General Catch Up. Flower Photos. Rockery.

Hmm, I wonder who General Catchup is? It sounds funny, doesn't it??

Rockery

The rockery has come on apace and is almost finished. It still has some 'holes' for planting but they will have to wait until I can buy a few more small rockery plants.


If you click on it you can see the individual plants and little trees I have planted. Jim moved the purple acer from the bed above as it was getting rather swamped up there. There is still a bit of sorting to be done. The steps up to the 'road' need clearing and making good and the big rocks in front of the rockery need organising too. I must say I'm rather pleased with it.


This one will make you laugh! I fetched some of our compost in my motorised wheelbarrow and here I'm mixing it with some bought compost. It was raining a little bit, thus the coat and fetching hat!! I also wear my old glasses when I'm gardening so as not to spoil my new ones.

Arboretum lawn extension and Arch

Oh yes, we now have an arch at the entrance to the arboretum! A bit twee, but it will look better when a few plants have grown up it.

The new grass has grown well. It still has some bald patches but is getting stronger all the time. Jim's even mowed it lightly.


Do click on it if you have time. You can hardly see the arch against the trees! Look at those lupins. They are so splendid.


This photo of Jim's shows the new grass better, and the arch. And the heaps of stones we have everywhere!!

On the left of the photo is a 'rough' area. It was covered in brambles and nettles and, worst of all, convolvulus. I spent a long while clearing it to be grassed but Jim had other ideas! He has planted it up with , squash, courgettes, sweetcorn and sweet peas!


I don't think they will grow very well there as the soil is just clay! It'll be fun if they do. I guess we'll have to plant the grass seed in the Autumn! The convolvulus keeps popping up where I've missed a little bit of root, but I'm gradually getting on top of it.

Flowers


Lots of roses are now blooming.




I love this orange one. It has really dark, glossy leaves too.


Jim grew the delphinium from seed last year and they're getting taller and taller.


These red lupins look marvellous against the black sambucus 'Black Beauty'. We also have sambucus Black lace which has much finer leaves, almost like an acer. They both have pink flowers and I love them.

I didn't mean to press 'publish' then!


These delicate iris have bloomed in the front wall garden.


While these dianthus are just pure show offs!
The Rest


I popped up to our gate and took this joiner of the view across Martin's field (yes, THAT Martin) across to Lough Graney. I love that view.

BlackJack was looking a bit scraggy and I wondered if he had mange. I took him to the vets and apparently it's ear mites and he's been scratching himself which has made his fur look a bit thin. He now has some super stuff to put on his skin which kills both inside and outside parasites. Excellent stuff. I got some for Sandy too, just in case.

Jim and I have painted the front of the cottage white (well, half of it) and the windows are going to be red. Here it is, half way there:


It's certainly looking cleaner. Compare it to the wall round the corner! The hanging baskets are coming along too.

I think that's about it for today. Jim is in the UK again until tomorrow night. Then I'm off to the UK on Thursday late for my son Jason's 40th birthday. Now how old does that make me? VERY old!

Love to everyone. Have a good week.