Currently at Lisdoonan Herbs...............                                      2008

We claim to be on top of most planned projects, tho’ as ever, several are still on-going. The drastic pruning of the sweetbriar hedge, carried out in conjunction with the renewal of posts and arches into the cutting garden has been completed and the hedge looks set to flower even better than ever in its new streamlined form. A surprise success in the new planting of the archways was Lord Anson’s blue pea, Lathyrus nervosus, which is still flowering in February!

Pruning of the apple trees is finished: we hope for as good a crop this year as last when the Egremont Russets produced a huge crop, beyond all expectations. Super to eat and great for apple juice too.

Lord Anson's blue pea, Lathyrus nervosus still in flower first week in February 2008	We managed to prune the cordon apples before the January snow fall

The greenhouse, cleared and cleaned with borders replenished with fresh compost, has been sown out with saladings on one side, with plants of flat leaved parsley ‘Italian Giant’ and ‘Milly’ mint in a pot. This will give us fresh picking until cropping starts outdoors and it is time to move the tomatoes in.On the other side we’ve lined up lengths of guttering filled with sterile compost, and sown Early Onward peas to be planted outdoors in March. Guttering strips of saladings will be added in the coming weeks.

The central gazebo, one of last years constructional makeovers, has been rebuilt and is now well colonised with original and some new plants including Solanum jasminoides 'Blue'. Further improvements have yet to made to the supporting wire framework for the old espalier apples.
Our most demanding project is the complete revamping of the old herb border, increasingly difficult to control and maintain in recent years. Herbs have been removed and potted for display and sales; the female juniper has been relocated in the garden and the male one is dug and awaiting transplanting in the local school grounds. It’s a well-formed tree, and we are glad to have found a good home for it.

A wider path has been constructed along the back of the border, so much easier for hedge maintenance, and the construction of four large raised beds is well under way. These timber edged beds will be a joy to plant up with special herbs, some vegetables and a selection of autumn flowering perennials for all year round interest. There is a small paved area to house a seat near the Hamaemelis.

We took part in the RSPB annual bird survey, getting off to s slow start but luckily the numbers built up and we had a reasonable quota of all the common garden species including wren, dunnock and mistlethrush. Alas our small flocks of goldfinches and long-tailed tits went into hiding for the occasion; our neighbours must have benefited at our expense.

Spring flowering shrubs are good, several early rhododendrons, Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’, various Hamaemelis, Sarcococca spp, Coronilla glauca, and a good display of Galanthus, Crocus including C. thomasinianus, Hacquetia epipactus, Primula vulgaris, Helleborus spp. Much general tidying and splitting of snowdrops clumps has been done and is still ongoing: we want to create a really snowy effect.

Blue flowered chicory and white feverfew add contrast to the scarlet runners, climbing squash and the 'Earthwalker' sunflowers.	Barbara supplies the full range of period plants for heritage gardens including Grey Abbey, County Down and for shows.

 

Part of the new mediaeval vegetable garden at Grey Abbey designed and planted by Barbara, and continuing to flourish.	A number of varieties of globe artichoke are grown, including  'Green globe' (seen left with borage and bay) and 'Violetto di Chioggia'. Also propagated is a good eating variety grown from seed many years ago.  A new cardoon this year 'Gobbo di Nizza' looks promising.

Lisdoonan Herbs wins "Best in show" award at the Belfast Parks Garden Gourmet event 2005.