Hawthorn, whitethorn, May bush; Crataegus monogyna. You see it all around the Irish countryside, sometimes old rings of the gnarled and spiny trees are left untouched in rings in the middle of fields. For generations they have been treated with respect and superstition, this is where the fairies live. In our garden we have wildContinue reading “Hawthorn Tapanade Recipe”
Author Archives: Ciaran Burke
Swiss Chard Tart Recipe
Swiss Chard is a leafy vegetable which is much under used and a lesser known alternative to spinach. Whereas spinach had a cartoon sailor hero to promote its muscle growing benefits, Swiss Chard or Leaf Beet as it is also known has never been endorsed by a Popeye. Chard is rarely sold in supermarkets asContinue reading “Swiss Chard Tart Recipe”
Blackberry Ketchup Recipe
Blackberries are coming to the end for this year, but you might still be able to pick a kilo for this delicious recipe, Blackberry Ketchup. It is delicious with all sorts of savoury foods, use it instead or tomato ketchup. I love it with organic pork sausages that I buy at the market. It isContinue reading “Blackberry Ketchup Recipe”
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN- OCTOBER 20TH 2012
Every month I visit the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin with a group of people on The Garden School home study course. This time there was lots of autumnal tints to admire, some berries and flowers too. I was saddened to see that the great specimen of copper beech had eventually succumbed to oldContinue reading “NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS, GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN- OCTOBER 20TH 2012”
Testing Soil for pH…its easy!
pH. Two letters, one small, one big, not even a proper word. Yet, it is a term every gardener should be familiar with. Whether you grow vegetables, fruit or ornamentals, knowing the pH allows you to select the right plants for your garden and to maintain soil fertility at the optimum for better crops. pHContinue reading “Testing Soil for pH…its easy!”
I would like to thank…
I received an unexpected presentation last night, a “Certificate of Achievement” from a friend. I think it is the best certificate I have ever received. Thanks Diana!
Helsinki Granny’s Green Tomato Pickles
Yes, it is the end of the tomatoes, for this year. Cold nights have taken their toll. Limp leaves hang and slowly start to mould, soft under developed fruits drop to the ground and their is an air of melancholic resignation about the plants, their stems twisted around the twines. We plucked the last ofContinue reading “Helsinki Granny’s Green Tomato Pickles”
Ciaran The Gardener 