Roses, there is no other plant with so much symbolism attached to it, war of the roses, symbol of love and Shakespeare quotes… Roses in the garden can be a pain, not just the literal ache when a prickle, not a thorn,gets stuck in your flesh. Roses have prickles not thorns, thorns are modified shoots whileContinue reading “Rose Petal Cordial – Recipe”
Category Archives: gardening
Elder Flower Champagne -Recipe
Elder Flower “Champagne” Sparkling elder flower has a low alcohol content, it is delicious. It is easy to make and it is the only alcoholic drink that my wife Hanna makes an exception for. Ingredients: 12 elder flower heads 8l water 2 lemon, grate the zest and juice 60ml of cider vinegar 5 x 250gContinue reading “Elder Flower Champagne -Recipe”
Pickled Elder Flower Buds – Recipe
Pickled Elder Flower Buds Elder flowers open in succession, so even now while there are flowers in full bloom there are further flowers still to open. The flower heads when harvested at the green bud stage are delicious pickled, a bit like a substitute for capers. Collecting the flower heads Snap off unopened flower heads.Continue reading “Pickled Elder Flower Buds – Recipe”
Green Elder Shoots – Recipe
Green Elder Shoots in Brine This is an old recipe, and an odd one. While elder flower coridals and elder flower ‘Champagne” are becoming more widely known, I bet not many people are trying out the new green shoots! In spring and early summer the common elder, Sambucus nigra, produces very vigorous strong green shootsContinue reading “Green Elder Shoots – Recipe”
Machnamh/Reflection – Show Garden at Bloom 2012
Machnamh/Reflection was voted by Designers as the best and received a Siver medal. It was designed as a contemplative place to escape a busy day. It was tranquil, unfortunately I did not discover its charms until the final day of Bloom 2012. Contact Deirdre
Respect Your Elders – Elderflower Cordial Recipe
It’s wild. Its everywhere. Its elder flower –Sambucus nigra. In the month of June its flat flower heads whiten hedgerows and fields around Ireland. Outside my office window I can see the branches bob and sway with the breeze. Seedlings all too often appear in the garden, unwanted, in abundance. But I don’t mind, theContinue reading “Respect Your Elders – Elderflower Cordial Recipe”
Changing Perspectives – Show Garden Bloom 2012
Grafitti covered walls, dumped and battered old washing machine and litter strewn ground greet the visitor, not the typical welcome for a visior to a Bloom garden. Between the concrete blocks there are glimpses of a brighter place, a more colourful and welcoming place. This was a show garden that took the visitor on aContinue reading “Changing Perspectives – Show Garden Bloom 2012”
Ciaran The Gardener 