The thoughts and ramblings of a landscape gardener…
Posted in every post to date, living the good life on Feb 29th, 2008
a herb is defined as both an aromatic plant that is used for flavouring in cookery & medicine and a seed-bearing plant whose parts above the ground die back a the end of the growing season.
What I have here is parsley [petroselinum crispum], mint [curley], oregano [origanum vulgaris], sorrel [broadleaf], thyme [thymus faustinii], lavender [lavandula [...]
Posted in every post to date, landscape design on Feb 25th, 2008
whilst the weather maybe a little rough in North Dublin today; trawling through a mountain of reference books seeking a solution to mindful serenity for a show garden design…. [ie. there is no problem just at the moment it doesn't sit right, in my imagination] I stubled across this photograph of Christoper Columbus.
On the back I had written a quote by [...]
Posted in every post to date, landscape design on Feb 21st, 2008
garden show preparation is in full swing; The trees are in bud, almost trying into leaf; the daffs have sprouted and almost all in flower. The season is literally almost urging itself to burst into full bloom.
Such varied enquiries come into my office. But, even with our website [thanks Patrick] usually it’s what type of [...]
Posted in every post to date, my favourite plants on Feb 20th, 2008
Daffodil bulbs! it might be a little nippy out - but it is fantastic to see nature bring that little touch of inspiration! Whilst most of the bulbs planted last year are still attempting to bloom - there are a few that have had the courage to test themselves against the sub zero celcius [...]
Posted in every post to date, my office on Feb 15th, 2008
I couldn’t join this one. In fact I’d say ‘this gang’ has gone their seperate ways by now….
So I joined the ALCI [the association of landscape contractors of Ireland] instead! The basic difference between this and any other ‘association’ you might ask? Well, our gang is not just Irish, but more European.
The difference, I find, is [...]
Posted in every post to date, my ireland on Feb 13th, 2008
I know I’ve touched on this before with regard to water and plastic bottles but maybe it needs to be more direct? Reading a book from my library, ‘Go make a difference - over 500 daily ways to save the planet’ [by think books], tells it is proven that bottled is no better than tap water but, bottled water uses 1.5 [...]
Posted in every post to date, my office on Feb 9th, 2008
Picture: Aidan Cotter [chief executive Bord Bia], David Milner [landscape manager], Peter Donegan [Director] & Trevor Sargent [Green Party]
Friday 8th February saw The Donegan Lanscaping team be awarded The Quality Award. Last year we achieved the award of merit, but, thanks to the hard work of the entire team, we have been certified [...]
Posted in advice - garden, every post to date on Feb 7th, 2008
also known as Garlic, these cloves [fresh] from China I bought in Superquinn!! Carbon footprint my rear. The builders have destroyed my crop so I needed a fresh batch to grow from. I was surprised to discover their origin but these will be planted & not used for cooking.
To grow: Split the cloves. Plant 2″ down & 4″ apart. Plant now and [...]
Posted in every post to date, my favourite plants on Feb 7th, 2008
I bought this plant around five years ago. But only recently has it started to show its true beauty. An aged, almost antique piece for the garden The ‘corkscrew hazel’ as it is commonly known produces tiny catkins which develop around the winter period.
I found it very difficult to get a really good photograph - but [...]
Posted in every post to date, my ireland on Feb 4th, 2008
I took the DART into Dublin City recently. Been a while since I have. On the BUS home I took this picture and thought it would be a great poster to be put on all DART trains.
Reared with 4 sisters [& 3 brothers] I don’t wish to suggest a ‘National Peter Day’ of celebration but [...]
