Six-on-Saturday – Here And There

4th September 2021.

I see me here. I see me there.

The first three items below were purchased, photographed, catalogued and planted last week. The second trio have been in permanent place for over one hundred and fifty years, yet it has taken me until now to grab some photos. I call it the tortoise effect.

1. Coreopsis Golden Sphere

Coreopsis Golden Sphere (Tickseed)

My sister and I brought mam to Mount Congreve Gardens and while we were having tea, I spotted this from a distance. I abandoned my station to take a closer look, and having taken said closer look, I bought it together with two other plants that had escaped my notice at first glance.

When I got back home, I was thrilled to notice that the pot (yellow, but that’s not important now) is the same as the seven pots-within-a-pot in Joe’s front garden pot. As the summer geraniums are beginning to fade, I swapped one out and popped in the Coreopsis, known also as Tickseed.

2: Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)

Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)

I can’t believe that the Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy) escaped my first glance. I’ve placed it within my Central Patio, again swapping it for one of the fading summer annuals. My hope is that it will add colour there for several weeks to come.

3: Pennisetum (Fountain Grass)

Pennisetum Rubrum (Fountain Grass)

The Pennisetum (Fountain Grass) has also been added to Joe’s pot, but I’m not sure that it’s the right place for it. I’ll leave it be for the moment. Later, I’ll repot it to a larger container.

All three new plants have been catalogued. I’m repeating myself. It’s a tactic used by teachers and I’ve been unable to shake it off. Regarding this catalogue, I’ll spend some time during the winter filling out the details. I’ll want information at my fingertips about propagating them. Do I take cuttings? If so, when? Do I propagate them by division? Again, if so, when?

One of the loveliest little apps I use regularly is called Garden Tags. I enter the name of the plant, confirm that I have it in my garden, and hey presto… I get reminders from month to month about how to care for it. I pay a very modest fee for this information.

Yes, I understand that, as with everything in life, there are two sides to the coin. Realistically, I do adhere to the theory that the best way to check the weather is by looking out the window. However, in this case, a helping hand from technology will be much appreciated.

4: Lady Louisa’s Walk

This is the scene along the banks of the Blackwater, just a few hundred metres south of Lismore Castle. Downstream, it could be said. Lady Louisa Cavendish became the person in charge upon the death of her father in the 1850’s. Being a lady and liking her ladylike walks, she supervised the creation of this peaceful 3km loop walk from the castle. We recreated her morning ritual at midday last Monday.

5: Overused?

The backless timber seat is a later addition that hasn’t stood the test of time.

6: The Long Road

Having followed along by the river, the walk veers into shade and back to the town. This stile marks the separation point where a long walk called Saint Declan’s Way continues. It is a pilgrim way stretching from Cashel to Ardmore. For those not familiar with the geography, that’s about 100km. Declan and Lady Louisa part company here. They would have walked the section common to both routes approximately thirteen hundred years apart. Both have left a permanent mark on the local landscape.

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This Time Last Year

Excerpt from September 2020:

“I’ve heard it said that men don’t do retirement very comfortably, and there have been times I’ve felt a bit lost, but by and large, I’m very happy not to be clock-watching.”

Here’s the full article, a three minute read: National Garden Exhibition Centre

The Week That Was

• A road map for abolition of Covid restrictions is announced, emphasising personal responsibility. What’s that?, says lots of people whose apple fell very far from the tree.
• Crystal Palace have signed several decent players. Now the task is to get them working together to earn their shillings.
• Mam is returning to Dungarvan after a long summer in Waterford.
• I return to jeans this week, but will keep my shorts at hand. The Indian summer may stretch on a bit.
• I’m shocked. I’d even go so far as to say flabbergasted. Enough said, I’ll say no more. Is binn béal ina thost.
• Cycling: just one 40k spin. Fast and slightly furious, I’m recovering from the shocked state.

That’s it for this week, a cháirde, so until next week I hope that all will be well in your world. Slán go fóill.

Pádraig.