Where’s my Fruit?

I’ve just come back from a rather fruitless journey up the garden. I had gone to take a photo of my blackcurrant bushes to show you an image of them bursting with ripe fruit. Julie’s mum Hilda has some bushes that are just a shimmering hew of dark purple, so heavily laidened that you can’t even see the branches. Mine on the other hand show no sign of fruiting at all this year. There are no tell tale signs of birds feasting on the sweet fruit or anything laying on the ground half eaten by slugs either, we just didn’t get any.

Poppy Fields

Hilda’s fruit harvest is looking very promising this year with apples and strawberries also doing well. The only crop that’s not producing this year for her is the raspberries. Generally Hilda will be boiling up her rich pickings by the gallon in her jam making cauldron. This season though There’s hardly enough to fill the lid, and Hilda has resorted to collecting them on a daily basis and building up her supply until there is enough ripe fruit to warrant turning the gas on. I’m not sure what the reasons for this are but it might be something to do with the fact that her vegetable garden is overrun by large poppies. These are of sentimental value to Hilda and so she won’t let anyone pull them out and they have self set seed freely over the few years they have been planted. You’ll soon be able to see the poppies on Google Maps, which could spark an international opium poppy growing alert. They do look pretty though.

Codylines – Here to Stay

I notice that the cordylines have started to grow back. For those who waited patiently for the growing season, their reward is a new tropical looking plant growing in their garden. The Cordyline will be a bush more than a tree now as it will be multi stemmed. Not everyone’s happy though. I put the issue out onto the gardening forum and people are split about their loyalties to this New Zealand plant. Putting to one side the fact that this plant has been used for centuries for fibre, sweetening food, treating skin injuries and food, especially the carrot like rhizomes, some people just don’t like it because they think they are messy and invasive. However you feel about them, they haven’t gone away and they are coming back with a vengeance!

Courgette catch up

We’ve started to harvest the peas and mange tout this week. They started off badly but have picked up not and producing well. Our runner beans are very slow to establish, but there’s time yet. We don’t seem to be having much luck with the courgettes though. It might be a bit late in the season for them to catch up now and produce the bumper crops were have been used to over the years. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the soil. We are managing to produce the most enormous dock leaves we have ever seen. You could hide under them in the rain or use them as sails on small boats. They will come in useful as an antidote to the nettle stings we generally get when we are weeding, they are doing well too.

Jury’s Out
Julie has just pointed out that the shrub I have been looking at to get the blackcurrants from is actually a ribes, which is an ornamental current bush. Now I might be getting a bit forgetful at times (or choose not to remember in the first place) but I know I have collected loads of blackcurrants off this shrub in the past year. I an adamant and so is Julie so the jury is out. I’m back out into the garden to do a leaf comparison.

Checklist

Having your cake

There are certain comments people make in all innocence when you are young, and not so young, that have a marked influence on your lives. Off the top of my head I can think of two that stunted my already fragile development.
One time when I was straight out of school and working, a colleague of mine told me that he thought I didn’t have the “face for selling.” Just what that is supposed to mean I just don’t know, but it did put me off any type of selling in my job and private life. It’s a bit like being told that you have a great looking face for the radio. I realise now that there’s no such thing as a face for selling. If you believe in a product and don’t spit your dinner over someone when you talk, there’s a pretty good chance that you could sell anything.
Years before that in the days when I would get really excited when the iced cream van tootled down the street, I was at a family wedding and the cake was being handed around on a silver platter. It had been carefully cut into manageable slabs for people to pick up and attempt to get into their mouths in between swilling the beer and dancing rather badly to 70’s disco music.

I was offered the plate and without taking too much interest or notice, I picked a piece of cake and put it on my plate next to the left over chicken bones.

“Ooooh!” Exclaimed one of my inebriated second cousins. “Look at old greedy guts there”. I was totally at a loss. “Ian’s taken the biggest piece on the plate. Someone had to do it but trust it to be him.” My distant relation laughed proudly telling everyone in the whole room to watch their plates because I was doing the rounds. I was totally confused as all of the pieces looked the same to me.

Now if I’m given a choice of something that’s been divided up, such as a pizza (and someone’s looking) I’ll take a medium sized bit. Of course , if no-one’s looking I’ll take the biggest (and as I generally have the job of cutting them up I can also manipulate the slice so it has the most pepperoni on it).

Choosing Plants

When it comes to choosing plants, unlike pizza or wedding cake, it’s not always the largest size of plant or the one with the most flowers that are the best ones to choose. If you are buying bedding plants for the second time this year (due to the first ones being killed off by the cold winds) then picking the ones with buds instead of full flowering specimens makes more sense and you will get more enjoyment out of them staying in bloom for longer. Don’t assume that the bigger plants are always better. Many times the smaller specimens may be healthier and can transition into your garden without suffering from transplant shock.

So what to look for when choosing your plants. 

• How fast does this plant grow?
• It might look good now, but what will it look like in a month’s time?
• What am I looking for?
• How much time do I want to spend in the garden?
• What about garden safety -are they poisonous to children or pets or really spiky?
• How much sun/shade will the plants need and can I provide it in my garden?
• Does the plant look pest and disease free?
• Do the roots come out from under the pot? If so this is a sign that the roots are bound and overcrowded. If the roots are really matted, the plant could suffer.
• Will the plants survive after I buy it? Look for strong stems and healthy leaves.
• Do I really need another plant?
As your experience grows you will be able to assess what plants you really need and their quality without too much effort.

Just an afterthought about what I said earlier. I still get excited when the iced cream van tootles down the road.

COMPETITION

The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland

Have you ever picked up a book and thought “I should have written that”? I did just that today. I got hold of a copy of Shirley Lanigan’s book called The 100 Best Gardens In Ireland. As soon as the cover was opened, it sent me back to the late 1990’s when I was traveling around Ireland in my caravan visiting gardens of interest and writing down the findings on a little notepad.
At the time I was following a book called The Hidden Gardens of Ireland which highlighted the fact that there were unrecognised garden treasures that were not being publicised. It wasn’t until 2001 when Shirley Lanigan came out with her first book O’Brian Guide to Irish Gardens that a lot of these gems and a lot of others were brought to the attention of the public.

Expensive Business

It was visiting these gardens that gave me a fascinating insight into the determination and sheer financial burdens that keeping some of these stately properties and gardens in good order entailed. Most houses and garden owners were living hand to mouth to keep their places opened and I am sure nothing much has changed there.

Reference Book

The 100 Best Irish Gardens In Ireland helps to highlight some of these gardens both in the north and south of the country, and can be used a reference book for when you are travelling around and can’t get internet connection to Google the area you are in for gardens. Technology has certainly moved on since I was getting lost and ending up on one way laneways with the caravan in tow and having to do a 30 point turn to get on the road again. As Shirley points out in her book, the Sat Nav saved her hours of getting lost and scouring the countryside for the garden she was visiting. Included in the book are all of the opening times and admission costs to the gardens so you won’t turn up and find the place locked up for the winter.

Fun

The book was obviously a joy to put together and I can really appreciate the fun Shirley must have had talking to the owners and workers of the gardens. More recently I did an article for the local paper called “A Stroll in the Garden” The article consisted of me asking about twenty set questions such as “What is your favourite flower” “What is your favourite tool?” and “How do you cope with irritations on the garden?” The article you could read in two minutes, I was talking to the owners for at least two hours on average. I usually had an enthusiastic tour of the garden accompanied by tea and cakes. By all accounts it looks as though Shirley had the same type of experiences. As she says in the introduction “Visiting gardens is no job. It is pure pleasure.” Shirley goes into far more detail with the garden owners than I did in my light hearted newspaper article, delving into their historical pasts in a really interesting and concise manner.

Why I didn’t think of writing that book I’ll never know. Maybe I could do a variation called “Best 100 Vegetable Raised Beds.” You might be getting a call from me soon....

The “Must Have” book for anyone interested in Gardens

The full colour book “100 Best Gardens in Ireland”, takes us on an informative, interesting and pictorial tour of some of Ireland's most spectacular gardens, both north and south. There are hundreds of newly commissioned photographs highlighting the variety and beauty of Irish gardens.

Written by acclaimed journalist Shirley Lanigan, The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland explores the gardens histories, design, flora and fauna, and also includes interviews with owners, curators and gardeners. In addition, it acts as a practical guide, providing information on fees, opening hours, and has been designed as a handbook to take around the country whilst visiting these remarkable horticultural sights.

Building on Shirley Lanigan's previous book on Irish gardens printed in 2001, which was hailed as 'probably the most comprehensive guide to Irish gardens, North and South, published to date', The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland is for anyone who can appreciate the very best of Irish gardens, from the truly magnificent and celebrated to the never-before-seen secret gardens.

COMPETITION TIME

WIN THIS FABULOUS BOOK

Gardening.ie has 3 paperback books to give away in our latest competition.
To be in with a chance of winning “The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland” All you have to do is answer this simple question.

Q. Glenveagh Castle Gardens are featured in “100 Best Gardens in Ireland”. What county are these wonderful gardens in?
a. Antrim
b. Cork
c. Donegal

GO TO THE COMPETITION PAGE TO ENTER

closing date 29th July 2011

Guerrilla Gardening

On balmy summer evenings my mother and her friend would choose a garden to raid. It sounds exciting but this generally entailed walking down the driveway and taking a cutting from a plant they didn’t have and repotting it into their own gardens. They never got caught and in hindsight I think the garden owners’ probably just let them get on with it as their antics did no harm. The same could be said for the popular sport of Guerrilla Gardening. This is bit more organised than my mother’s misdemeanour and achieved a slightly different result. You are not gardening for yourselves, more for your community.

Guerrilla Gardening

Guerrilla gardeners transform scraps of public land into urban gardens. The sites are generally wastelands, lay-bys and pavements. For some people it’s about the love of gardening; for others, it is explicitly a political act, posing questions concerning land rights and the use of public space. The movement has spread its seeds far and wide in over thirty countries, with "cells" existing in places as far flung as Australia and Brazil. Indeed, any country that has a community of obsessive gardeners is likely to have an underground community of guerrillas, taking back public spaces. This seemingly glamorous, yet illegal venture risks charges of trespass or criminal damage, although as yet no-one has been prosecuted. Could you imagine the outcry of charging people for tying to improve a local eyesore? Council officials in the UK are even endorsing projects that have the backing of the community. Their main grounds for objection are that planting by night on a busy roundabout is a health and safety nightmare.

Night time Raids

Some guerrilla gardeners carry out their actions at night, in relative secrecy, to sow and tend a new vegetable patch or flower garden. Some garden at more visible hours to be seen by their community. It has grown into a form of proactive activism or pro-activism.
Richard Reynolds began his London based project in 2003. “I had no garden of my own but right outside my flat was a grotty bit of public land,” he says. Frustrated by the neglect, Reynolds armed himself with a trowel and set to work. “I just did it. I felt I was morally justified because no one else was. The fear about why and how we are doing it has diminished in the UK,” says Reynolds. “If you adopt a piece of land and go about it responsibly, there are no problems.”

Basic Tips

Richard has 12 basic tips for a successful raid, should you be brave enough to venture out one summer evening. Here is an abbreviated summary. For the full list go to his website guerrillagardening.org

1. Spot some local orphaned land.
You will be amazed how many little grubby patches of unloved public space there are. Neglected flower beds, concrete planters sprouting litter and untamed plants, bare plots of mud. Chose one close to home, perhaps you pass it on the way to the shops or work, and appoint yourself its parent. This will make it much easier to look after in the long term.
2. Plan a mission.
Make a date in the diary for an evening attack, when trouble-making busy bodies are out of sight. Invite supportive friends or perhaps enrol supportive strangers by announcing your attack on social networking sites.
3. Find a local supply of plants.
The cheaper the better. The cheapest plants are ones that are free so grow your own or see if the garden centres have any to give away for the cause.
4. Choose plants for front line battle.
Think hardy - resistant to water shortages and the cold, and in some locations pedestrian trampling! These plants need to look after themselves a lot of the time. Think impactful - colour, ever green foliage, scale. These plants need to really make a difference, for as much of the year as possible. In London Richard uses a lot of herbs like Lavender and Thyme, tulip bulbs and shrubs.
5. Get some Wellington Shoes.
Whilst protecting your feet from mud and providing good purchase on a fork, these rubber shoes also don't look too obviously "agricultural" as the usual boot, and blend in well with the urban environment.
6. Bag some bags.
Plastic bags, bin liners (not only can they keep your feet clean), but they are essential for clearing up afterwards. Weeds, litter, flower pots, and pebbles need to be carried away. For gentle work reuse wind blown carrier bags or for more serious gardening reuse compost bags or giant bin bags. The thick plastic does not rip so easily and you can lug a great deal in them to a nearby bin.
7. Regular Watering.
One of the responsibilities of a Guerrilla Gardener is ongoing tending. Water is short in many parts of the world, even in Ireland. The Guerrilla Gardener must usually carry water. Use drinking water bottles as these don’t attract attention.
8. Seed bombs.
For gardening those areas where access is difficult or a long dig is unsuitable, use a seed bombs (sometimes called green grenades) which are seeds and soil held in an explosive or degradable capsule. There are many different methods, some you can easily make at home out of seeds, compost and water. There are even companies manufacturing them now too.
9. Chemical Warfare.
Boost your plants with natural chemicals. Some guerrillas are lucky to have space for compost heaps. Collect the juices from wormeries too.
10. Garden with a member of the opposite sex
Richard feels that having a girl involved on his digs is a brilliant diversion should anyone pass by and get inquisitive.
11. Spread the word
Let people know what you have done with a few flyers under doors near the guerrilla gardening war zone, a poster taped to a lamp post or bus stop, a marker in the soil. Engage passersby in conversation, perhaps even bring a few spare tools. And welcome local media (particularly if they'll help towards the cost of your gardening, which many do).
12. Transportation.
If you are not guerrilla gardening within walking distance from your home (the ideal) you will need some transportation. Richard’s solution are spacious two seaters. Convertibles with big wide flat boots enable both trees and large trays of plants to be easily transported.


You can read more about Guerrilla Gardening in Richards book,

On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening without Boundaries