Blog items

Our Biggest Enemy

Aphids ( at least 3 difeerent kinds ) and Snails!!!! Have to bring wepons to the field. Luckily there organic and wont damage the plants. Diluted vinegar repels most of the anoying bugs that try to eat our plants from our herbs to our vegeis. We were told that if we spread cumin (a spice) diluted ...

Freesia Adventure

I love the look and smell of Freesias. I have planted Freesia for many, many years in Central Ontario, Canada and not had any success.  I moved up to Kawartha Lakes, Ontario (known as Cottage Country about 1 1/2 hours north of Toronto, Ontario).  Planted my Freesia bulbs in a couple of pots and ...

Looking forward to our Open Garden this December (2017)

check out our Web site at www.itchypalmsgardens.weebly.com

dorset apple in florida

Hydrangea Blooms Again

Our hydrangea bloomed again this year. It is so beautiful and full, just like a year ago. 

Chard and Kale

My husband planted these the chard and kale plants yesterday. We hope that they are in a very good spot.

Lettuce

Hope these little newly lettuce heads grow bigger. 

Lettuce

Hope these little newly lettuce heads grow bigger. 

Connie Triumphant

Connie's blooming.!!!! \o/ After almost being dug up, because she was more brown and crispy than green, and we thought she was on her way to 'Concha heaven', Connie has fought back valiantly, and is now starting to bloom. Her trunk was going from green/brown to grey, and all her lower green leaves ...

Help

What disease is this

Everything in bloom - May is a beautiful month

Connie's Fighting Back

After seeing how rapidly the brown is spreading through Connie's branches and leaves, with the newly sprouting leaves turning brown and dying, I decided to dig her up. This morning when I went out to finish yesterday's weeding, I took another look at Connie, and noticed that where the new grown ...

R. I. P. Daphne

Poor Daphne, the salix Hakuro Nishiki, has been dug up after starting to die, back in July last year. We left her, hoping she'd make a comeback this Spring, but she hasn't. She has been here longer than most of the residents, having been planted nearly 18 years ago. How on earth she managed to ...

Completely Useless

Now that I've discovered the soil in my garden is completely useless for growing everything that I wanted to grow in it, I'm going to have to change tactics. It explains why Connie is dying, the rhododendron died within weeks, and the laurel bush didn't stand a chance. We can't afford to put all ...

Photo s

Does somebody know why my photo s are always upside down ??

#2, Dipladenia Sanderi "Sundaville Red"

The beautiful red vine we bought last Spring died 2 weeks before it was warm enough to go back outside on the patio. I am giving up on house plants. I was never that good at keeping them alive, no matter how much I nourished and nurtured them, or not, depending on the given instructions. Again, I ...

Something's wrong with Connie

Having survived a very wet Winter, and the minus degree frosts we've had during the past 3 months, Connie started to exhibit signs of regrowth, tiny little green buds and the first peeks of new leaves were seen, and then suddenly she started to turn brown. We have no idea what is wrong, or how to ...

Grape Vine 2

The grape tree is growing bigger and bigger. It has the tiny beginnings of little grapes on it.  After a couple of months, the grape vine is getting bigger. 

Weeding

I need to get out there and weed those berry plants! The grape plant was weeded yesterday.

Golden Raspberry and Blackberry plants

We just put some used coffee grounds around these plants. Perhaps this would help protect the plants from snails.

Starting up the garden

Yesterday was a fantastic day. Everything is starting to bloom : hyacint, the bulbs, crocus, clivia etc Mulching, taking away the winter beds, feeding, pruning the roses......

California Lilac Blooming

This beautiful California lilac has really started to bloom this year. It was most likely because of our recent rains. I hope that we are not in a drought still. We have had a rationed schedule of what days and times we can water our lawns in this city.

Blackberry Bush

We planted our blackberry bush on Feb. 13, 2017.  We plan to water it twice a week, unless it rains more frequently. 

What to focus on when planning your planting scheme?

Lucky for us here in Ireland our temperate climate allows us to grow plants from almost every part of the globe.  Hence, my interest in Peter Fudge a well known garden designer based in Australia.  I recently read this article and was inspired by Peter's top trios, planted in his own garden ...

Space, Rhubarb, Rhododendrons and I Told You So.!

Today, the big guy played barber to both Buddy and Blossom. Buddy got the short back and sides and Blossom got a buzzcut. Soon it will be Connie's turn, but I'd rather deal with the space issues we seem to have first. The rhubarb went completely mad, and despite only having two plants, they both ...