliveries. What made sense was to combine one vehicle to serve both purposes and with some careful research I went ahead and bought this vehicle two years ago. Now I rarely use the 4 wheel drive mode and I have changed the tyres to increase the mileage which is comparable to the volvo's. I do not just do the school run like the Chelsea tractor brigade nor do I have a collection of vehicles sitting on my drive. I also let it get dirty and do not use a pressure washer every week which results in a huge use of water. Occasionally the bucket and sponge come out and when they do it contains a wash that does not have silicones, solvents or other pollutants in it.

I would still prefer to see people choosing vehicles to suit their needs and take into account the environmental impact. When I lived in London my cars was the Fiat Cinquecto

I can recall many comments about me driving such a small car but it certainly served its purpose and I could fit into the smallest gaps and parking spaces and its CO2 emissions were one of the lowest at the time. It would be a struggle with two boys, two large dogs and a 'boot' full of plants so I will stick with my choice here in rural Co Cork.

Snow at The Secret Garden

2010-01-10T17:10:00.010Z

Some images from a snowy Secret Garden..............
The Silver Birches and standing stones still beautiful when bare.........
The childrens play area unusually quiet...............
Podocarpus Salignus well and truly covered..........
A plumped up and preened Thrush......
The rush at feed time........
Even covered in snow the place has character.......

Gardening in frozen Ireland.

2010-01-09T09:28:00.010Z

With ongoing freezer like temperatures in the garden there is very little real gardening going on. It is more a case of brief visits to enjoy our icy vista with some protecting, salvaging and shedding icy tears as we deal with losses to our prized plants. Even with the usual measures of using horticultural fleece,mulching, placing plants in covered areas we have seen experienced our own casualties.

However there are precautions you can take to ensure you wont have to replace those prized plants.

Tender plants can be wrapped in horticultural fleece. If not done already the plant may have sustained damage. If you can move them to a sheltered spot.

For any plants that have experienced frost damage wait until spring before carrying out pruning.

Knock off snow from evergreens and hedges but make sure you are well wrapped I can recall giving myself a good covering in snow as I knocked the snow off my Trachycarpus Fortunei.

If you haven't already added mulch it is not recommended that you mulch frozen soil.

For plants in containers bubble wrap works well to insulate roots, however if not already in place if you can move the pot into a sheltered area. It is best to avoid watering plants in containers until the weather improves.

Where you can avoid walking on frosty and snow covered grass unless you are making a snowman.

By leaving pruning on some shrubs protects the lower buds and shoots.

For those lucky enough to have a green house ensure you keep the temperature at the desired level.

Learn from your mistakes and make sure you plan ahead next year.

Our unheated and very cold greenhouse with a very tough and acclimatised Olive tree outside.

So while this weather continues I shall enjoy images such as this, grasses and frost a gorgeous combination and continue to feed the ever growing number of hungry birds particularly that cheeky robin that knocks on the window to get my attention.

Hospitality to the birds....

2010-01-02T13:37:00.008Z

Given the really cold snap it is important that we show our hospitality to our feathered friends in the garden. The overwhelming concern at this time of year is the birds continued survival and with the short daylight hours feeding is essential to get much needed energy. We can help in a number of ways:

Food supply must be consistent as if we stop or make sudden changes it can cause problems if they have become dependent on us for food. We put out a range of feeds and feeders to meet the differing needs of our visitors.

The freezing spell means water supplies can become limited so fresh supply or boiling water to thaw ice should be carried out on a daily basis. At present we are doing this two or three times a day as it doesn't take long for it to freeze.

Be aware of the dangers to our birds, for example when using fat balls we remove the netting around them as it is possible that the birds feet could become tangled.

If you are keen to get birds into your garden a great book is 'Gardening for birds-how to help birds make the most out of your garden' by Stephen Moss. It has details on bird species as well as a section on what to plant in the garden and the benefits to birds.

Not quite day of the triffids

2009-12-30T17:16:00.007Z

Having just watched the remake of the classic film 'Day of The Triffids' over the Christmas it made me think of Ireland's own invasive plant species. The issue that invasive species bring about is that they threaten the native biodiversity. This is done through a variety of different mechanisms and it can even change the ecosystem structure and function which can have the knock on effect on the economy.

There are currently 59 plant species listed in Ireland although some of them are debatable as they are openly on sale in most garden centres at present and do have benefits if managed appropriately. This will be something that the horticulture sector will need to explore further to look at whether we continue to supply them or not. The 14 rated as most unwanted include Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) as shown above, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) as shown below and Rhododendron ponticum which is well known locally in the Killarney national park. Many of these plants were introduced in the 19th century for ornamental reasons when it was not realised that they could displace native plants and reduce wildlife interests.

If you are interested in gaining more information on the issue of invasive species check out http://www.invasivespecies.biodiversityireland.ie/

Thankfully triffids are not currently available in Ireland........

The Apple Source Book

2009-12-27T21:28:00.002Z

I received a delightful gift of the above book. It really is a treasure trove of apple knowledge and includes information on apple varieties and their origin, recipes from over fifty chefs, food writers and gardeners as well how to attract wildlife to your orchard. It really is the bible of all things apple and is a worthy addition to any book collection.

Do not expect lots of glossy colour pictures though, as the authors have gone for a tasteful use of black and white illustrations

I love the fact that the book was launched at the fabulous Petersham Nurseries (October 2007) and to celebrate it the restaurant did a collection of mouth watering recipes including, Salad of Cooked Beetroot, Kohlrabi and Wykens Pippen, Chicory and Gorgonzola dressing.

So for 2010 I can see plenty of apple dishes on the menu

Our green Father Christmas

2009-12-24T10:24:00.004Z

Given our green ethos we felt it would be a tad unnecessary on the air miles to have the real Father Christmas come and join us for our Christmas markets. So with the perfect candidate in mind we approached our potential candidate in December 2007. With lots of apprehension and with the promise of eternal gratitude and some booze we had a Father Christmas.

Well Santa needed a costume so off I popped to the local supermarket and bought the last of their bargain costumes. Father Christmas arrived and squeezed himself into the rather tight costume and to the sheer pleasure of our children they had Father Christmas in our living room.

So here he was on his first time at being Father Christmas.....

As you can see the top was a little tight and with some quick improvisation a belt was added to hide the rather disgusting Arsenal top that Father Christmas had chosen to wear that night. I guess to rile me as I am a avid Spurs fan.

Well Father Christmas went down a storm, and even with the ribbing from both friends and family we got him to agree to come to next years market. Our Father Christmas went down a storm again and for this year our initially reluctant candidate was so good he decided to grow the beard, buy his own costume and even get the round glasses.

As you can see Father Christmas looked very fantastic as well as content probably aided by the delicious mulled wine he drank, and he charmed the many children who came along to have their time with him. What we like about our Father Christmas is that there is no charge and for me what this does, is recreate some of the romantic elements of what Christmas is really about and not one of hosting Father Christmas simply to make money.

Father Christmas was very busy this year with several people calling us asking for his phone number which we duly passed on and he attended many events and charmed many children.

What does make me smile is we often see Mick out gardening in the local community and as we pass my two boys shout a big hello to Father Christmas.

Christmas tree - real or artificial?

2009-12-21T20:45:00.004Z

Having finally sold out of our last Christmas tree I was left pondering the environmental impact of the two choices. I have to say personally I prefer real trees both for the scent and the traditional aspect however when you see some of the artificial ones they are tempting.

The Irish grown Noble or Nordman Fir comes with a good pedigree and according to the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association when they are grown and cultured in Ireland there is that special knowledge that we are supporting nature and the environment. Our own trees come locally from a Christmas tree farm in Killarney so have a low carbon footprint in terms of the road miles. It is also claimed that an acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people. As real Christmas trees are biodegradable they can easily be recycled for mulch. Look up www.christmastree.org/recycle2.cfm#wildlife for details of more imaginative uses.

So all in all real trees do seem to make more sense environmentally particularly as plastic trees are made from the same material used in plastic bags which is well documented as being resistant to the natural process degradation. The new LED artificial trees can make the claim of being more energy efficient and of course they do not require watering. However it would take over twenty years of use of the same artificial tree before it would become a better environmental solution and what with our current bin and replace culture this is unlikely to be achieved.

For now I will enjoy my tree with a glass of vino until it is time to take that crispy old tree to our local recycling centre.

European week for waste reduction 21-29th November

2009-11-23T16:34:00.003Z

Just heard about this on the radio so feel it is important to spread the word. So here is some details of what is all about. It is described as an occasion to reinforce good practices in everyday life: use less packaging, less plastic bags, less disposable products and more tap water rather than bottled. And rather than just be on a local level we share the good practices of other European countries.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is the national organiser of EWWR in Ireland and they have events with partner agencies details of which can be found via EPA'S website www.epa.ie , alternatively look up the European week for waste reduction on www.ewwr.eu/en/

A green Christmas

2009-11-23T16:25:00.002Z

If you are looking for a great stocking filler this year consider 'Going Green' By Vivian Head. It has many easy to follow hints and tips for reducing your carbon footprint. There is a whole chapter on gardening so if you have someone who is considering switching from more traditional gardening methods to a greener approach it has some excellent hints and tips.

Even those who think they know everything about being green could learn a thing or two.

Location, location, location

2009-10-25T12:57:00.003Z

I love looking at maps and recently found one which places us in one of Boherbue's town lands. We fall into area 17 known as Aghaneenagh not an easy one to pronounce but a lovely area to live in.

Boherbue Flower & Garden Club

2009-10-25T09:06:00.003Z

I was approached by two customers earlier this year on the advice of I.R.D Duhallow to assist them in the setting up of a flower and garden club in our local area. I was delighted to be involved as I am passionate about plants and saw this as an opportunity to become involved in a community project. It would have been easy to have become involved as The Secret Garden Centre and even hold the events in our new classroom facility however I felt it was important to ensure my involvement was as me and not as our garden centre. I did have my initial reservations about how successful we would be as Kanturk already has an established club and I wondered what numbers we may have attending.

After many evenings of coffee and preparation our first night took place with Charlie Wilkins being our speaker. We were all nervous about how it would turn out and whether we would be a group of five in a large hall. Amazingly the community really rallied round and we had over fifty people attend. Not all became members but a great start and the atmosphere was fantastic on the night

We have a great range of speakers for the rest of the year and I can only see this growing and including more members of the community. If you are interested our events are as follows

Wednesday 16th December 2009 8pm
Breda Nagle
from Gneeveguilla Garden Centre
Christmas Flower Arrangements.
A wonderful, festive evening, with mulled wine and mince pies.

Wednesday 17th February 2010 8pm
Dominick Cullinane – garden designer.
‘Getting Started’

Wednesday 24th March 2010 8pm
Kitty Scully
Farm Manager from Nano Nagle
Growing vegetables organically. Practical tips and ideas for getting the season started.

Wednesday 21st April 2010 8pm
Steve Redden
From Hillberry Garden Centre demonstrates a selection favourite spring plants, from the more well-known through to some unusual specimens.

Wednesday 19th May 2010 8pm
Jody Smith
Horticulturalist from Griffins Garden Centre, Dripsey, Co Cork.
‘Spectacular Summer Colour’.

June 2010
Summer Outing
Full details to be announced.

It just goes to show with a little energy and imagination what can be acheived in a short period of time and may be we will see more flower and garden clubs coming together in and around Duhallow

Apple day

2009-10-19T11:37:00.008+01:00

Yesterday we had our very successful 'Apple Day' here at The Secret Garden Centre. Our celebration of all things Apple was very well attended and the feedback was really positive.

We had John McNamara of McNamara's Nursery who with his wealth of experience was able to offer advice on the growing of apples. John also brought along apples from many of the varieties of the trees he supplies as well as the trees themselves.

To get you salivating here is a summary of the delights he brought with him,

Brown Crofton an eater with a sweet-sharp rich flavour, Scarlet Crofton an apple from the 1500s from Co Sligo, Kerry Pippin an eater with a sweet dense fruity taste. On the dessert front Blood of the Boyne and Ardcain Russett a Cork apple with fruit tasting like that of a banana.

And all for the bargain price of €12

John was incredibly popular as you can see by the queue waiting to speak to him and we are very grateful for him giving up his precious time particularly as his other passion is rose growing and thus is a very busy time of the year for him.

Also available was the delicious and refreshing apple juice from Ballyhoura Apple Farm. Located at Clashganniv outside the lovely village of Churchtown in North County Cork. People were clearly surprised to see the images of an orchard less than ten miles from the garden centre and more so with the lovely apples and juice which were on sale and were very popular.

Kirsty of Cup- Cake had been on a baking frenzy and had baked as many apple desserts and they were clearly being enjoyed with a coffee or tea in the new building. Apple sausages from award winning McCarthy's butchers were enticing people with the gorgeous aroma of pork and apple.

All in all a great day even the hen joined in with the apple bobbing.

Repak Recycling Week 09

2009-10-06T11:59:00.002+01:00

Recycling conserves our valuable natural resources
Recycling saves energy
Recycling protects the environment
Recycling can save money

With such good reasons there is no reason why people should not be recycling rather than adding to landfill or burning which seemed to be so common when we first came over. With recycling centres in place and us the lovely blue recycling bin from Country Clean and other waste disposal companies there really is no excuse.

Both in the garden centre and at home we are washing, compressing and ensuring that nothing that can be recycled goes into the waste bin. And we will be making sure that we spread the word about recycling week to all customers.

If you are still unsure of what you can recycle check out Repak Irelands website for details and make a start next week on recycling.

Lovely leaf mould

2009-10-03T10:06:00.005+01:00

As much as I love the autumn colours I am not a fan of picking them up however picking them means I can make FREE soil conditioner through making leaf mould. And with over 30 trees on our acre plenty of materials are at hand.
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Leaf mould is the result of letting leaves sit and decompose over time. It comes out dark brown to black and has a pleasant earthy aroma and a crumbly texture, much like compost. In fact, leaf mould is just composted leaves. Instead of adding a bunch of organic matter to a pile, you just use leaves.
You may be wondering why you shouldn't just make compost. Why bother making a separate pile just for leaves? The answer is that while compost is wonderful for improving soil texture and fertility, leaf mould is far superior as a soil conditioner. It doesn't provide much in the way of nutrition, so you will still need to add compost or other organic fertilizers to increase fertility. Leaf mould is essentially a soil conditioner. It increases the water retention of soils. According to some university studies, the addition of leaf mould increased water retention in soils by over 50%. Leaf mould also improves soil structure and provides a fantastic habitat for soil life, including earthworms and beneficial bacteria. So all in all great for organic gardening

There are two popular ways to make leaf mould, and both are ridiculously simple. The one thing you'll need to keep in mind is that leaf mould doesn't happen overnight. Leaves are basically all carbon, which takes a lot longer to break down than nitrogen-rich materials such as grass clippings. The decomposition process for leaves takes at least six to twelve months. The good news is that it's basically six to twelve months with very little work on the gardener's part.
The first method of making leaf mould consists of either piling your leaves in a corner of the yard or into a wood or wire bin. The pile or bin should be at least three feet wide and tall. Pile up your leaves, and thoroughly dampen the entire pile. Let it sit, checking the moisture level occasionally during dry periods and adding water if necessary. This is the one we go for and have two piles one in the garden centre and one in our personal garden.
The second method of making leaf mould requires a large bin bag. Fill the bag with leaves and moisten them. Seal the bag and then cut some holes or slits in the bag for air flow. Let it sit. Check the bag every month or two for moisture, and add water if the leaves are dry.
After six months to a year, you will have finished leaf mould. Impatient? There are a couple of things you can do to speed up the process:
Before adding leaves to your pile or bag, run over them a couple of times with your lawn mower. Smaller pieces will decompose more quickly.
Use a shovel or garden fork to turn your leaf pile every few weeks. If you are using the plastic bag method, just turn it over or give it a firm shake. This will introduce air into the process, which speeds decomposition.
If you are using the pile or bin method, cover your pile with a plastic sheet. This will keep the leaves moist and warm

Leaf mould has several uses in the garden. You can dig or fork it into garden beds to improve soil structure and water retention. You can use it as mulch in perennial beds or vegetable gardens. It's also fabulous in containers, due to its water retaining abilities.
Leaf mould is simple, free, and effective.

So get raking and collecting.

Those dreaded wasps

2009-10-02T22:18:00.004+01:00

At long last those pesky buggers seem to have gone for this year. With the opening of our new tea room last month and the abundance of wasps it didn't make for a great combination.

Fairly calm until they come near my ears and then the common sense approach goes out the window and the arms start flapping a sure way to attract their attention. Amazingly I managed a summer without being stung pretty impressive given the number of them this year.

We do have wasp traps with cider dregs in place and at least they dine happy and in an environmental perspective I am not doing any harm. However they still deserve not to swatted squashed or even worse be subject to chemical control.

Well know it appears there is an alternative solution...

The WASPINATOR

It may sound like some ridiculous superhero, a hero it is but with no dodgy costumes.

So what exactly does this grey bag like contraption do, well in the words of an expert

"Wasps are very "visual" insects. They depend on a keen sense of sight to catch moving prey. Predatory Insects, like many wasps and all yellowjackets, have large, prominent compound eyes. Other insects that hunt live prey also have very large compound eyes (for example, praying mantids, syrphid flies and horse flies). Highly visual insects tend to respond to their environment based on visual stimuli. Thus an artificial nest like The Original Waspinator may be perceived as a competitor and be avoided."
—Jack DeAngelis, PhDAssociate Professor of Entomology, Emeritus

So literally the wasp thinks it is the nest of another group of wasps and scoots out of harms way allowing you to enjoy the peace in the great outdoors.

I will be trialing it next year and if it does what it says on the tin I will be supplying them as well.

Autumn colours

2009-09-26T12:02:00.006+01:00

One of my favourite times of the year for the colours and the pleasure of crisp morning walks and the chance to kick piles of leaves.

Duhallow - A Very Special Place

2009-09-26T11:01:00.007+01:00

While up in the loft recently I found a copy of Seanchas Duthalla the Duhallow magazine from 1993. Not something that would usually grab my attention but while in the bathroom I was in need of some reading material and with nothing else at hand I opened the pages. There were many images of the area from times past as well as articles of local interest.

One article that really caught my eye was entitled 'A Very Special Place' by Katie Brown and I want to share a small part of it with you.

The variety and colour of the Duhallow landscape is something that we have inherited and we should do our upmost not to destroy our beautiful countryside in the name of progress. Let us hold on to the ditches and hedges that divide our fields and all the colourful and interesting plants and animal life that they hide. Europe is awash with mountains and lakes of all kinds of food and drink, and a beautiful landscape was destroyed to produce something nobody wanted. Do we realise that we owe so much to the wise obstinacy of some of our more enlightened and traditional farmers for preserving the lovely old hedges and long standing ditches and little patches of wilderness amidst the cultivation, destruction and progress of modern farming.

Can we do anything to increase the number of broad leaf trees? Why not collect some chestnuts and plant them, the same with acorns to be found under the large oak trees and the beech nuts, some of the popular and easily grown trees and try to save us from that invasion of conifers that seem to spread like a blight through the countryside. Our native trees are like our native music, they bring colour and form to a landscape and pleasure and warmth to the soul and mind. Give our birds some place to perch and build their nests and sing their songs in a freedom, safety and beauty of an individual tree, not the over run confines of a mass plantation. Give our ditches a chance to grow some trees that change their leaves and colour with the seasons and encourage the growth of the bird, plant and animal life that change with them.

I wonder what Katie would think 16 years on, were her wise words heard or would she have felt the destruction has continued. I wonder how much support she
received at the time or whether she was seem odd not to accept progress. I wonder if Katie Brown still lives in Duhallow and so my task is to find her and see what her views are of Duhallow in 2009.

Complete Beginner’s Guide to Gardening

2009-09-21T13:44:00.003+01:00

The Secret Garden
Complete Beginner’s Guide to Gardening
A comprehensive course comprising of fourteen sessions, which can be taken individually or as a complete course. Individual classes are charged at €10 each or the complete course of 14 costs €125. Each class lasts for two hours, and the price includes refreshments & handouts. Classes will only go ahead once minimum numbers are confirmed. Some classes will include practical elements, and will take place in our poly-tunnel or kitchen garden.

Basic gardening skills
Thursday 1st October 7.30pm
Saturday 3rd October 10.30am

Growing from seed and cuttings
Thursday 8th October 7.30pm
Saturday October 10th 10.30am

Using Bulbs
Thursday 15th October 7.30pm
Saturday October 17th 10.30am

Trees & Shrubs
Thursday 12th November 7.30pm
Saturday 14th November 10.30am

Growing Fruit
Thursday 26th November 7.30pm
Saturday 28th November 10.30am

The Gardener’s Year
Thursday 3rd December 7.30pm
Saturday 5th December 10.30am

Planning your garden
Thursday 4th February 7.30pm
Saturday 6th February 10.30am

Gardening and the environment
Thursday 11th February 7.30pm
Saturday 13th February 10.30am

Pruning
Thursday 18th February 7.30pm
Saturday 20th February 10.30am

Pest ,disease & Weeds
Thursday 4th March 7.30pm
Saturday 6th February 10.30am

Salads & Herbs.
Thursday 18th March 7.30pm
Saturday 20th March 10.30am

Growing Veg
Thursday 25th March 7.30pm
Saturday 27th March 10.30am

Container Gardening
Thursday 15th April 7.30pm
Saturday 17th April10.30am

Colour in the garden
Thursday 22nd April 7.30pm
Saturday 24th April 10.30am

We cant promise you will be making masterpieces like the gardens of Versailles (Paris, France) but you will have fun learning.

For more details call Sarah on 029 60084

National Organic Week

2009-09-20T21:09:00.003+01:00

Well if you didn't know it finishes tomorrow. It was actually National Organic Week between the 14th – 20th September 2009.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and co-ordinated by Bord
Bia, National Organic Week aims to continue to raise consumer awareness of organic
food, how to recognise it when shopping and where to buy it.
The key messages of National Organic Week are:
(i) Organic is an alternative method of food production.
(ii) Organic produce is both fresh and seasonal.
(iii) Organic is environmentally friendly and natural.
(iv) Consider organic produce when cooking at weekends and for special occasions
(v) Where to buy organic food.

Having looked at Bord Bia's website there were some great events on. http://www.bordbia.ie/aboutfood/organicfood/pages/nationalorganicweek2009-eventslisting.aspx

However it does feel that the events have not had the impact they deserve, whether this has been due to the ongoing Nama debacle or The All Ireland Football final which particularly living in Cork and working in Kerry seems to have been the major topic for the majority of people I know.

I would love to hear if anyone did anyone did make it to any of the events.

A big thank you

2009-09-16T21:34:00.007+01:00

We recently had a double page spread advert to spread the word about our new developments and were kindly supported by several businesses so a big thank you.

It seems only fair to give them some credit back so here goes.......

All Wood Homes and Log Cabins http://www.woodhomepro.com/

The supplier of our lovely new building and who we will be working with in the future with the aim of selling lots of wooden buildings to you folks in Cork & Kerry.

SuperValu Newmarket and the lovely manager Tommy Mullane

Tommy is a great man to support local suppliers and he has won many awards in his store as a result of his fantastic management. So if you are ever passing through Newmarket pop in and support him.

Leeside Nurseries Cork

A wholesale nursery who specialise in house and bedding plants. Always providing top quality plants

Dermot Casey Tree Care http://www.dermotcaseytreecare.ie/

An established family run business that has provided arboriculture management for over 40 years. If you are lucky you may get to meet Bill who does the training courses, a great man who had the honour of representing and captaining Ireland's Lumber Jack team.

Macroom Bark Products 026 42477

Our supplier of bark mulch sold in the bag and for large areas sold directly. Great support over the last seven years and always worth spending time having a chat when they deliver. Nice family.

Westland Horticulture http://www.gardenhealth.com/

Offering a great range of products including the lovely peat free composts we sell. My one gripe is the advert was of a weedkiller we don't and will not stock.

Michael Daly Plumbing, Heating & Electrical 029 60120

Want the job done call this man. Reliable and does the job to a very high specification.

Cup-cake 087 758 5873

The supplier of our lovely yummy cakes and who helped us decorate our building in such a lovely manner.

Harvest Food & Craft Market Sunday 13th September 2009 between 1-5pm.

2009-09-12T11:51:00.005+01:00

A lovely afternoon out for all the family at The Secret Garden centre– you can browse the stalls including Organic farm produce, organic vegetables from Dromcollogher Organic College, breads from our organic baker, chocolates from award winning chocalatier Benoit Lorge, handmade soaps, and many more items from the food and craft stalls.

And as it will be a glorious sunny day why not have a coffee and a slice of cake while watching the ducks and hens in the gardens and if you are really taken there will be hens and gm free feed for sale from the Mobile Pet Shop http://www.mobilepetshop.ie/

Beauty not the beast

2009-09-12T11:05:00.005+01:00

No I am not being vain with the title although Mutley always got far more attention than me. We are blessed with a beautiful location and our lane is very scenic. However from time to time we do have those self centred pig ignorant visitors who feel it is ok to show their beastly side and throw their rubbish on the lane.

I have often returned from walking the dogs with bits of rubbish which I have picked up. The majority of it can often be recycled (especially one orange energy drink in a bottle which seems to be a favourite) and for a little bit of effort I ensure our lane remains as it should be.

So what brought me to this, well in the local paper today there eco tip is as follows

"Is the abandoned rubbish in your area driving you mad? Stop complaining, and start working on it. Bring a bag and gloves with you and take even a small amount home, recycling it through your waste system.
The bending and stretching will help your fitness levels plus you'll set a fabulous example to onlookers."

Well I dont know about feeling fit, it is more likely that the majority of onlookers wonder why I am walking home with rubbish perhaps thinking I have some kind of weird fetish. What I do know is that if we all make a small contribution it can make a large impact.

No air miles

2009-08-31T08:39:00.007+01:00

A much needed break after a long season and lots of painting was required. So to keep our carbon footprint down a break was taken in the delightful Valentia Island in Co Kerry.

The beach at Glanleam.

My morning view of the bay at Knightstown.

A great beach with the Skellig Islands in the background.

And just like last year we get back to the garden centre and hear stories of rain and wind and we smile as we have been lazing in the sun.

A green retailer

2009-08-18T06:20:00.005+01:00

For many Ikea brings up the image of flat packed furniture, busy checkouts, traffic jams and Swedish food, which is certainly not every ones cup of tea. However there is much more to this giant retailer. The Swedish furniture retailer, has been at the heart of green retailing for many years where they once trod a lonely eco-path they have now shown other companies that going green can still keep the tills ringing.

Already a convert of Ikea, having been a visitor to the Wembley store since the 90's and kitted out a number of flats, houses etc over the years I knew that they would come in handy for supplying furniture for our new classroom/cafe. I decided to research their eco credentials in terms of their products as well as their overall stance and have to say they are pretty impressive.

For a start the company actually has environment managers whose responsibility is to bring about measures to reduce the impact that Ikea have on the environment.

Examples of these measures include, offers of interest-free loans to all its staff for converting their cars to liquid petroleum gas and for season tickets on trains and buses (Ikea UK ). Another way it reduces its carbon footprint is how it buys, generates and uses energy. The company has a deal for all of its UK stores to buy green energy through Npower. In four stores the company is using waste-to-energy technology and geothermal heating techniques. In Milton Keynes, its flagship eco-store, a large bio mass unit helps the company reduce its carbon footprint and a waste-to-energy unit burns damaged wooden products and pallets. And, rainwater harvesting will soon be built into all new stores. Using these sorts of techniques, the company’s Wembley store, which now recycles 93% of its waste, has reduced energy bills from £130,000 in 2002 to £30,000 last year.

So as I curse the instruction and promise never to buy flat pack again at least you know that the chairs and tables that you will sit at The Secret Garden have come from responsibly managed forests, and that child labour has not been used and that significant effort has been made to reduce the impact this product has on the environment.

Follow this link to read more about how Ikea takes its responsibilities seriously

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_IE/about_ikea/our_responsibility/index.html

The plastic beehive: Beehaus

2009-08-10T11:05:00.004+01:00

The good people who make plastic hen and other animal houses have gone into the bee hive market with the Beehaus available in a range of colours (yellow, red, purple white and green). Although I am not a fan of plastic houses this may appeal to people and could get more people keeping bees. This is the sales bumph

Beehaus Green
The beehaus is specially designed for keeping bees in your garden or rooftop. Developed to provide your bees with a safe, modern home in which to live it makes beekeeping straightforward and fun. The beehaus comes complete with everything your bees need. You can also use the wizard above to order the starter kit which includes a beesuit, hive tool, smoker, gloves and even some bees!
4 Cover boards
These fit on top of the main body of the hive or on top of the supers. They act as individual lids so that you can close and open up sections of the hive.

2 Clearer boards
These are used to clear bees from the supers when the honey is ready for harvesting. They can also be used to feed your bees extra supplies.

4 Supers
Each super holds 5 national sized frames - enough to store approximately 7 kgs of honey.

Frames
Every beehaus is shipped with 11 deep national brood frames (often called 14x12 frames) and 10 National super frames - including wax foundation sheets for all frames.

4 Queen excluders
Stops the queen laying eggs in the honey supers.

Hive divider
Converts your beehaus into two seperate hives.

4 Honey jars
Still taking wine to dinner parties? Your own home made honey is much more exclusive.

Beekeeping guide
A complete guide to keeping bees packed with useful advice.

30 Day money back guarantee
If you are not entirely satisfied with your beehaus we offer a no quibble 30 day money back guarantee.

And to buy one of these £465 or likely to be on sale here in Ireland with an extortionate price so will guess at somewhere around the €600 mark

Follow the link to see the founder of Beehaus, Johannes Paul, introduce the plastic hive that could bring the traditionally rural art of beekeeping to the city dweller.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pog0SHnyEDQ

Love to hear what others think of this particularly traditional bee keepers. I would certainly suggest that people seek professional advice or visit their local beekeeping association before making a decision.

A glut of potatoes

2009-08-09T21:48:00.003+01:00

With a glut of potatoes from the vegetable patch I need to get creative with the potato recipes. My varieties are currently Jersey Royals with their delicate papery skins, which holds the flavour, and Golden Wonder with a rich flavour which improves with storage.

I was recommended Homity Pie a traditional English open vegetable pie, the pastry case contains a potatoes and an onion & leek mixture, which is then covered with cheese. (apple adds interest, but isn't traditional). Sounds nice but not a fan of melted cheese.

So decided to do some research the Jersey Royal has it's own website with a section on delicious recipes. This had me salivating Saute king dived scallops with Jersey Royal New Potatoes, crisp pancetta and garden pea puree. Follow the link for some great ideas.

http://www.jerseyroyals.co.uk/

Sadly it seems the humble Golden Wonder has not been given it's own website however it still gets many listings.

For me you can not beat growing your own spuds and the taste is definitely much improved and all in the knowledge they have no chemicals either

The fiery Crocosmia Lucifer

2009-08-08T07:39:00.003+01:00

There is nothing more striking than vibrant red flowers at the end of the upright iris-like foliage of Crocosmia Lucifer and over the last couple of weeks I have seen it in so many gardens. It is so versatile in that it looks good in a mixed border of cannas and dahlias, giving a feel of the tropical even if the rain is endless, or even on its own as a single specimen through to a large block.

You can't beat a plant that gives such rich colour for three months in the garden and is so easy to grow It copes with full sun and partial shade is extremely hardy and is suitable for the following soils: Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy, Acidic, Chalky/alkaline. One plant can easily stand at over 3' tall and 2' in width and once established it can be propagated by division in spring. Dig to a depth of 30cm (12in) to avoid damaging the corms and use two garden forks, back to back, to prise the clump apart . The roots of both these perennials form ‘chains’ of corms, which can be replanted intact or individually separated off. Our own will certainly be ready for dividing next year and I plan to use it in the new tropical border underneath the large Eucalyptus Gunni.

When we first came here seven years ago it was a hard plant to sell particularly as Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is a familiar sight to many, as it graces country lanes from July to September with a wonderful display of spikes of bright reddish-orange flowers. Maybe our own specimen and our passion for this plant is paying off after all and I shall continue to smile at each garden I see with this showy plant.

a graceful visitor

2009-08-07T18:49:00.006+01:00

We have recently been graced with the pleasure of a beautiful hare, as have several of our customers. Rather than seeing it negatively they like us admire these beautiful animals and are keen to ensure their preservation. This is particularly important as Irish hares are going through a dramatic decline in numbers over the last few decades, owing to changed farming practices and patterns of land use, but their persecution for sport has also had a major impact.

When looking at farming practices it is no coincidence that agriculture has become more intensive during this period of decline in hare numbers. Increasingly mechanised and frequent grass-cutting for silage is widely believed to be directly responsible for the deaths of leverets, hidden in the long grass by their mothers.

Land ‘improvement’ has replaced the hare’s species-rich habitat with less nutritional commercial grass varieties. Increased production methods have also led to the removal of traditional cover such as hedgerows and moorland, leaving hares exposed and vulnerable.Overstocking and overgrazing has increased disturbance and competition for feeding. Low levels of vegetation also rob the hare of the cover on which it relies for shelter and safety.

The widespread use of pesticides and the application of slurry reduces the prevalence of species-rich grasses on which Irish hares feed. Hares are susceptible to ingesting herbicides because they are attracted to areas, such as rushes, that are targeted for application. These fastidious animals then groom themselves, ingesting the toxic chemicals. All pesticides are poisons, and Paraquat (Gramoxone) is known to be lethal to hares.

No wonder then we do so well with regular visits as we use no herbicides or pesticides and our hedgerow as well as our neighbouring farmers remain intact and will continue to do as they provide a safe haven for our native animals.

The second reason and one which I personally struggle with is that of hare hunting and coursing. Hunting and coursing targets and depletes fragile local populations of hares with serious consequences for the population as a whole. For example if does are captured the young leverets are left abandoned and there already slim chances of survival is reduced further, only 1 out of 4 hares are expected to survive beyond there first year.

Even with the introduction of muzzling in the early nineties and an alleged average of 95% of the 5,000 hares captured annually by coursing clubs are returned to the wild one would have to question the survival rate and re-integration of these released hares post-coursing. When you have two large dogs (I know we have two rescue greyhounds) having physical contact with an animal which does not have a robust anatomy, fatal injuries will continue to be inflicted. I have included two images which are without being overly graphic show the stress the hare is put under.

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We hope our young hare continues to privilege us with his visits for many more years...

For those who are interested in more information about the Irish hare check out http://www.irishhare.org/

Richad Corrigan finally makes sense

2009-08-03T21:02:00.005+01:00

I have kept fairly quite on the recent report commissioned by Britain's Food Standard Agency last week which concluded that organic food does not provide any significant nutritional or health benefits. There have been lots of comments made and the majority written have been well thought out and make good points about the value of organic food.

Step up Richard Corrigan celebrity TV chef who has branded the report which dismisses the benefits of organic food as "lazy research" by a "bunch of nine to five fuckers".

Not the most constructive statement but will certainly get him more media air time.

For myself, my thoughts go out to the farmers who have made the choice to go organic and already have a hard enough time what with the weather, the perception of the cost of organic produce and our current economic climate. So this report really will test their ability to remain committed to remaining organic.

Locally to us we have an excellent organic farm (Knockatullera Farm Produce) run by John & Olive Forde. They run a traditional mixed farm comprising of cattle, sheep, pigs and tillage. Their aim is to maintain a sustainable farming system with priorities towards the environment and animal welfare. The farm has been fully certified organic by the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association. The produce is reared on the farm and fed almost totally on home produced feeds.

So why buy organic from your local farm?

No chemicals or antibiotics

No contaminants

No genetically modified feeds

Locally produced

Low food miles

Environmentally sustainable

Animal welfare as a priority

Full traceability

Taste

And all of this at conventional prices

For those reasons I would still buy organic over the non organic variety regardless, and for those doubters beware of Mr Corrigan and his deep fat fryer.

And if you are still not convinced why not try some of the produce from John & Olive either directly from the farm (Knocktullera Farm Produce Newmarket Co Cork) or through Killavullen Farmers Market at the Nano Nagle Centre.

Posh hen houses

2009-08-02T20:33:00.010+01:00

Our ducks and hens have a standard garden shed with roosting bars and nest boxes as well as a second building which is our recycled shop cut down to size and in its 12th year. With a 30 foot square pen with 6 foot high chicken wire and another foot of wire under ground a safe place to be when not enjoying the delights in the garden. Not the most stylish of pads but certainly practical for the number we have (9 ducks, 2 hens and a rescued cockerel). The cockerel was not planned after our experience with Chanticleer the psycho however we could not reject him when a neighbour turned up with him after her dog had been using him as a chew. Lucky is more docile and is not into hunting Sarah and is making good progress finding his voice and eager to greet his female companions now.

With the upsurge in popularity of hen houses the range of accommodation is certainly increasing. Some are certainly more suited to the city than out here in rural cork however I do like the green one at the bottom.

Big windmills

2009-08-01T19:13:00.004+01:00

I was on the road today doing a delivery where I had the pleasure of driving up close to Munster Joinery Ireland's largest window and door company. Not somewhere I would usually rave about however being close allowed me to see the two wind turbines that they installed earlier this year. It is impressive to see them up so close as usually the turbines are placed in bleak mountainsides with limited access.

Equally impressive is the fact that Munster Joinery have taken on such an innovative approach to source a solution for there energy requirements that will significantly reduce there carbon footprint. This installation is reported as providing this green,carbon free on-site energy source, amounting to an estimated energy cost saving in excess of €1 million over the next 5 years. The 4 MW-installation at Munster joinery will provide enough energy to power the equivalent of 2,262 houses and will displace over 9,000 tonnes of carbon per annum.

Pretty impressive stuff and I am sure Munster Joinery and Wind Energy Direct will receive further accolade for this green project.

A dream

2009-08-01T09:03:00.008+01:00

It has always been a dream of mine to have a proper tree house. Not just the type where in my youth some planks were precariously balanced on branches and provided a den until the heavens opened. I desire one which can be used in all weathers and could provide me with my own space (sorry boys).

Today tree houses have become grown up and fit in with the environment and require very little (and eco-friendly) material which have minimal impact on the trees in which it is placed (hanging from cables rather than bolted to trees)

Several years ago we stayed in a treehouse on the beach in Goa. Not quite as luxurious as the ones here, the locals erect them at the beginning of the tourist season and then take them down before the monsoon season starts. They were extremely basic, swayed in the breeze and were not dog proof, as we found out when we woke up one night with an agile, flea-ridden beach dog fast asleep across our legs.

Tree houses are not just about luxury either, in the jungles of the Brazza River Basin in the Indonesian province of Papua the local tribes have slowly built their way up into the trees to escape pests and one another. Their residences now reach dizzying heights of over 100 feet. As someone with a fear of heights this is not quite the vision I hold.

For the moment it will remain a dream but maybe one day I will have one ...........

SGA certified garden centres

2009-07-30T18:57:00.003+01:00

I was doing some research on the net and found some information on a scheme which is being run in Australia for garden centres. The scheme recognises garden centres who are passionate about the environment and are committed to reducing their environmental footprints. If the garden centres are able to complete an extensive certification manual, pass an independent audit and are constantly on the lookout for more sustainable products, services and solutions they will be eligible to state they are certified in sustainable gardening.

SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia) Certified Garden Centres are passionate about the environment and are committed to reducing their environmental footprints. They use less water and energy, avoid chemicals, they don't sell invasive plants, and are up to date with the latest sustainable gardening practices.

The Secret Garden centre certainly ticks all of the above boxes we just need to get a similar scheme over here in Ireland.

A new gardening website

2009-07-29T19:06:00.002+01:00

Just found a refreshing new website for gardeners . Check it out on www.gardening.ie

Trees

2009-07-27T20:08:00.006+01:00

I have always been a lover of trees and adore when you find an unexpected treasure in an open field or you find an area where they have remained unfelled and allowed to age gracefully.

Within our own acre we have over 35 trees including Hornbeam, Oak, Zelkova, Birch, Eucalyptus, Prunus, Ash, Malus and sweet chestnut etc Bar the ash on the boundary the eldest trees will only be a maximum of 20 years so not yet reached maturity so at the moment I have to dream of what they will come to look like.

If you can not wait a great book is The Living Wisdom of Trees by Fred Hageneder which is richly illustrated and provides a guide to the human significance of 55 trees, from alder (Alnus) to oak (Quercus). It looks in particular at their botanical characteristics; their place in world myth, magic and folklore; their healing properties; and their practical contribution to society.

Looks good now to paint.....

2009-07-26T09:41:00.008+01:00

We have had lots of requests from family and friends to see more images of the new building so here goes.

The building is similar to our original shop and is a timber-framed log cabin style constructed from European soft wood sourced from sustainable plantations.
As energy efficiency is very close to our hearts the building has a double-insulated ceiling which will help to retain heat in the winter and keep the building pleasantly cool in the warmer months. Large glass windows and doors offer stunning views while increasing passive solar gain. In the colder months the wood burning stove will ensure the building is kept warm. Again the stove was selected over other heating methods reducing our reliance on imported (and finite) fossil fuels – oil, gas and coal account for 89% of Ireland’s total fuel imports. By burning wood, we are allowing the remaining Irish peat bogs (which have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form) to remain intact, thus improving the carbon sink. It will be our aim to recycle the untreated wooden pallets that we receive as our fire wood source.

For the building the next stage is the painting and varnishing and for this we have selected Farrow & Ball Eco Floor Paint and Water Based Eggshell (an environmentally friendly alternative to Oil Eggshell.) for the interior. It does seem like an endless task so maybe a paint party is required.

2009-07-25T09:48:00.008+01:00

Summer 09
Noticeboard

Yet another summer of unpredictable weather, but at least this year we have had some good spells to enjoy – let’s hope for more to come! We have lots of news to get through with this newsletter, so to make it as easy to read as possible we have listed major items below. There’s news on our new building, kitchen garden, summer evening and market, so read on!

Sarah & Brian

Sadly this will be the last newsletter in paper form. Whilst we appreciate that many of you are still without computers, the factors of paper waste, environmental cost and time mean we will only be sending newsletters in email form in future. If you do have email and wish to continue receiving the letters, then email us at info@thesecretgardener.com. This way you will also receive more regular news of events and special offers. You’ll also find information on upcoming events on the web-site http://www.thesecretgardener.com/.

Summer Sale Until the end of August – 25% off all perennials and 20% off all trees and shrubs. 10% off all sundries.

The Harvest Farmer’s Market will be held on Sunday 13th September
Between 1 – 5pm. There will be a mix of food stalls including vegetables, chocolate, cakes, preserves, smoked foods and much more.

At last our new building has gone up! Thanks to funding from IRD Duhallow
we have been able to invest in a new building which is a classroom, farm shop and tea room. We will be fully operation by September, so whatever the weather you can pop up for a cup of proper coffee and a slice of Kirstie’s delicious cake. You’ll be able to browse carefully sourced produce, look through our book collection and just generally relax! We will be offering an extensive range of courses and events, both in-house and with external speakers and teachers, so if you don’t have email and want to find out more, drop by the garden centre nearer the end of August, when we will have an events calendar for autumn and winter.
Our kitchen garden is also nearly complete, along with a small polytunnel, which means that we can also do some more practical hands on teaching. Again, details of upcoming courses will be sent by email and listed on our web-site.Recent visitors will also have noticed that our car-park is vastly improved – a death-defying move of the griselinia hedge (for the griselinia that is) and an improved gateway has made it much easier to
park. We will be adding lighting to make it easier in the winter months also.
If there is anyone living in the Boherbue area interested in joining a new Flower & Garden Club, please contact us at The Secret Garden. Membership is just €25 per year which will include 8 events over the year.

The Season
As space is short, we’re going to keep this to the essentials:
Prune back spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac and forsythia. You can also cut back hedges – to make tidying up easier, lay a large sheet of plastic alongside the hedge to catch all the clippings
If you have gaps in the borders, fill them with late summer-flowering perennials such as Echinacea and rudbeckia. Dahlias are great gap fillers and will continue flowering until first frosts.
Many trees and shrubs will have struggled after the wet & cold of last winter. If they still look shook, give them a boost with some Fish, Blood & Bone. It’s also your last chance to feed rhododendrons, azaleas & camellias with a specific ericaceous feed. If we get a dry spell late in the summer it is essential to keep camellias well watered as they are forming next year’s flower buds.
Plan ahead for next year. Now is the time to look at your garden – it should be bursting with colour. Make note of areas that need a lift and then you can work on them before next spring. If you’re stuck for ideas, take a photo and bring it in – we’ll try and help!

Kitchen Garden
There’s still plenty of time to sow crops such as chard, mixed salad leaves, lettuce, pak choi, spinach, Black Kale, rocket, perpetual spinach & radishes. Most of these will carry on through the winter with no protection. Keep picking crops such as French beans, tomatoes & courgettes. It will actually increase productivity.
It’s been a bumper year so far for cabbage white butterflies on cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli & sprouts. You can rub off eggs, or pick off the caterpillars. If you are setting fresh plants net them straight away to prevent the butterflies laying their eggs.
Make sure you feed ‘hungry’ plants in the garden as regularly as you can (tomato feed, seaweed, home-made nettle or comfrey feed). This includes beans, courgettes, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Wildlife
Remember your birds – water and feed all through the year.
If you grow teasels, sunflowers or other perennials with large seed heads, leave the seed heads for the birds to eat.
If you do use sprays in the garden, always use early morning or at night when there are less beneficial insects around.
Visitors in the spring will have noticed the monitor in the shop showing the action in the nest box on the front of the shop. We’re delighted and just a little bit proud to let you know that seven blue tit eggs hatched and seven birds fledged the nest. There were moist eyes all round the day they left home, but it was worth it – we were privileged to see the whole process from daddy building the nest on, it was a bit like Big Brother but more wholesome! Needless to say the cameras will be switched on again next spring.

WARNING!!!
After discovering that Roseclear is of high risk to bees we no longer stock it. If you have a blackspot problem you can use diluted basic copper fungicide, which has a number of uses, or diluted low-fat milk (50/50 water/milk) sprayed on to the leaves. This old organic gardener’s recipe isn’t as mad as it sounds – it forms an invisible fungus on the leaves which stops the blackspot fungus forming, Roses also seem to respond very well to regular feeds of diluted liquid seaweed, which is thought to boost the plants’ immunity to disease.
We have written a care sheet for roses, explaining the best way to grow them – happy healthy roses are far less likely to suffer from disease. If you’d like any advice on growing roses, please drop by and see us.

We are delighted to be stockists of Chillington Hoes and Tools. A traditional range of hot-forged horticultural and agricultural tools, used around the world for over 100 years. See http://www.chillingtonhoes.com/ for information.

The Secret GardenAghaneenagh, Newmarket, Co Cork
Tel: 029 60084 info@thesecretgardener.com www.thesecretgardener.com
Tues – Sat 10 – 6pm Sunday 1 – 6pm Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays.

Master of disguise

2009-07-23T20:26:00.006+01:00

I was told a little story by a gold medal winner at Bloom 09 about our Minister for Food and Horticulture. It seems he turned up for his formal duties suited and booted as you would expect for such a grand occasion. It seems he returned on another day in disguise hat and glasses on whispering to this person "It's me Trevor" as he wanted to enjoy the gardens without any media attention.

From the description of his attire it seems a good job he got away with the media not discovering his disguise.

A greener electricity

2009-07-11T17:24:00.005+01:00

"The electricity generating industry is the biggest single source emitter of CO2 worldwide due to a reliance on fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and gas) for energy. Unless something is done about this, climate change will not be successfully tackled. Wind farms are the most economical and technologically advanced means to produce electricity that is 100% green and does not impact negatively "

The statement above was one of the reasons that led to us switching our electricity supply from ESB to Airtricity earlier this year. A simple process and one which supports a supplier of energy of which 79% is renewable compared to the minuscule figure of 9% from ESB. Some may question this claim but Airtricity's green values were recognised by the Inaugural Green Awards in 2008 were Airtricity were awarded the Green Energy Award. The Green Energy Award is open to any company that is involved in supplying renewable energy and to businesses that have developed new technological solutions that enable the production of energy more efficiently.

I know that for those living close to wind farms there may not be the same level of support but I do feel wind farms and wave energy farms are a way forward to ensure that we reduce the level of damage to the climate.

The process was very smooth and even has the added advantage of saving us money something in our current economic climate that is crucial. So take the plunge and make the switch......

http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/

Roses-tips for success

2009-07-10T20:30:00.006+01:00

At this time of the year the rose is one of the most stunning for scent and the array of colours. However not everyone has great success so here are some tips to acheive the perfect rose.

Roses - Tips for success.
Planting
Roses like clay soil. If your soil is chalky, shallow or sandy you will need to improve it with well-rotted manure, compost etc. Roses prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 6-6.5). They also like good drainage. Choose a sunny (but not baking hot & dry) spot with good air flow.
Don’t overcrowd roses –allow space between plants for airflow, and under plant with companion plants that will attract beneficial insects which will eat aphids. Suggestions include hardy geraniums, chives, lavender. Avoid root competition from large shrubs and trees.
It is not advisable to plant a rose where a rose was planted previously as this can cause Rose Replant Disease. If you wish to plant the rose in the exact same location you must replace all the soil in the planting hole. An alternative is to plant the rose in a biodegradable cardboard box filled with fresh topsoil or John Innes No.3.

Maintenance
Mulch in autumn and again in spring, with organic material (manure, compost, leaf mould or bark).
Feed in spring and again after first flowers appear. Seaweed increases plant vigour and resistance to disease. Avoid feeds that have a high nitrogen content as these encourage sappy growth (a blackfly magnet).
Prune your roses in early spring. Clean sloping cuts above an outward facing bud and remove all dead and diseased wood. You can also prune back roses by third in autumn to prevent windrock, also taking out any weak or diseased growth. Keep a nice open centre to the rose to encourage air flow.
Always water at the base NOT on the leaves and water in the morning so leaves have chance to dry.

Pests
At the first sign of aphids don’t panic and reach for the spray – chances are you will kill off the beneficial insects also, such as ladybirds, which will eat them for you. If you can’t bear to ignore them, smudge off with your fingers, blast off with a hose, or at last resort use soapy water.
Blackspot
If you have a persistent black spot problem, apply a weak drench solution of either Jeyes or Armilitox in soil around plants over winter to kill off blackspot spores. Add sulphur chips to soil at the base of the plant.
Pick off any infected leaves as soon as you see them. Do not put on your compost heap. Collect fallen leaves and either burn or put in rubbish
Always water at the base NOT on the leaves and water in the morning so leaves have chance to dry.
If you have a persistent blackspot problem, you can use Bordeaux mixture before leaves open, or treat leaves with copper fungicide.
Grow varieties that have some black spot resistance.
A completely organic method for treating blackspot is to spray the leaves with diluted skimmed milk. This forms an invisible fungus which prevents the black spot fungus forming.
Remember: Roseclear is poisonous to bees.
The Secret Garden, May 09

Ecobutton

2009-07-09T20:59:00.002+01:00

I was pleased to see The Sunday Times reviewing the Ecobutton in the Greenhouse effects in the Home Section this Sunday. Not only did it remind me of the item but given our use of the computer for ordering, promotion of the business and research etc in between customers it makes sense to consider using it.

The ecobutton works by pressing it every time you leave the computer idle and that can be fairly often bar the times our eldest is not using it for his computer games. With a press of the button the "ecomode" comes into play. This is the good bit apparently on just one computer you could save up to €55 in electricity which would pay for itself in about 4 months. Coming in at €17.60 plus €2.75 delivery that's a pretty low cost item which will be good on the pocket and even better on the environment.

I know that you can also use the power-saving mode which can be accessed through the Windows Shutdown menu. So maybe this may be a better system as it is on our computers already perhaps this with a sign saying sleep mode is the answer after all.

Summer in the garden

2009-07-04T15:36:00.006+01:00

Summer in the Garden

Your garden should be a feast for the senses, especially in the summer when the garden is at its fullest. For sensory overload, try and incorporate plants or features that appeal to all the five senses, and get out there and enjoy your space!
Sight: give yourself some colour therapy and pack your garden with flowers! For an instant pick me-up use summer bedding and fill pots, window boxes and gaps in the border. For more long-term colour, plant perennials that will give you years of service. Planted now, summer beauties such as rudbeckia, giant verbena, Echinacea, sedums and coreopsis, will give you flower through to first frost. As a general guideline, plant hot colours in a bright sunny spot, and keep the cooler, paler shades to less sunny areas. We can help you choose plants that are suitable for your garden, but you will be the person looking at them, so pick flowers that you like to look at!

Sound

There are many different ways to introduce sound in to your garden – the rustle of ornamental grasses (such as Miscanthus or Golden Oats)and bamboos in the wind, the gentle tinkle of water, wind-chimes and of course, the most natural of all –birdsong. Make your garden attractive to birds and enjoy the free concerts every morning and evening.

Touch

I’m not suggesting that you go out and hug a tree, but the feel of plants can really be incredibly soothing – soft, furry Stachys byzantina is known as lamb’s ears for very good reason, and grasses, such as Stipa ‘Pony Tails’ are wonderful to run your hands through, as are plants with soft, ferny foliage such as fennel. For the ultimate touch sensation, walk barefoot on the lawn early morning – real sensory therapy!

Taste

You’d have to have spent the last six months on Mars not to have noticed the huge surge in interest in growing your own. Easy to do, even if you don’t feel like creating a veg patch, why not fill a planter on the patio with salad leaves and scallions. Perfect for summer evenings al fresco. You could pot up a few pots of herbs, or throw a few springs of rosemary and thyme on the barbecue coals for a Mediterranean twist. If you just want a few sweet treats, try growing some strawberries and cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket or window box and then pick and eat as you pass – great for kids.

Scent

This would have to be my favourite sense in the garden, and the one which is the most personal. Scent is evocative, and will trigger individual memories – for me honeysuckle reminds me of my childhood summers playing in the garden. Our garden at the moment is filled with scent from an old Philadelphus which only flowers for a few precious weeks each year but the scent is so incredible, I would not be without it even though it is completely unremarkable for the remaining 48 weeks of the year. For fragrant delight in your garden, try planting Chocolate Cosmos, Chocolate Mint (me? Like chocolate? Never!) , Lemon Verbena, Lemon Balm, Lavender, roses, honeysuckle or jasmine. Some plants, such Sweet Rocket or Tobacco Flower, smell more at night so make sure you plant them near a night-time seating area for maximum benefit.

Your garden can be an amazing space, full of life and colour, and more important than how neat / weed-free / designed it is, is that you enjoy it and take time to experience it. Find a quiet corner either first thing in the morning or in the evening and take it all in – the sounds, the sights, the scents. At this time of year gardens are alive – dozy bumblebees falling from flower to flower, adult birds being harassed by loud youngsters on the branches, busy honey bees, ladybirds munching through greenfly, butterflies dancing over flowers and moths coming out as darkness falls. Who needs TV?

Sarah Evans
The Secret Garden

Published in The Corkman 18th June 2009

Irish Gardens

2009-07-03T22:54:00.002+01:00

What more can a fella ask for listening to great tunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F-xOfeZPMw&feature=related and reading a great book with a bottle of red. Just what Friday nights were meant to be.

This is a great book by Olda Fitzgerald and highlights 20 gardens within Ireland. They are well described with lovely images and sketch drawings of the outlay of each garden. Down here in Co Cork we are fortunate to have 4 of the gardens including Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens, Creagh, Ilnacullin and very local to here and may I once again say worth visiting Annes Grove.

Not the cheapest of books but for the gardenaholics well worth it.....

Hen house heaven

2009-07-01T22:08:00.008+01:00

We have had ducks and hens for several years now and are delighted to see the interest in people keeping them. Where we have a large pen and a shed to hold them not every body has that kind of space or only want a couple of hens unlike Sarah with her menagerie.

One of our local suppliers has just started to make hen/duck houses and we are pleased to be selling them on his behalf. He comes very well recommended as he already makes all our display table in the garden centre over the last years.

So onto business with some images.....

Made with pressure treated timber it has the following features

Pressure treated timber, with animal safe preservative on the exterior wood
Chicken wire around the base
Handy carry handles for easy manoeuvring of the whole unit
Full access of one lockable side panel for cleaning access
Mini access panel for egg retrieval
Removable nesting box
Perch
Access door to run
Easy access to the house via the ramp
Drop down door for easy access
Suitable for up to four hens depending on the breed

All for a mere €295 half the price of an eglu (plastic monstrosity)

dimensions to follow it was getting dark

Any enquiries to info@thesecretgardener.com

Hot library smut

2009-07-01T07:42:00.006+01:00

Do not be fooled by the name this is an excellent blog with images of some of the most beautiful libraries around the world.

Check it out on http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/hot_library_smut/

Annes Grove Gardens

2009-06-29T15:52:00.009+01:00

For what ever reason the gardens at Annes Grove do not get the visitor numbers they deserve. In a selfish way this is a blessing as you can always enjoy the beauty of the place without masses of people however it really does deserve to be shown off to more people. So if you are ever in North Cork head over to Castletownroche and experience this delight for yourself.

Rather than me ramble on about its delights I have added a couple of pictures from my last visit as well as the link to the website. The photos are truly stunning and do a far better visual description.

http://www.annesgrovegardens.com/

Raised beds and much more

2009-06-26T23:13:00.002+01:00

The pictures don't show the real size of these beds but at just over 2.5 feet in depth and three foot wide and a lengthy 8 foot long they are pretty huge. And believe me filling them certainly had Alan and Brian cursing after numerous barrow loads of top soil before adding the quality stuff for our vegetables. The reason we have gone for this height is nothing to do with the needs of the plants. It is to provide accessibility for people who may use a wheelchair or have a reduced ability to stand for what ever reason. Accessibility is the key issue and particularly as it is likely that people we will be providing courses and training to will be having real hands on horticulture. There is nothing better than the sense of achievement and we plan to use Social and Therapeutic Horticulture to transform the lives of those affected by mental health and disability.

The benefits of a sustained and active interest in gardening include:
Better physical health through exercise and learning how to use or strength muscles to improve mobility, Improved mental health through a sense of purpose and achievement , The opportunity to connect with others – reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion , Acquiring new skills to improve the chances of finding employment , Just feeling better for being outside, in touch with nature and in the 'great outdoors'

So watch this space to see what will be on offer at The Secret Garden

Natures outdoor theatre

2009-06-23T07:32:00.011+01:00

It is always a pleasure to enjoy the garden more so when it is filled with the array of entertaining insects.

The bumble bees and honey bees from our own hives have discovered the delights in the garden now that the whitethorn flowers in the hedgerows have died down. Just outside our back garden we have a Nepeta which is drawing in all and sundry much to the amusement of our youngest who loves watching them move from one flower to the other.

We were treated yesterday by the visit from a Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum for the clever people) with its long probiscus and audible humming noise as it fed on the nectar. We have had regular visits from them in the last few years and I do believe our removal of the use of chemicals has aided this.

So now with a mug of tea and the camera in hand I am off to see what other attractions are in today's garden show......

The perfect rose

2009-06-21T21:24:00.005+01:00

Rose de Recht has the most striking deep pink flowers and although the bloom is only two and a half inches inches across and consisting of up to 100 petals it certainly grabs your attention.

The growth habit of Rose de Rescht is upright, and compact, a tidy and well-shaped bush that will gradually grow to be about three or four feet high and wide. As such, it is a wonderful choice for smaller gardens. The foliage on Rose de Rescht is dense, vigorous and abundant.

A special feature of this rose is called remontance, the name for the characteristic in plants that permits them to rebloom. This refers to a plant that blooms two or more times in a season, either in distinct phases or after a rest period. Rose de Rescht is a prolific spring bloomer with good reliable repeat blooms throughout the year. If the plant is deadheaded or periodically pruned back, rebloom is even better; and it is often said to always be in bloom.

Rose de Rescht is relatively shade tolerant, and will bloom well in partial shade or filtered light. It is described as having fair to good disease resistance, however I find it to be doing excellent especially as it has not had any specific care or attention other than removing the old blooms.
Last but not least, perhaps the most captivating quality about this little gem of a rose is its fragrance.

So if you wish to try a rose this has to be one to consider.

A place for birds

2009-06-18T19:44:00.012+01:00

One thing we really enjoy at The Secret Garden is the number and range of birds that share our home and garden. At the end of last year we put up this camera nesting box on the front of the shop. In the spring a pair of blue tits took up as tenants and began the process of setting up home. It was incredible to watch the intricate process as the bird rotated to compact the material as well as leave a space for the eggs. Seven eggs were laid and the process of watching the eggs being turned amazed us all. On the morning of the 9th May we were delighted to see what turned out to be seven chicks all with hungry mouths. The parents began the process of bringing in food and quickly the chicks started to take shape and became more and more vocal when the parents returned. If a customer was stood near the box the parents would wait patiently before taking in the next delicacy which was quickly gobbled up. Both adults and children alike were amazed with many thinking it was a video until they looked out of the door and could hear the chicks above them. In less than three weeks the chicks had left the nest and it was like we were abandoned parents. We hope that we have tenants again next year.

Even if we don't there have been nests all around the place including Starlings in the eaves above the front door (messy and noisy when young so no wonder they grow up to be the chavs of the birdworld), Swallows in the old duck house which was our recycled shop building, Robins in the shed and Wrens underneath our display tables. The hedges then are another story...........

A grand entrance

2009-06-14T12:01:00.002+01:00

We are delighted with our new wider entrance and gates courtesy of Patrick our very multi-skilled builder, carpenter, gatemaker etc etc.

The gates fit in well with the native hedgerow and once the wall is planted it will look even better. A grand entrance to our lovely Secret Garden.

Getting the most from your roses.

2009-06-13T10:50:00.004+01:00

Getting The Most From Your Roses

A FREE talk & demonstration at The Secret Garden on the most beautiful flower in the garden.

A basic guide to growing them healthily, reducing the need for spraying. Topics covered include planting, feeding, pruning and pest & disease.
Special Offers on Roses on the day.

Saturday 21st June, 3 – 3.30pm
The Secret Garden, Newmarket, 029 60084
info@thesecretgarden.com http://www.thesecretgardener.com/
Signposted from Newmarket – Kanturk Rd and Newmarket – Boherbue Rd.

Greens disappointed with electoral outcome

2009-06-09T18:25:00.003+01:00

"This has been a deeply disappointing election for the Green Party. The thousands of canvassers and supporters and our hundred candidates across the country are rightly saddened and frustrated by the outcome of Friday's elections. I have been talking to our councillors who were not re-elected, and will continue to talk to Party members and supporters in the days and weeks ahead.

"Now is a time for reflection. We will listen to what our candidates and our members have to say. We will utilise the strong systems of internal democracy that make the Green Party unique in Irish politics, and intensify our ongoing programme of internal communications."

"We have lost incredibly dedicated and hard working councillors and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to them.

Statement by John Gormley

I would agree that the results of Fridays elections were disappointing but realistically and sadly I did not believe that the Green Party would do well. If anything the votes cast were about bringing change, and currently this is on the issues of the economy and getting Ireland out of recession. And for this reason the swing to Fine Gael was always going to happen just as in the UK the swing is back to the Conservatives. For whatever reason the Green Party in Ireland does not seem to have the same level of support that is shared across other European countries.

A special presentation was made entitled, entitled 'Reasons To Vote Green This Friday' outlining reasons to choose Green Party candidates. These included policies to boost energy efficiency and cut Ireland’s ruinous foreign oil and gas bill; investment in environmental infrastructure; changes to planning laws to build better communities; improvements to conditions for apartment dwellers; and returning power to the people through a directly elected mayor for Dublin and local referendums.

Sadly this was never going to be strong enough to gain the Irish vote. Maybe one day the Green Party in Ireland will have more political recognition.

One for the book shelf.

2009-06-08T22:03:00.005+01:00

Take it as your new vegetable patch bible. Definitely worth purchasing or get a copy at your library. Drawing directly from his experience as an acclaimed climate-change gardener, and of setting up a kitchen garden from scratch for River Cottage, Mark explains the practical aspects of organic growing, introduces us to a whole world of vegetables we may not have previously considered, and does away with alienating gardening jargon once and for all. Mark begins with a catalogue of vegetables that will grow in this country, explaining for each their benefits, what varieties to go for, dos and don'ts, and popular culinary uses. He then invites us to create a wish list of foods, and shows us his own list from his early gardening days. Next, he explains how to turn this wish list into a coherent kitchen garden plan appropriate for our space, whether it be a patch of acidic soil, a roof-top garden or an allotment, whether we put on our wellies in every free moment or are 'time-poor' gardeners. Then he puts all the theory into practice, showing us how to look after nutrients in the soil, how to resist pests and diseases, and how to make our garden sustainable and organic. In clear, concise sections we learn about seed trays, supporting plants with climbing structures, mulching, composting, companion planting, irrigation and promoting pollination, and there are additional tables showing sowing and harvesting times, plant sizes, and alternative varieties of plants for different sites. About thirty recipes and a directory of useful addresses finish the book, and the handbook is complemented by bright colour photography throughout. Practical and inspiring, with a introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Thank goodness for rain

2009-06-06T20:18:00.003+01:00

After over a week of lovely hot summers days I am glad to see some rain. Not least as it will mean less watering and being able to blog again but the plants will appreciate a good soaking. My five weeks of hard work are nearly up so it will be a return to my part time job. It is always hard to return when the weather is good so I will be hoping for a cool wednesday.

Can we borrow

2009-06-01T20:12:00.005+01:00

Not our own image but the bedding shelves are bare in The Secret Garden. Was a great weekend with bedding being very popular.

A great complaint with new and old faces all complementing how pretty the place looks and how good our plants are.

Harder than it looks

2009-05-30T21:10:00.004+01:00

Alan and Brian took on the masterful task on making the new poly-tunnel. Definitely not as easy as it looks and involved lots of cursing and talking about angles, being square and was it plumb. After some professional advice from Patrick our multi skilled builder it started to take shape and I caught them looking all smug at their handy work. I have to agree it will look fantastic once completed, so while the weather is good it is full steam ahead.

The area inside the tunnel has been turned and rotavated (which the ducks and hens loved, like a buffet) so really well prepared so now it just needs the staging and doors putting up before putting the skin on.

Having re-skinned the main tunnel last year I remember this was the fiddly bit and involved lots of red faces and grunting. Around this will be the raised vegetable and herb beds with the cold frames nearby. The compost bins are fenced off with the ducks patrolling for any slugs that may venture over looking for a free meal.

The Secret Garden is getting really well prepared for growing our own vegetables.

A great evening

2009-05-28T19:42:00.004+01:00

Last night (Wednesday 28th May) we held a very successful event entitled 'An evening with bees' with members of Duhallow Bee-keepers Association. We had just over fifteen people who were party to both a talk and a practical demonstration covering all aspects of bee keeping as well as the importance of gardening for bees.

Several of the group are considering pursuing their interest further which is fantastic news and they will receive the support and knowledge from the experienced members of the group.

We have already been asked to repeat the event so it will be more bees and wine later in the summer.

Our own hive and bee garden are doing well and we hope to expand to two or three hives by next year. This will allow us to sell our own Secret Garden honey as well as show others how easy it is to keep bees.

Banish those weeds

2009-05-28T09:48:00.004+01:00

With the new work going on there is lots of fresh earth that will be quickly taken over by weeds so with our abundance of cardboard which usually goes off to be re-cycled we are using it as a mulch. We remove sticky labels, tape and staples from the cardboard before we use it though and lay a good layer down. In our new composting area (more details to follow) the footpaths have been covered in cardboard and will have a mulch covering to supress any weed growth and if any do make it they will be removed by hand.

For those with a sweet tooth

2009-05-25T20:26:00.007+01:00

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to have a slice of cake (especially the chocolate and carrot) or a cup cake up at the garden centre we have fantastic news for the supplier as well as yourselves. You will now be able to purchase them through Supervalue in Newmarket courtesy of Tommy the manager. They really are fantastic and are all baked with natural ingredients no nasty preservatives etc. The only bad thing is your waistline but then the gardening should help with that.

It is not real

2009-05-24T20:06:00.009+01:00

Nothing more frustrating when looking at a web site and the images are just stock photos, that's why 99.9% of our images on our site are from the garden or garden centre. This is particularly important in our line of work. I guess when stock photos are being used its either due to a lack of creation or a lack of imagination. What ever the reason it is pretty poor when you turn up somewhere and the images are not reflective.

Some of our lovely images.................

Make sure it has a crocodile

2009-05-21T22:03:00.003+01:00

We are pleased to say that we have just taken stock of some superb quality agricultural hand tools identifiable by the famous Chillington "Crocodile" brand stamped into them at time of manufacture.

Not only are they incredibly well made they also have excellent eco credentials. The Hoe heads are designed and manufactured to last as long as possible maybe even a lifetime, so less energy will be needed and less raw materials will be needed.....so there is less demand on the earth's resources and less costs to you(not so good for me though).

The strong wooden shafts are purposely shaped as to tighten into the Hoe head so requiring no further fastenings.....so less costs and environment demands.The remnants of the Hoe head when at the end of it's working life can easily be recycled into working steel again, and the wooden shaft can be burnt safely releasing no more extra carbon into the atmosphere as wood is carbon neutral.

And the other great thing is the price of these tools, come in and see them for yourself and be very surprised at such little cost for a quality tool.

See the link for full details http://chillingtonhoes.com

A long time ago...

2009-05-20T22:25:00.005+01:00

Well exactly seven years ago today, we left the big smoke of London to come over to Ireland to take over the garden centre known back then as 'Cottage Garden Nursery'. It all started through an advert in BBC Gardeners World magazine with a garden centre and cottage for sale. Persuading Sarah to ring up and find out more was quickly followed up with a visit or three and a falling in love with the place.(except for the ott pink paint inside and out)

After a long and protracted sale of our house, we packed up the old Volvo estate with our two dogs, the remaining bare essentials and left sunny London on a Sunday morning. A long drive down to Pembroke meant staying the night until the ferry the next day. Given we had the dogs our choice was very limited so the B&B we stayed in was not exactly top of the range. Basic facilities no en suite, two dogs for roommates and a mattress that slumped in the middle meant our stay was not exactly refreshing. Our dogs made themselves at home one cocking his leg on the sofa and the other spotted the resident cat which nearly led to him running through a glass door.

So with relief, the next morning we left only for the ferry to be delayed for several hours. What appeared to be calm seas soon turned into a roller coaster of a journey and our sailing was spent horizontal in our cabin until we were close to land. My first vision of our new home land was through me being sick over the side.

After getting through customs and having a break we set off on the long journey arriving just before 10pm. Our seller had left the stove on and we pumped up the inflatable mattress and fell asleep until waking on a solid floor due to a slow leak at around five in the morning.

Amazingly we were up and madly open for business at 10.30am that day and as it is now the weather was wet wet and very wet. Our clothes were more suited to a warm summer and not the cold and damp so we huddled around the stove. What had we let ourselves in for.

Well seven years on it has been hard work but home is now here for us and our two boys and the garden centre is making fantastic progress. Who knows where we will be in another seven years.

I beg to differ

2009-05-17T20:54:00.002+01:00

"Mark Keenan, journalist with The Sunday Times (Irish edition) has been writing a piece about allotments in the Home supplement. Mark draws on his experience as a first time plot holder on No 34, and his informative and witty observances make recommended reading" South Dublin Allotments Association

Well I beg to differ with the above view particularly after reading his piece in today's Home supplement in The Sunday Times entitled 'Win the war on slugs'. I have already struggled with Mark's negative view and stereotyping of garden centres being expensive and the positive promotion of D.I.Y barns but today's piece amazes me.

His piece reads "For the first time this year, I have reached for the little blue boys. I use the ultra-toxic, blue slug pellets sparingly, on the grounds that nothing else works. Please don't e-mail or write to me about nematodes, beer baths, copper wire, roving ducks or hedgehogs. All belong in the ACME warehouse of solutions as frequented by Wile E Coyote. Thus far this year,I've used the environmentally friendly white pellets and I'd stick with them if they didn't dissolve overnight in wet soil."

Well if Mark researched his products or went to a garden centre he could have bought Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer. This is a bait which can be used around children, pets and wildlife as it only targets Slugs.Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer is a truly 'advanced' Slug Killer completely out dating all Slug killers of the past. It will only kill slugs and snails, and will not harm children, pets, birds, animals or wildlife etc. if used as directed. This product has already enjoyed overwhelming success in Europe and America.Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer is an important breakthrough in slug control, with many environmental benefits:It will only kill slugs and snails. There is no secondary poisoning of birds or hedgehogs etc. and they are completely safe even if they eat the pellets so long as the product has been used as directed.It is based on ferrous phosphate (iron phosphate - which is an organic compound) plus a bait, thus making it attractive to slugs and snails.The slugs and snails are attracted to the bait, ingest the pellets and then crawl away to die, leaving no dead slugs or snails around and no unsightly slime. Any bait not eaten breaks down rapidly to iron and phosphate nutrients as part of garden soil.It is safe to handle and apply it can be used safely around ornamentals, fruits and vegetable's is suitable for organic gardening.

I hope that Mark realises that his choice and promotion of 'ultra toxic, blue slug pellets' are not good for the environment and maybe he should do some research on whats wrong with toxic blue pellets. See the link below for a few reasons to make a better choice and they are rainfast.

http://www.cat.org.uk/ihateslugs/slugpellets.tmpl

Worth a look

2009-05-16T18:40:00.008+01:00

Just giving a recommendation to a business that recently opened in Kanturk. They are Bee Alive health store it is great to have them so close and offering such a wide range of products at such a competitive price.

One aspect of striving to be a greener garden centre is the use of household products like washing up liquid and cleaners that are not harmful to the environment. Most products contain a number of toxic ingredient such as phosphates, EDTA, Enzymes, Optical Brighteners, Chlorine Bleaches, Synthetic Perfumes, Formaldehyde, Lanolin, Animal Based or Synthetic Glycerine, Synthetic dyes… All so toxic

For that reason we only use products which are kind to animals and the environment. Our favourite products are from ECOVER and Lilly's Eco Clean which are made in Castletownbere in West Cork. The Lilly's products are available from Bee Alive

Check out the following links

http://www.lillysecoluv.com/index.html

http://ecover.reference.be/gb/en/default_home.aspx

Bloom 2009

2009-05-15T08:00:00.003+01:00

Welcome to Bloom 2009 Ireland's largest and most spectacular gardening event. Following its phenomenal successes in 2007 and 2008, Bloom has become a national favourite and one of the most anticipated events on the Irish calendar. Hosted by Bord Bia, Bloom is taking place this year May 28th - June 1st in the Phoenix Park and is set to attract over 50,000 visitors throughout the event. There will be something for everyone with wonderful gardens, floral displays, farmers market, entertainment stages, family fun zone and so much more.

If you are interested in attending bloom The Secret Garden Centre is pleased to announce that we have vouchers which give you 2 for 1 entry to Bloom. We are one of the two garden centres in Co Cork who have this fantastic offer available.

Really Stumped

2009-05-15T07:42:00.005+01:00

We are delighted to say that we have made a link with Dermot Casey Tree Care who have over 40 years in arboriculture management. They prides themselves on the professional standards they provide. Over the years there company has accumulated experience in all aspects of arboriculture as well as technical, health and safety qualifications. This is really important as you can have someone who buys a piece of equipment and suddenly claims to have knowledge of being an Arborist. So next time you are stumped you know where to go if you have any issues relating to care of your trees.

www.dermotcaseytreecare.ie/

Looking forward to rain

2009-05-13T07:59:00.002+01:00

Our mini heatwave (all of two days) meant a day of watering in between the masses of customers. It is amazing how quickly anything in a pot can dry so ensure if you have pots baskets etc ensure you give them a long soak.

A good tip for a really dry pot is to place in a container and allow the water to soak up, this really ensures that the whole of the plants root system is soaked rather than given a mere splash which many people tend to do.

After a long busy day had a much needed soak and enjoyed a watering with a glass of red.

We have progress

2009-05-11T21:40:00.004+01:00

Like any good workman Brian has learnt the shovel lean so he can contemplate what work lies before him. To his credit though he has been Patrick's helpful assistant which means doing the manual labour instead of playing in the big boys dumper, digger and loader. Not sure he was so eager after raking out a full load of cement for the foundations, will do him good though.

The preparation work is coming along nicely with paths laid and the foundations put in place. More of the same tomorrow build while the sun shines. I however will be watering planting and hopefully busy.

A mountain of plastic..........

2009-05-10T16:29:00.003+01:00

When will we ever see the introduction of biodegradable plant pots introduced from nursery stage production through to final sale to our customers. The current situation is that many plastic pots just end up in landfill sites and they take hundreds of years to disintegrate. Even when they do finally break up they break down into tiny particles which act like sponges in our soils and our seas, soaking up all manner of toxins, so much so that the World Health Organisation is researching as to whether they are responsible for causing cancer.

Here at The Secret Garden we always look to pass pots onto small growers and customers who need some pots for seed sowing but with every season our we accrue a large number of pots. We have even taken on pots from customers to prevent them from being incinerated and adding toxins to the atmosphere. We have taken pots back to our local recycling centre. However such are the demands of the energy required to recycle the pots that certain environmentalists claim that pot recycling schemes are no more than a marketing spin.

Biodegradable plant pots are now widely available but yet still so few nurseries use them . These are made out of natural substances such as bamboo pulp, by-products of coconut shells and grain husks. When in use and unbroken, the bamboo pulp pots can last up to five years. When the protective glaze is broken they will biodegrade within 6-18 months. Perhaps this is a role for Bord Bia to address with both nurseries and garden centres alike. We are certainly keen to ditch the plastic but not into landfill.

Kept moist

2009-05-09T08:16:00.004+01:00

Sarah is cracking through all our orders and by now is dreaming of hanging baskets in her sleep. Just as you think you have finished we always get a late surge. This year all the basket and boxes are being filled with peat free compost. This should eradicate the need to use water retention agents as the peat free compost should not dry out as quickly. There is still the need to water them regularly especially when that blazing summer sun finally arrives. To conserve water use a 'water butt' to collect rain water.

A water butt is a barrel-like tank that can collect rainwater from your roof's drainpipes after rain. This rainwater can then be used for watering plants in your garden. We have several attached to all our buildings and you will be amazed how much is collected in one downpour. One important area of consideration is that if you have children who can access the butt is that the top is kept secure to prevent any accidents. As I sit here typing the rain is falling filling the butts up once more.

Anything you can do

2009-05-08T12:30:00.005+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHh2_fQxthk This song sums up the thought process of someone in a similar line of work to us.... Maybe they can but we lead where others follow.....

Funding

2009-05-08T12:05:00.005+01:00

After over five years of going back and forth with IRD Duhallow we are very pleased to say that we are in receipt of funding as they have recognised the value and initiative of our proposed developments. This was no easy task and involved putting a clear business plan outlining why we met the very strict criteria. With this we will be able to put back so much more to our community and ensure that the environmental education we provide is passed onto many more for the benefit of future generations.

IRD Duhallow is a community-based rural development company that promotes rural development in the Duhallow area. The company combines the efforts and resources of the State Bodies, Local Authorities, local communities and individual entrepreneurs for the benefit of the local area. The main objective of IRD Duhallow is to establish and to support initiatives directed towards the generation of enterprise for the benefit and welfare of communities in Duhallow who may be deprived due to rural depopulation, immigration, lack of training, economic deprivation or poor infrastructure.
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And so it begins

2009-05-07T20:25:00.003+01:00

And so it begins the ridiculous level of campaign posters. I saw the first load of posters today from an independent candidate and on the five minute drive to pick up the boys I counted 15 posters from the same candidate. Given that both my short and long term memory are fairly good, do we really need to see the same image every 50-100 metres. We are not goldfish

I am aware that the Environment Minister in 2008 John Gormley was looking at ways to reduce pollution and littering caused by election posters.Mr Gormley launched a public consultation process to examine how to address the problem.Some of the ideas put forward included restricting the locations where posters can be displayed, introducing a new code of practice and bringing in new powers for local authorities. So what has changed anything, I expect very little and we will see the same level of posters and the environmental aspect will remain at the back burner. I believe that the Green party are using environmentally friendly election posters from sustainable, Irish forests. We shall see

2009-05-07T13:19:00.002+01:00

Nothing to do with Gardening but a thought linked to my last post.

'I think that the person who has had more experience of hardships can stand more firmly in the face of problems than the person who has never experienced suffering. From this angle then, some suffering can be a good lesson for life.' Dalai Lama

Sad news

2009-05-06T19:02:00.003+01:00

My thoughts are with someone now.

http://www.cancer.ie/

Ready for foundation

2009-05-06T08:01:00.003+01:00

The area has been cleared in preparation for the foundations of our new building. Once up and dressed the building will be stunning and will allow us to do much more. One of our landscapers thought it would make a great sports bar or lads pad. Already had that thought myself just need to work on Sarah.

Foliage

2009-05-05T08:22:00.003+01:00

Had a great chat with a customer yesterday about our mutual love of plants with foliage. It spurred me on to do some bed time reading so I pulled out a book I have not looked at for some time. It is entitled 'Foliage-dramatic and subtle leaves for the garden' by David Joyce

It has stunning images and the way he uses categories and sub categories makes it very easy to find what you are looking for i.e. Leaf colour- Metallic lustre's or Cool variegation.

It is definitely not just about flowers............