IRISH MIST

For some time now all the Bushnell camera has caught are squirrels, rabbits and cats plus the odd bird.

But now a glimpse of a badger then - 

Reynard is hunting in the garden.

So we went to Ireland gathering ideas for the garden - on the way we stopped off at Castle Kennedy for a coffee and a walk in its splendid walled garden and herbaceous borders. Then we walked down to the big pond/lake that needs a bit of dredging.

The red hot pokers (knifofia) were indeed splendid, ours flower in June not September. 

One place we visited was Glenveagh Castle in the wilds of the Donegal Mountains, surrounded by coach loads of Americans.

At the back of the castle was a walled garden with interesting plants. R said take a picture of that, and that, so I did.

In Falcarragh we went to Cluain na dTor Nursery & Gardens, a fascinating place with this display in front of mirror glass. 

Also R was taken by the idea of grasses grown in the lawn instead of the flower beds as we have now.

We have had this one in the garden but it dies. I think it is Anne Folkard. The anapthalis is another she chose which we have had in previous gardens. Obviously some shopping to come. There were a couple of interesting ideas though - Growing marigolds with red cabbage and vegetable with cosmos. as shown here. Companion planting is something we must try.

One thing at Glenveagh that appealed was the lily pond by the lough - it used to be a heated swimming pool - okay but the thought of midges would be a worry.

And then it was good to get home and mow and weed and pick up fallen twigs and cut the banking and find we had yet more marrows on the courgettes and feed the birds and wonder what has happened this years to the seasons with things flowering two months late because of the drought or, in the case of the sweet peas, yet again not flowering at all.