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Sunny Side Up For Spring!

28/4/2015

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We all know that early Springtime brings a flush of colour with bulbs that light up our city parks and gardens. Something that has always fascinated me is the speed with which they grow! They arrive at an alarming rate and disappear just as quickly.

Why is this so? Well, a bulb is a storage unit of energy that sits dormant for most of the year but when it’s moment of stardom comes, it rushes up and puts on a fantastic show! Then bows out and retreats to dormancy for the remaining year.

Narcissus, or what we call Daffodil, is probably the most popular and traditional bulb growing in our city gardens and parks. A bulbous herbaceous perennial with linear leaves and leafless stems bearing flowers with six spreading segments and a trumpet shaped corona. They are easy to grow, once they have good drainage and plenty of water, they are reliable and come in over a hundred different varieties.

Narcissus can be found in the most unusual places popping up from their hideouts with the sunniest colour of all!

There are some really unusual varieties available now. Did you know about the ‘Empress of Ireland’? - A large white trumpet flowered daffodil up to 11cms wide! Some other varieties to try are ‘Jet Fire’ a smaller plant, at 20cms high, with yellow leaf flower and an orange trumpet or ‘Saint Patrick’s Day’ with a pale creamy yellow delicate cup.

 

Tips for planting bulbs –

Plant most bulbs from September to December before the first frost. Choose bulbs of good stock and they should be healthy and firm. The general rule of thumb is to plant a bulb three times it’s own depth beneath the soil. Make sure it is facing the correct way up, which is with the flat side down!
Free draining soil is best as they may rot in waterlogged soil and if planted in a sunny location it will help bulbs to thrive as most bulbs have originated from the Mediterranean.


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Where to plant bulbs?

If you have a very small city space then fill pots with bulbs. Whether it’s a small patio, balcony or even at your front door you can cheer up your family and friends with a colourful welcome.

Existing planted borders can be lifted by filling gaps between shrubs and emerging perennials. Place in a random pattern, which will look more natural and cohesive. They can be followed with flowering perennials throughout the summer.

Under trees can be really nice as the light catches the ground before the tree canopy comes into leaf. Crocuses are perfect in this situation and you can plant ten or a hundred.

Bulbs planted in drifts in lawns can create a natural effect in your garden. This is an emerging trend and bold colours such as blue can have a striking visual effect.

 

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Hands off my Griselinia's

27/2/2015

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Hedges for structure

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When we were younger did we have a stronger connection to plants?
If so was it because of our size and stature and that we were facing plants at a lower height! Yes that’s when running through cornfields was a heavenly experience. I remember pulling leaves from hedges as I strolled along on those lazy afternoons of childhood and slowly tearing them into artistic art forms.

‘Get your hands off my Griselinia’s’ shouted an unimpressed neighbour as she leaned out her front door. Was she talking to me? The leaf puller!
Yet I had no idea what she was talking about and what was a Griselinia?
I now know a Griselinia littoralis is a common hedge lining many suburban gardens in Dublin, a bright green evergreen plant that has been of great benefit to greening our city.

Hedge rows such as Griselinina, laurel, Ligustrum or Holly all have one thing in common and that is they are evergreen, they do not shed their leaves in winter. These plants are the green structure that frame our gardens, shelter us from wind, sound and soften our common concrete pathways. They create privacy and can be a very attractive addition to the home. These shrubs have the capability, if left alone from pruning, to grow up to six metres tall and become small trees yet we control them to suit our needs like many things in life! Many of these hedge plants are very hardy and have the capability to withstand harsh conditions, for example Holly can work great in a coastal situation as it will tolerate salt breezes and strong winds.

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              Hawthorn (Crataegus)
 Native hedgerow featuring Hazel and Irish          Whitebeam (from butterfly conservation   
 Ireland)
Hedges also serve as wildlife corridors throughout the year, so they are of great ecological benefit to our cities and towns.

There are many other great native deciduous plants for hedgerows such as Hazel or Hawthorn and while the classic Beech is deciduous its leaves remain attached turning a vibrant copper colour for winter interest.
A more contemporary use of hedges can be found in design projects whether in front or back gardens such as Bamboo, Buxus, Yew, Photinia or even floral plants such as Lavender.

So while we wait for the emergence of spring bulbs to dazzle us with colour and beauty or bear witness to the unusual performance of the Magnolia flowers on bare wood! I guess I will just run my fingers through the Griselinia leaves and refrain from pulling!


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Cool Urban Green Hotel

20/9/2014

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Travelers visiting an urban setting like Singapore don't typically expect to see tropical gardens growing right outside of their hotel windows - especially when their rooms are elevated ten stories above ground level. So you can imagine that guests of the city's ParkRoyal on Pickering Hotel find the surreal sky gardens. They wrap around its glassy towers to be a truly singular experience. Conceptualized by Singapore-based WOHA Architects the fantastical form has captivated the attention of the architecture world as well as the the green building industry with its energy and water-conscious design. 

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Outdoor boiler - Urban Greening Solution

17/9/2014

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We have just completed a suburban garden in Skerries. One unique part of this project was to tackle an area outside the kitchen window.  located  under the window was a boiler and two gas cylinders for their cooker. This area was a small part of the overall plan but an eyesore and a problem! I decided to build a mini green roof structure which would cover the area completely and create a great view from the kitchen. This planting bed can harvest vegetables or herbs for cooking or can be simply a natural floral bed. We used cedar timber for the doors and  rendered walls to match the house. The planting bed itself is a steel structure engineered to carry the weight.
I hope they enjoy the view and the scent of herbs drifting in to their kitchen!
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Toronto By-Law

17/9/2014

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As i was born in Canada and also returned to work there as an adult i am very aware of how forward thinking the Canadians are! As our economy is starting to move again i think we should ensure future developments have green infrastructure installed on them. Take a look at what they have achieved in Toronto!

'Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. It was adopted by Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act.The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012"

Photo - Toronto City Hall Green Roof

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    My Blogs are about topics and items that are of interest to me relating to my interest in gardening.

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