“A Woman In The Garden” – revolutionary advice from an Irish Countess

Countess Constance Markievicz

Easter 1916 marked a turning point in the Irish struggle for independence. On April 24th, Easter Monday,  Irish revolutionaries took over key sites in Dublin including the G.P.O. and tried to inspire a nation to fight against foreign rule. Although the insurrection was a failure, the subsequent ill treatment and execution of the leaders of the rising, public opinion changed and the subsequent events lead to the war of independence which culminated in a treaty and formation of the Irish Free State in 1922. A prominent figure of the Irish independence movement was one of the most unlikely people; a woman, with a title, born to landed gentry. Countess Constance Markievicz was born in London in 1868 and christened Constance Gore-Booth. She was raised on the family estate, Lissadell, in picturesque surroundings in Co. Sligo, Ireland.

Walled Garden- Lissadell House with view of bay, Co. Sligo, Ireland

 

In 1900 she married Casimir Markievicz who she met while studying art in Paris. He was a wealthy Polish  Count. The Markieviczes settled in Dublin in 1903 and moved in artistic and literary circles, the Countess gaining a reputation for herself as a landscape painter. She became increasingly sympathetic to the cause of Irish independence and in 1908 joined Sinn Fein. In 1909 she started writing for an Irish nationalist newspaper called Bean na hÉireann (Woman of Ireland), her subject each month was a gardening column, “ A Woman In The Garden”. She wrote under a pseudonym but right from the first article where she recollects memories of discovering wild flowers on the mountain of Ben Bulben it is obvious that it is her.

In her first article she  she states “I am going to give a few simple hints to the women who wish to make the most of what little bit of their native land that falls to their share in this life.” 

In her article in April 1909 the Countess advocates shopping locally; “..and here let me impress upon my readers the advisability of buying Irish plants whenever they are procurable; not only from the National principle, that where we can employ irish hands to work for us, either directly, or indirectly, by buying things from Irish firms we must do so; but also for practical common sense reason that plants accustomed to Irish earth and to irish air are more likely to thrive in Irish gardens.  It would seem that things have not changed much in nearly on hundred years, imported plants must have been common then as they are now.

    She reminisces about the roses from Dickson’s Roses, who are still in business, and extolls the virtues of roses cultivars bred and sold by Alex Dickson and Son’s Rose and Flower Farm including the roses George ‘C.Waud’, R. ‘Betty’ and ‘R. Killarney’. the first two are no longer available but R. ‘Killarney’  a mid pink HT bred by Dickson in 1898 and is still available through ing it locally for Irish gardeners.  

Each month she gives tips on growing plants, both ornamentals and food. For April she advises those gardeners that have not yet pruned their roses to do so right away and to pant the late season crops of potatoes. Dahlia roots should be planted out, 3-4 inches deep and 5 feet apart, ten week stock should be planted to the garden air can be filled with scent for summer as well as sowing vegetable crops such as radish, spinach, beetroot, broad beans and slasify.

Constance would have been exposed to gardening and plants while growing up on the Lisadell estate. It was known for its great collection of plants and in later years the Lissadell nursery was famous for its alpine plants and walled alpine garden.

Over the latter part of the 20th century the estate fell into ruin but great restoration work took place when it was purchased by the current owners, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy. The gardens were restored and the gates were open to visitors, a coffee shop sold delicious cakes and produce from the bountiful walled kitchen garden was on sale. Sadly, the gardens are no longer open to visitors, the reason being a court case over a disputed right of way, a great loss to all gardeners and visitors to the north west of Ireland.

Countess Markievicz was imprisoned five times, the total duration of her incarcerations totalled over three years, the last time she was imprisoned was by the Irish Free State. Following the signing of the treaty in 1922 there was a civil war and the Countess sided with those who refused to accept the treaty and the partitioning of the island into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. She was released after being on hunger strike. Markievicz was the first female to be elected to the British Parliament in 1918, but she did not take her seat. She was also the first ever female minister in an Irish parliament, she was appointed as Minister of Labour from August 1919 to January 1922. In fact, she was the only female cabinet minister until 1979 when Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed a junior ministerial post. 

Apart from her role in politics she was involved in the arts and she performed in several plays at the newly established Abbey Theatre an institution that played an important part in the rise of cultural nationalism. She was also did a huge deal of work with the poor of Dublin and worked at distributing food and set up soup kitchens, often paying for the food from her own resources.

View from Lissadell House

The garden columns of Countess Markievicz reveal that she was a keen gardener and wrote with love about the subject. through the course of her fourteen articles we can see how she was becoming more involved in politics and the independence struggle. Her first articles are purely gardening advice, progressively her columns become highly flavoured with anecdotes and examples of historical Irish nationalists. She laments that the English occupation cannot be dealt with as one would deal with a snail and just simply crush it under foot. In her article from January 1910 she uses the growth of a snowdrop emerging from the cold and barren earth to flower and bring joy and hope as a simile for the Irish struggle.

    “ The Irishwoman looking at the first tiny spike pushing up from the bulb below, is at once struck by the simile, for what is Ireland but a poor wee bulb buried away in the dust and dirt of English rule and English influence and struggling to gain light and air.

    Should not Ireland take a lesson from the Snowdrop, and gather her forces together for the supreme effort to gain light. The whole forces of the earth are ranged against the Snowdrop, the whole of the British Empire against Ireland, an if our tiny Snowdrop can prevail and force the pass into life, surely the task is not too great for Ireland, and one day we shall see the white flower of Ireland’s beauty shining starlike, pure and free, a star in the garden of the world.” 

It seems once again, that Ireland needs to seek inspiration from the snow drop to break free from the cold economic mud hole and enjoy sunnier times! 

Lissadell House Website  Biographical information about Countess Makiezicz and the Gore-Booth family as well as information about the house and gardens. 

Rosa ‘Killarney’ at Peter Beales Roses

PODCAST: Listen to the radio show: In The Garden with Ciaran Burke on the Johnny Oosten show, CRCFM 102.9  iTUNES PODCAST

    

 

“A Woman In The Garden” – revolutionary advice from an Irish Countess

Countess Constance Markievicz

Easter 1916 marked a turning point in the Irish struggle for independence. On April 24th, Easter Monday,  Irish revolutionaries took over key sites in Dublin including the G.P.O. and tried to inspire a nation to fight against foreign rule. Although the insurrection was a failure, the subsequent ill treatment and execution of the leaders of the rising, public opinion changed and the subsequent events lead to the war of independence which culminated in a treaty and formation of the Irish Free State in 1922. A prominent figure of the Irish independence movement was one of the most unlikely people; a woman, with a title, born to landed gentry. Countess Constance Markievicz was born in London in 1868 and christened Constance Gore-Booth. She was raised on the family estate, Lissadell, in picturesque surroundings in Co. Sligo, Ireland.

Walled Garden- Lissadell House with view of bay, Co. Sligo, Ireland

 

In 1900 she married Casimir Markievicz who she met while studying art in Paris. He was a wealthy Polish  Count. The Markieviczes settled in Dublin in 1903 and moved in artistic and literary circles, the Countess gaining a reputation for herself as a landscape painter. She became increasingly sympathetic to the cause of Irish independence and in 1908 joined Sinn Fein. In 1909 she started writing for an Irish nationalist newspaper called Bean na hÉireann (Woman of Ireland), her subject each month was a gardening column, “ A Woman In The Garden”. She wrote under a pseudonym but right from the first article where she recollects memories of discovering wild flowers on the mountain of Ben Bulben it is obvious that it is her.

In her first article she  she states “I am going to give a few simple hints to the women who wish to make the most of what little bit of their native land that falls to their share in this life.” 

In her article in April 1909 the Countess advocates shopping locally; “..and here let me impress upon my readers the advisability of buying Irish plants whenever they are procurable; not only from the National principle, that where we can employ irish hands to work for us, either directly, or indirectly, by buying things from Irish firms we must do so; but also for practical common sense reason that plants accustomed to Irish earth and to irish air are more likely to thrive in Irish gardens.  It would seem that things have not changed much in nearly on hundred years, imported plants must have been common then as they are now.

    She reminisces about the roses from Dickson’s Roses, who are still in business, and extolls the virtues of roses cultivars bred and sold by Alex Dickson and Son’s Rose and Flower Farm including the roses George ‘C.Waud’, R. ‘Betty’ and ‘R. Killarney’. the first two are no longer available but R. ‘Killarney’  a mid pink HT bred by Dickson in 1898 and is still available through ing it locally for Irish gardeners.  

Each month she gives tips on growing plants, both ornamentals and food. For April she advises those gardeners that have not yet pruned their roses to do so right away and to pant the late season crops of potatoes. Dahlia roots should be planted out, 3-4 inches deep and 5 feet apart, ten week stock should be planted to the garden air can be filled with scent for summer as well as sowing vegetable crops such as radish, spinach, beetroot, broad beans and slasify.

Constance would have been exposed to gardening and plants while growing up on the Lisadell estate. It was known for its great collection of plants and in later years the Lissadell nursery was famous for its alpine plants and walled alpine garden.

Over the latter part of the 20th century the estate fell into ruin but great restoration work took place when it was purchased by the current owners, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy. The gardens were restored and the gates were open to visitors, a coffee shop sold delicious cakes and produce from the bountiful walled kitchen garden was on sale. Sadly, the gardens are no longer open to visitors, the reason being a court case over a disputed right of way, a great loss to all gardeners and visitors to the north west of Ireland.

Countess Markievicz was imprisoned five times, the total duration of her incarcerations totalled over three years, the last time she was imprisoned was by the Irish Free State. Following the signing of the treaty in 1922 there was a civil war and the Countess sided with those who refused to accept the treaty and the partitioning of the island into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. She was released after being on hunger strike. Markievicz was the first female to be elected to the British Parliament in 1918, but she did not take her seat. She was also the first ever female minister in an Irish parliament, she was appointed as Minister of Labour from August 1919 to January 1922. In fact, she was the only female cabinet minister until 1979 when Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed a junior ministerial post. 

Apart from her role in politics she was involved in the arts and she performed in several plays at the newly established Abbey Theatre an institution that played an important part in the rise of cultural nationalism. She was also did a huge deal of work with the poor of Dublin and worked at distributing food and set up soup kitchens, often paying for the food from her own resources.

View from Lissadell House

The garden columns of Countess Markievicz reveal that she was a keen gardener and wrote with love about the subject. through the course of her fourteen articles we can see how she was becoming more involved in politics and the independence struggle. Her first articles are purely gardening advice, progressively her columns become highly flavoured with anecdotes and examples of historical Irish nationalists. She laments that the English occupation cannot be dealt with as one would deal with a snail and just simply crush it under foot. In her article from January 1910 she uses the growth of a snowdrop emerging from the cold and barren earth to flower and bring joy and hope as a simile for the Irish struggle.

    “ The Irishwoman looking at the first tiny spike pushing up from the bulb below, is at once struck by the simile, for what is Ireland but a poor wee bulb buried away in the dust and dirt of English rule and English influence and struggling to gain light and air.

    Should not Ireland take a lesson from the Snowdrop, and gather her forces together for the supreme effort to gain light. The whole forces of the earth are ranged against the Snowdrop, the whole of the British Empire against Ireland, an if our tiny Snowdrop can prevail and force the pass into life, surely the task is not too great for Ireland, and one day we shall see the white flower of Ireland’s beauty shining starlike, pure and free, a star in the garden of the world.” 

It seems once again, that Ireland needs to seek inspiration from the snow drop to break free from the cold economic mud hole and enjoy sunnier times! 

Lissadell House Website  Biographical information about Countess Makiezicz and the Gore-Booth family as well as information about the house and gardens. 

Rosa ‘Killarney’ at Peter Beales Roses

PODCAST: Listen to the radio show: In The Garden with Ciaran Burke on the Johnny Oosten show, CRCFM 102.9  iTUNES PODCAST

    

 

“A Woman In The Garden” – revolutionary advice from an Irish Countess

Countess Constance Markievicz

Easter 1916 marked a turning point in the Irish struggle for independence. On April 24th, Easter Monday,  Irish revolutionaries took over key sites in Dublin including the G.P.O. and tried to inspire a nation to fight against foreign rule. Although the insurrection was a failure, the subsequent ill treatment and execution of the leaders of the rising, public opinion changed and the subsequent events lead to the war of independence which culminated in a treaty and formation of the Irish Free State in 1922. A prominent figure of the Irish independence movement was one of the most unlikely people; a woman, with a title, born to landed gentry. Countess Constance Markievicz was born in London in 1868 and christened Constance Gore-Booth. She was raised on the family estate, Lissadell, in picturesque surroundings in Co. Sligo, Ireland.

Walled Garden- Lissadell House with view of bay, Co. Sligo, Ireland

 

In 1900 she married Casimir Markievicz who she met while studying art in Paris. He was a wealthy Polish  Count. The Markieviczes settled in Dublin in 1903 and moved in artistic and literary circles, the Countess gaining a reputation for herself as a landscape painter. She became increasingly sympathetic to the cause of Irish independence and in 1908 joined Sinn Fein. In 1909 she started writing for an Irish nationalist newspaper called Bean na hÉireann (Woman of Ireland), her subject each month was a gardening column, “ A Woman In The Garden”. She wrote under a pseudonym but right from the first article where she recollects memories of discovering wild flowers on the mountain of Ben Bulben it is obvious that it is her.

In her first article she  she states “I am going to give a few simple hints to the women who wish to make the most of what little bit of their native land that falls to their share in this life.” 

In her article in April 1909 the Countess advocates shopping locally; “..and here let me impress upon my readers the advisability of buying Irish plants whenever they are procurable; not only from the National principle, that where we can employ irish hands to work for us, either directly, or indirectly, by buying things from Irish firms we must do so; but also for practical common sense reason that plants accustomed to Irish earth and to irish air are more likely to thrive in Irish gardens.  It would seem that things have not changed much in nearly on hundred years, imported plants must have been common then as they are now.

    She reminisces about the roses from Dickson’s Roses, who are still in business, and extolls the virtues of roses cultivars bred and sold by Alex Dickson and Son’s Rose and Flower Farm including the roses George ‘C.Waud’, R. ‘Betty’ and ‘R. Killarney’. the first two are no longer available but R. ‘Killarney’  a mid pink HT bred by Dickson in 1898 and is still available through ing it locally for Irish gardeners.  

Each month she gives tips on growing plants, both ornamentals and food. For April she advises those gardeners that have not yet pruned their roses to do so right away and to pant the late season crops of potatoes. Dahlia roots should be planted out, 3-4 inches deep and 5 feet apart, ten week stock should be planted to the garden air can be filled with scent for summer as well as sowing vegetable crops such as radish, spinach, beetroot, broad beans and slasify.

Constance would have been exposed to gardening and plants while growing up on the Lisadell estate. It was known for its great collection of plants and in later years the Lissadell nursery was famous for its alpine plants and walled alpine garden.

Over the latter part of the 20th century the estate fell into ruin but great restoration work took place when it was purchased by the current owners, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy. The gardens were restored and the gates were open to visitors, a coffee shop sold delicious cakes and produce from the bountiful walled kitchen garden was on sale. Sadly, the gardens are no longer open to visitors, the reason being a court case over a disputed right of way, a great loss to all gardeners and visitors to the north west of Ireland.

Countess Markievicz was imprisoned five times, the total duration of her incarcerations totalled over three years, the last time she was imprisoned was by the Irish Free State. Following the signing of the treaty in 1922 there was a civil war and the Countess sided with those who refused to accept the treaty and the partitioning of the island into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. She was released after being on hunger strike. Markievicz was the first female to be elected to the British Parliament in 1918, but she did not take her seat. She was also the first ever female minister in an Irish parliament, she was appointed as Minister of Labour from August 1919 to January 1922. In fact, she was the only female cabinet minister until 1979 when Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed a junior ministerial post. 

Apart from her role in politics she was involved in the arts and she performed in several plays at the newly established Abbey Theatre an institution that played an important part in the rise of cultural nationalism. She was also did a huge deal of work with the poor of Dublin and worked at distributing food and set up soup kitchens, often paying for the food from her own resources.

View from Lissadell House

The garden columns of Countess Markievicz reveal that she was a keen gardener and wrote with love about the subject. through the course of her fourteen articles we can see how she was becoming more involved in politics and the independence struggle. Her first articles are purely gardening advice, progressively her columns become highly flavoured with anecdotes and examples of historical Irish nationalists. She laments that the English occupation cannot be dealt with as one would deal with a snail and just simply crush it under foot. In her article from January 1910 she uses the growth of a snowdrop emerging from the cold and barren earth to flower and bring joy and hope as a simile for the Irish struggle.

    “ The Irishwoman looking at the first tiny spike pushing up from the bulb below, is at once struck by the simile, for what is Ireland but a poor wee bulb buried away in the dust and dirt of English rule and English influence and struggling to gain light and air.

    Should not Ireland take a lesson from the Snowdrop, and gather her forces together for the supreme effort to gain light. The whole forces of the earth are ranged against the Snowdrop, the whole of the British Empire against Ireland, an if our tiny Snowdrop can prevail and force the pass into life, surely the task is not too great for Ireland, and one day we shall see the white flower of Ireland’s beauty shining starlike, pure and free, a star in the garden of the world.” 

It seems once again, that Ireland needs to seek inspiration from the snow drop to break free from the cold economic mud hole and enjoy sunnier times! 

Lissadell House Website  Biographical information about Countess Makiezicz and the Gore-Booth family as well as information about the house and gardens. 

Rosa ‘Killarney’ at Peter Beales Roses

PODCAST: Listen to the radio show: In The Garden with Ciaran Burke on the Johnny Oosten show, CRCFM 102.9  iTUNES PODCAST

    

 

THE FINAL DAY AT BLOOM 2011 -TOLLING BELL AND MADNESS BEGINS

Philip Bankhead of Penninsula Primulas picking the right plant

4 pm. A bell rings, sounding like a the teacher ringing the end of lunch time, but it is the start of the exhibitors displays sell off in the floral marquee. The thronging crowds are in a frenzy. Plants are being pointed at, pulled at, stand owners prodded. Rare delights are removed and sold, special deals offered, and gladly accepted. I had to keep a keen eye on our stand, “Is this pot for sale?”, “are you giving away anything” our plants and pots from our garden are endangered! But it is all good natured and fun.

Boyne Garden Centre Sell-off

Hanna helped Philip Bankhead of Pennisula Primulas. This is an annual arrangement ever since the first Bloom when Philip innocently said “help yourself’ t and his invitation to the public to pick their desired primulas and queue to pay for them was misunderstood. Now Hanna marshals the crowds with Finnish organisation and a teacher’s command. An orderly queue is formed around his stand as customers choose their plants, Philip packs them,  all are paid for; everybody’s happy. Around every nursery stand their is a type of bedlam, as foxgloves fly and lupins leap into grateful arms. Japanese maples move through the air, concealing people in a cloud of purple foliage that waves from side to side through the floral marquee. Smiles are on the faces of happy plant buyers.

Finlay Colley of Rare Plants Ireland in action

Bloom is as much about people as it is about plants, gardens and food. Each year we see the familiar faces, Koraley Northen photographing plants, people and gardens, Gerry Daly of The Irish Garden mingling and talking, giving lectures and talking on the radio. Orla Woods of Kilmurry Nursery, she performs her duties as Nursery Pavilion Organiser with good humour and efficiency and works the whole weekend selling plants on her nursery and making sure everyone is happy. This year we also had teams of Bloom Ambassadors referred to as “bloomers” milling around and helping the public with directions for toilets, restaurants, and anything else they need to know about Bloom. This year’s record attendance figures made sure they were kept busy all the time.

Koraley Northen - ever present, always photographing

We have had great neighbours around our stand; Jimi Blake from Huntingbrook our breakfast companion and plant spotter and tipster, Finlay Colley of Rare Plants Ireland who stocks a most temting range of trees and shrubs, we could not resist. Then we had Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus flying around on his bicycle before the show opened, zooming between his show garden and nursery stand. Now that the show is over, the stand removed and packed in the car, our heads still whirring from the past five days, we are tired but happy. It has been a great show, thanks must go to Gary Graham and Carol Marks at Bord Nia for all their hard work through the year that makes the event happen.We have attended Bloom since its inception and each year it keeps getting bigger and better, looking forward now to next year.

Bloom Ambassadors to the rescue

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Blooming temptations- Floral Pavilion at Bloom

The last day approaches, Bloom 2011 is nearing the end. We really enjoy doing our stand at the show, not only do we get to meet lots of  keen gardeners but we also get to catch up with our friends from the nurseries. There is always a great camaraderie between the participants at Bloom, sharing food, watching each others stands and swapping stories. Even though the days are long and the work  is tiring, there are always plenty of laughs. Lots of chat about plants takes place, opinions, recommendations and critical appraisal. There is also lots of temptation. Each year I promise myself that I will exercise amazing self control and not buy many plants. This year, like each year before, my resolve has crumbled when presented with the wonderful choice of beauties on display. I could not resist the double flowered ragged robin, Lychins flos-cuculli ‘Jenny’ from Kilmurry nursery, nor the biggest hosta in the world, so they say, that can reach 1.2m high with huge leaves, Hosta “Empress Wu’ from Boyne Garden Centre.

There are too many to mention, not all were purchased but there is still tomorrow to go. Below are some of the delights on offer at Bloom. (click on image to enlarge).

Clematis ‘Ooh La La’ – Ashbourne Climbers

Paeonia ‘Bowl of Beauty’ – Boyne Garden Centre

Papaver orientale ‘Karine’ – Boyne Garden Centre

White Foxglove – Boyne Garden Centre

Paeonia ‘Bowl of Beauty’ – Boyne Garden Centre

Paeonia ‘Bowl of Beauty’ – Boyne Garden Centre

Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ – Boyne Garden Centre

Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ – Boyne Garden Centre

Astrantia – Mount Venus Nursery

Mount Venus Nursery Display

Eryngium flower

Papaver orientale – Kilmurry Nursery

Papaver orientale – Kilmurry Nursery

Papaver orientale – Kilmurry Nursery

Verbascum and Achillea Kilmurry Nursery

Verbascum and Achillea Kilmurry Nursery

Verbascum and Achillea Kilmurry Nursery

Lychnis flos-cuculi ‘Jenny – Kilmurry Nursery

Lychnis flos-cuculi ‘Jenny’ – Kilmurry Nursery

Lychnis flos-cuculi ‘Jenny’ – Kilmurry Nursery

Foxgloves – Kilmurry Nursery

Foxgloves – Kilmurry

Mount Venus Nursery display

Eryngium – Mount Venus Nursery

Anthericum liliago – Mount Venus Nursery

Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’ – Mount Venus Nursery

Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’ – Mount Venus Nursery

Gillenia trifoliata’ – Mount Venus Nursery

Gillenia trifoliata’ – Mount Venus Nursery

Digitalis purpurea ‘Pam’s Choice’ – Kilmurry Nursery

IN THE TRANQUIL CENTRE OF THE WATER’S EDGE- BEST IN SHOW GARDEN BLOOM 2011

Oliver & Liat Schurmann - At The Waters Edge

Our second day at Bloom. We started by doing what should have been doing at the end of the day. Imagine sitting in a sunken garden under blue skies surrounded by greenery and tranquility, beauty and liquidity. Hanna paddled in cool water, well at least the soles of her feet caused ripples in the shallow flow that ran over the stone walk way to the sunken island in a tranquil water-scape.

Oliver & Liat Schurmann - At The Waters Edge

Few garden designers manage to capture atmosphere and mood in show gardens, at least not in the same way as Oliver and Liat Shurmann of Mount Venus Nurseries do it. Their entry into this year’s Bloom’s show gardens is to my mind the obvious choice of best in show, gladly, the show judges agreed. Plane trees create seclusion from the outside, their open canopies playing with reflections on the water. Borders of green and exotic foliage are dressed with euphorbia flowers, adding a sulphurous luminosity to the mellow planting. The sylvanian atmosphere embraces the water filled garden, where in the centre a sunken island invites you to cross a slightly submerged stone path. Circled around a central round channel, four stylish and modern seats demand that you rest and soak in the atmosphere. A trickle of water flows beneath your feet, creating a whirlpool pattern on the concrete surface. The mirror-like water  surrounding the low seating area is an an ever changing canvass of reflection and light. Tree silhouttes, greens and reds of foliage play with the surface of the pool.

Oliver & Liat Schurmann - At The Waters Edge

As a backdrop, a pillared wall frames tall windows that display sculpture, art work created by Liat. Somehow this garden manages to both soothe the mind, stimulate the senses and feed the soul. It was with reluctance that we dragged ourselves away from the sunken retreat, there was a long busy day ahead.

Oliver & Liat Schurmann - At The Waters Edge

There are many other great gardens at Bloom 2011, small, medium and large as well as engaging spaces. Tomorrow I will return to the show gardens with views of other Gold medal winners and personal favourites.

Oliver & Liat Schurmann- At The Waters Edge

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Day in the Botanic Gardens

Cashel House- The Final Day of the Course

It was raining during the night. When we woke, Hanna pulled back the curtains, the sun light came flooding into the room. Through the branches of the tress in the secret garden it created twisted silhouettes and golden rays. We had just had an excellent night sleep, the quiet of Cashel Bay wraps your sleep in calm. We strolled outside onto the front lawn, the grass was moist and sparkling. The white tulips looked a little dishevelled, as if they had had a hard night, but still beautiful in their white petal gowns.

EMBOTHRIUM COCCINEUM FLOWER

We walked to the Secret Garden, it was an orchard one hundred years ago. A previous owner had a greater desire for botanical curiosity than for home grown apples and now the low walled garden is a small woodland comprised of exotic specimens. We walked along the path, passing floriferous camellias, under the great Chilean flame tree, Embothrium coccineum, which in May is a blaze of red flowers. A great white Japanese cherry flowers above a rustic wooden bench. The big leaves of the American skunk cabbage, Lysichiton americanum, are growing in the wet, still in the infancy of spring they have not yet reached their dramatic summer size. Their yellow spathe flowers fill the air around the pond with a heavy odour. Further along the  lady’s matle, Alchemilla mollis, lies at the path side still dressed with last nights rain drops. We stop to wonder at the size and beauty of the huge Magnolia x soulangeana, the biggest I have ever seen. From Mary’s Garden you can see it mingle with and rise above other trees. We walk the upper path and see the last flowers and big paddle shaped leaves of Rhododendron macabeanum. We admire the large trunks of the tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, still undressed, the branches not yet concealed with its unusual shaped leaves nor decorated with yellow tulip-like flowers, not till July will the flowers appear. Just before we exit the garden we have to bow as we pass under a stretched out limb of Persian ironwood, Parrotia persica. Another naked tree, the leaves starting to unfurl. The bareness reveals a wonderful structure of twisted and spreading branches. Soon they will be covered in green foliage that will burn red and orange in autumn.

MAGNOLIA X SOULANGEANA PLANT IN SECRET GARDEN

There is nothing like a walk under botanical wonders to give me an appetite, so in we went for breakfast. After eating I set up for the day’s class. We continued the presentation on vegetable gardening. Some people had questions about some of the plants that we had seen on our walks in the garden. I showed them pictures of the plants, someone was curious about how the Embothrium flowers would look in May. Before the lunch we took a short walk through the gardens and I answered the group’s garden questions, there were many!

LUNCH MENU

LAMB FOR LUNCH

SPINACH ROULADE

We sat in the bar which over looks the garden. In comfortable laid back seats we ordered lunch. Once more we were spoilt for choice and the food as always was excellent. I had the lamb for main course while Hanna had the spinach roulade. Once we all had finished our dessert and coffee, we went back outside into the sunshine and walked up through the vegetable garden, pausing on the way to explain the origins of the Irish yew, Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ Our class had been joined by two American guests staying at the hotel, gardeners from Washington D.C. When reaching the vegetable garden I demonstrated pruning, and then we pruned one of the apple trees. I explained the reasons and the method, demonstrating how it was done. The everybody had a go, each member of the party also pruning some branches of the apple trees.

When the day and the course was over we gathered for farewell tea and scones in the drawing room. I had enjoyed the weekend, talking about plants and gardening fills me with enthusiasm. Especially when I meet other people with an eagerness to learn. The weekends of our Cashel House Hotel courses always fly so fast. Its not just the fun of doing the course, the beautiful gardens and the delicious food. We feel that we always make new friends and as somebody from the garden class said, Cashel House is perfect for a gardening course; the garden, the company, the food and the atmosphere.

JAPANESE CHERRY FLOWERING OVER RUSTIC WOODEN SEAT

See more information about Cashel House Hotel courses with Ciaran

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Organic Beef Sausages

It is cold, wet and windy ourside, but I do not care. I am feeling warm by the fire and well fed too, lucky me.

This evening I cooked up beef sausages in a tomato and herb sauce which was served with some nice mashed potato. Beef sausages are not so common in Ireland, usually pork is the norm. In fact, I don’t think you usually see them for sale in the supermarkets, but we buy our delicious organic beef sausages from the organic meat stall at the farmers market in Boyle, Co. Roscommon each Saturday. All their sausages are delicious, pork and lamb are available too. It is always a nice experience shopping at the market, every Saturday morning Deirdre from Irish Organic Meats cheerfully greets us and we chat about all sorts while she weighs out the stewing beef, their thick home cured rashers and packs a plump organic chicken into our shopping bag. Check out the link at the bottom to see their website.

We buy most of our food supply at the market, the meat is frozen and we get enough fresh vegetables and fruit to store until the next weekend. So this evening I decided to use the last of the tomatoes, a courgette and an onion along with some frozen chicken stock, made from the carcass of the chicken after it had been portioned up for freezing.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients:

6 beef sausages chopped into pieces

4 tomatoes peeled and chopped

1 Onion diced

1 carrot diced

1 courgette diced

1 tsp of paprika

1 tsp of oregano

1/2 tsp rosemary

1/2 tsp of thyme

300 ml chicken stock

10 black olives sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

30 ml of Donegal Rapeseed Oil

Method

1. Saute the diced carrot and onion until soft.
2. Add the sausages and brown
3. Add the courgette and stir fry for about 3-4 minutes
4. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook on medium heat until they become a thick sauce, about 10 minutes
5. Add herbs, paprika and salt and freshly ground black pepper
6. Add stock, if using frozen stock turn the heat up high and move it around to melt it. When stock has melted turn down the heat, add the olives and simmer for about 30 minutes.
7. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and enjoy.

Note: all ingredient used were organic except the Donegal rapeseed Oil. We use this instead of Olive Oil as it is locally produced and reduces food miles.

http://www.irishorganicmeats.com/

Deirdre on her Irish Organic Meats stand at Boyle Market

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