Ciaran Burke

Rose Slug Sawfly

Rose sawflies are a common pest that can wreak havoc on your beautiful rose plants, like the Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ that I grow in a pot at the front of my house. Recently, I had a firsthand experience with the damage these pesky insects can cause to my beloved plant. Sawflies are small, flyingContinue reading “Rose Slug Sawfly”

Hydrangea ‘Avantgarde’

It has been a somewhat frustrating summer, the weather has never really warmed up and we have not yet had a decent stretch of good weather, the best we have had is the odd nice day between the cooler and wetter days. One plant doing exceptionally well this year, is the Hydrangea ‘Avantgarde’ in aContinue reading “Hydrangea ‘Avantgarde’”

Dwarf Mock Orange Blossom

Discovering Philadelphia Microphyllus: A Gardener’s Delight Today, I want to share some thoughts about a particular gem in my garden – Philadelphia microphyllus. For the past four years, I’ve had the joy of admiring this beauty. Growing My Philadelphia Microphyllus When I first planted my Philadelphia microphyllus, I was captivated by its delicate, tiny leavesContinue reading “Dwarf Mock Orange Blossom”

Love plants

Foliage, flowers, structure, texture, presence, shape, form, outline, colour; terms used to describe aspects of plants and their use in garden design. Plants are so varied, and there are so many to love. Each day, I take a walk in the garden, it may be just a few minutes before work in the morning, orContinue reading “Love plants”

Rosa ‘Ritausma’ and The Devil

Walking around the garden two evenings ago, the weather was mild and calm. The scent from Rosa ‘Ritausma’ was strong and sweet. It is a large shrub rose, a R. Rugosa hybrid, with typical ruffled leaves, repeat flowering and never troubled by disease. I bought it in Estonia, it was bred in Latvia, back inContinue reading “Rosa ‘Ritausma’ and The Devil”

Calendula Power Daisy

Such a great plant, it will.flower all summer until October. Watch the video to learn more 👇 Plants available in Johnstown Garden Centre.

New Project

Last month we bounced the trampoline, it has gone to a good and loving home, where three little girls will give it the love that it deserves. I had been mounding soil around the trampoline, soil taken from clearing sods when making beds in the garden. With the trampoline moved it looks like a ringContinue reading “New Project”