“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” ― Jim Bishop

Presentation:  In (and around) Dublin’s Fair City by Peter Mathers 

 Peter’s talks are always interesting and today’s was no exception.  This time we were treated to a tour of some of the gardens Peter visited when he visited the WAFA World Flower Show, “A Floral Odyssey”, in Dublin.  This area favours gardeners as the climate is mild and wet due to the Gulf Stream and rarely suffers from snow or frost.

The gardens Peter visited include:

The historic Kilruddery House and Gardens with its canals http://www.killruddery.com/

The former garden in Dublin of Helen Dillon before she downsized, where the entrance  charge was an additional  2 euros  to walk through the house to benefit from the best view of the gardens.  

Hunting Brook Gardens in Co. Wicklow owned by Jimi Blake who teaches gardeners and travels the world taking cuttings from endangered plant species http://www.huntingbrook.com/

Nearby is his sister’s garden.  June Blake’s garden http://www.juneblake.ie/cms/  is more open plan with its prairie planting and water features.

Also in Co. Wicklow but nearer the sea is Corke Lodge http://www.corkelodge.com/ with its gothic architecture and mostly green planting with little splashes of colour and Mount Usher Gardens http://www.mountushergardens.ie/ in the Robinsonian style with a river flowing through it and nearly 300 specimen trees.

Our virtual tour ended with a taste of The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin and the rose garden at Powerscourt gardens on the estate owned by the Slazenger family.

A really delightful presentation and enjoyed by all!

Display Table

Carl talked about his fig tree which has given its best performance to date.  Reasons being, the embryo figs begin to develop in September and weren’t killed off by frost last Winter and all the sun we had this Summer.  There was also one of Carl’s amusing anecdotes, but you had to be there to appreciate it!

Derek brought in plants grown from seed:  Beaucarnea recurvata - Pony Tail Palm

Dragon tree (so called because of its red sap)

 Canna

 Carol’s Echeveria which grew to this size from a tiny baby plant from James F

 

 Anyone?  This plant bought at  the South Wales garden was identified as a type of Impatiens

Gill’s container with Kirengeshoma, Malva, a white rose, Thalictrum, the honey scented Itea Ilicifolia and Hydrangea

 Kate brought Gaura Whirling butterfly, Salvia Amistad, Phlox Franz Schubert, Agastache Blue Fortune, Verbena, Penstemon, Geranium,and the dwarf Cosmos Xanthos

Kate’s  Streptocarpus Christina

Ann’s posy contains Clematis Triternata Rubromarginata, Persicaria, Anemone, Thalictrum Hewitts double

 Last but not least, an assortment from Judith's garden

Gardening Matters

10 highlights from the grow your own blogs

https://sharpenyourspades.com/2018/09/04/10-highlights-from-the-grow-your-own-blogs-august-2018/

Notice Board

Paxton Early Autumn Show is on Saturday 22 September.  Cakes can be brought to the meeting on 21 September.  Please see Dorothy regarding donations/offers of help.

Next Meeting

September 21^st:  A short talk by member Celia Latham Brown